Dani Polsom is hoping by speaking publicly about her struggles, other victims of sexual abuse will feel inspired to do the same.
“I didn’t want to hide who I was,” said Polsom, 27, at MLA Rob Anderson’s office in Airdrie April 13 of why it was important to have a publication ban on her identity lifted.
“I think, as a victim, you hide who you are a lot and you are always hiding part of you. So to release my name and have a face to a story is a pretty big deal and it makes more of an impact than just a shadow,” she added.
Polsom alleges she suffered years of sexual abuse, between the ages of nine and 17.
In 2009 Polsom first reported sexual assault. In October 2012, due to court delays, the trial was thrown out resulting in an internal review by Alberta Justice.
The review, released April 13, said the court system failed Polsom. Included in the review were 17 recommendations to help make sure all cases involving serious and violent crimes reach trial.
“In a serious case with violence we have to make sure we do whatever we can to have a trial rather than have them lost,” said Greg Lepp, assistant deputy minister of Criminal Justice who completed the review.
He said it is his goal to see no serious violent cases are lost due to delay in Alberta.
In the review, he wrote that the reason for the delay in Polsom’s case had to do with an incomplete investigation, unnecessary and repeated adjournments and a systemic acceptance of delay.
The steps he said need to be taken include assigning a dedicated Crown prosecutor to serious and violent cases earlier in the judicial process. Polsom wasn’t assigned an individual Crown until four months after charges were laid, he said.
Other changes include shifting cases to other courts with more courtroom availability to shorten time to trial and reducing the court time and resources required to address more than a million traffic tickets handed out annually.
“Hopefully, they actually meant what they said and that they’re going to follow through and their apology was honest and everything they said wasn’t to make one person feel better, it is actually going to make a difference,” said Polsom.
She said even though her case is over, she hopes this means it won’t happen to anyone else in the future.
On April 15, Polsom travelled to the Alberta Legislature with a petition including 1,000 signatures requesting stricter rules be passed to ensure victims of sexual abuse have their case go to court.
Included in the petition is a request that if any case involving crimes against children is stayed, an independent review is triggered.
It also states victims over the age of 18 should have the right to waive media bans if they choose.
Anderson, who presented the petition on Polsom’s behalf, said sexual abuse isn’t talked about enough because it is a “delicate issue.”
“That needs to stop. That has to be talked about in blunt forceful language. And there has to be a face to the name.”
Polsom’s mother asked parents to believe their children if they ever say they were abused.
“They are told (by the perpetrator) they won’t be believed. Please believe. You know your children,” she said adding children need to know parents will protect them. Polsom agrees.
“I have been there. I didn’t wake up one morning strong… I am telling you we believe in you. We believe you.”
