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This page provides you with news and information about recent
advances in cruise ship assault
laws.
Congress Hears about Laurie Dishman’s Cruise Ship Rape
(November 18, 2008)
Congress heard about Laurie Dishman’s experience aboard a Royal Carribean cruise ship. Ms. Dishman testified that a cruise ship security guard sexually assaulted and battered her while she was in her cabin.
Cruise Sexual Assault Victim Works to Improve Cruise Ship Safety
(September 4, 2008)
Laurie Dishman of Sacramento, California has been working to
inform the public about the lack of safety laws regarding
sexual assault on cruise ships. Ms. Dishman was raped by a
crew member aboard a Royal Carribean cruise ship in February
2006. When she reported the incident to the ship’s crew,
she was neglected and ridiculed. She was told that she needed
to conduct a rape kit examination on herself and was told
that she needed to control her drinking. Since her traumatic
experience, she has vowed to fight back against the company
that wronged her. She has decided to join other cruise
ship crime victims in lobbying Congress.
Senator John Kerry Aims to Lower Cruise Ship Crimes
(June 21, 2008)
Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts announces plans to improve safety and crime reporting standards in the cruise line industry. Senator Kerry chaired a Senate subcommittee hearing on cruise ship safety, the most recent of many Congressional hearings on regulating the cruise ship safety standards. The Committee heard from both cruise ship assault victims and representatives of the various cruise lines to determine whether cruise line companies should be required to notify the Department of Homeland Security of all alleged crimes involving U.S citizens aboard cruise ships.
Woman Files Suit Against Carnival Cruise Line
(June 20, 2008)
Morgan Black, a woman who was drugged and raped on a cruise in February 2008, has filed suit against the Carnival Cruise Line. Ms. Black filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Miami on June 19, 2008.
U.S. Senate Passes Bill Requiring Peace Officers aboard Cruise Ships Sailing from California (April 9, 2008)
California’s Senate public safety committee examined Senate Bill 1582 in April 2008. This bill requires that cruise ships sailing from California have a peace officer aboard to monitor ship safety and ensure that ships comply with environmental regulations. While many ships currently have private security guards, a peace officer would help create a safe atmosphere on cruise ships, particularly when sailing in international waters.
Sexual Assault Twice as Likely on Cruise Ships
(September 19, 2007)
A study performed by Professor Ross Klein indicated that sexual
assault was twice as likely to occur on a cruise ship as
on dry land. Professor Klein’s study indicated that the
rate of sexual assault on cruise ships was 59 per 100,000 passengers.
The rate of sexual assault in the United States generally, on
the other hand, was only 32 instances per 100,000 people. The
study also indicated that nearly seventy percent of sexual assaults
were carried out by crew members on cruise guests, ten percent
of assaults were carried out by crew against other crew members,
and all other sexual assault instances were carried out by cruise
ship passengers. |
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