Back in April of 2019, CapRadio’s Nick Miller got a phone call from a local sexual assault survivor who wanted to share the experience she’d had reporting her rape to the Sacramento Police Department. She was a CapRadio listener, and she wanted to tell her story.

Wanting a female journalist at the helm, Miller tapped me and we met with the survivor. Her testimony was heart wrenching. She felt disbelieved, dismissed and disrespected by the officers who took her report. She had little hope that her case would move through the criminal justice process. A year after the rape, her interactions with officers kept her in a state of frustration and fear. 

I was concerned, and intrigued. I started collecting the stories of other women who’d hit roadblocks while reporting to law enforcement, as well as those who never reported their crimes because of doubts about the system. I tried to learn from local law enforcement agencies about why these cases are difficult to investigate, and where the process falls flat on helping survivors heal. I talked to criminal justice scholars about ways to improve the situation.

That summer, the project was put on hold due to wildfire coverage, and then the election. That fall, I applied for and received an Impact Fund grant from the University of California Center for Health Journalism to explore survivors’ journeys to justice and healing. I recruited the help of CapRadio data reporter Emily Zentner and senior community engagement strategist jesikah maria ross. We got started by holding a meeting with experts from law enforcement, the justice system, healthcare centers and women’s organizations to identify key issues and help me establish an understanding of how the system currently works.

Our team spent the winter and spring meeting with a “survivor cohort” of 8 women who were in the long process of healing from an assault. With help from a trained advocate from WEAVE, Sacramento’s rape crisis center, we learned about what it’s like to live in their shoes. Meanwhile, Zentner sent out dozens of Public Records Act requests to try to gain an understanding of how sexual assault cases move through the system, and how often they result in consequences for perpetrators. 

And then, COVID-19 hit. 

As our healthcare reporter, I had to put the sexual assault work aside and focus on the pandemic threatening our community. Emily, jesikah and I continued to meet with the survivor cohort virtually in order to continue learning and building trust, but the project was effectively on pause.

In late June, on the heels of the George Floyd demonstrations, a criminal justice expert I’d talked to in my original research shot me an email. She asked, “During this local and national conversation around reshaping police priorities or defunding law enforcement, where do sexual assault investigations fit in?”

I started poking around online, and encountered a handful of blog posts and articles from assault survivors around the country speaking up in favor of defunding the police. This was a little confusing at first. On the surface, one might think defunding law enforcement would be bad news for survivors, because it would mean fewer resources for investigating rapes.

But an activist with Sacramento’s chapter of Take Back the Night explained it clearly and firmly in this blog post.

“[Police officers] don’t have the skills to assist someone that has just been through trauma and have a long track record of handling these cases inadequately, leaving survivors feeling invalidated and/or further violated and traumatized. Defunding the police is the first step in establishing alternatives that are supportive and affirming and will lead to restorative justice for survivors, by releasing city funds that could be dedicated to this effort.”

I saw an opportunity to pivot, and to use some of the material I’d gathered early on to shed light on a piece of the “defund” conversation that wasn’t being talked about widely. I also realized that this could be an opportunity to talk about the prevalence of sexual assault in communities of color, and the fact that Black survivors are less likely to report than white survivors due to a longstanding distrust of police. 

Before I moved forward, I took the idea to the survivor cohort. It was important to me to get their feedback, and to figure out if they felt a similar alignment with the idea of shifting resources away from law enforcement and toward trauma-informed services.The question was met with a resounding yes.

So, I set out to tell stories that combined what I knew about sexual assault survivors, police processes, systemic racism and local budget reform discussions. I determined that three stories in the month of July, accompanied by a virtual panel discussion, would open up important conversations on these topics and help people think differently about the role of police in survivor healing. 

Although it’s been a journey to get here, this reporting has been some of the most invigorating work in my career. I hope to continue my long-term reporting this fall, with the goal of producing more content that builds bridges between survivors and the organizations in place to help them.

Sammy Caiola
Healthcare Reporter

Police raised their tear gas launchers and I lunged against a brick wall on J Street in Midtown. A group of protesters took a step back, though still heckling officers. I fastened my goggles and held up my press badge. Officers fired a volley of tear gas canisters anyway.

Police in Minneapolis had killed George Floyd less than a week earlier. Cities across the country erupted into protests in response.

America would not be the same; Sacramento would not be the same.

A lone reporter with a phone in one hand and a mic in the other cannot capture the totality of such an event. In a way, that’s discouraging. But it’s also liberating. It allowed me to focus on telling the stories of individuals on the streets, and to have faith that their experiences would reveal something universal about that tumultuous, transformative weekend.

There was Aliyah Patterson, a college student in Sacramento who came out to protest institutional racism that she and her family members face on a daily basis. “That's the reason why I'm out here right now,” she said. “We shouldn't have to walk around in fear.”

There was Jason Bell from Natomas, who witnessed peaceful protests during the day give way to destruction under the cover of night. “This is what you get when we don’t know what to do,” he said. “It’s a matter of not having an outlet for the frustration.”

And then there was Chris Loftin, owner of Stylz Tattoos, whose store was smashed and robbed. “We’re in a messed-up position,” he told me while surveying the damage at 2 a.m. “We haven’t been in business for four months now. And to have this happen is just an extra expense.”

Sacramento has seen weeks of consistent protests since — some big, some small, and almost all peaceful. The demands from protesters and activists have come into clearer focus, as many have inserted their voices into the political process at City Hall and the Capitol. And CapRadio has been there to cover those conversations.

As the demonstrators fragmented on that first night, I stood on the empty street and listened to a chopper overhead circle the area, searching. It felt emblematic of where the city would find itself in the coming days, weeks and months. The tear gas would clear and the chanting might fade, but the city is still searching for answers — and a path forward.

Scott Rodd
State Government Reporting

Deeper Dive

Sacramento Demonstrators March In Solidarity With Portland Protesters; Some Damage Downtown

‘I Want To See It In My Lifetime’: Black Lives Matter Marches To Sacramento Police Headquarters Demanding Reform

As our nation grapples with how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all getting a crash course in epidemiology and understanding the complicated data that comes with it.

Data is still a key part of understanding and combating the virus. Recently, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly underscored the importance of data in this pandemic, saying that “data have been and continue to be our eyes and our ears.”

But the data surrounding COVID-19 comes with its own set of caveats and context, as much of it relies on testing patients and reporting people who have tested positive with or died from COVID-19. 

Even though it’s entirely dependent on testing for COVID-19, Sacramento County says that the number of cases and deaths in the county is a valuable trend to watch to understand the spread of the virus. Another fairly reliable metric to watch is the number of people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, as this gives a picture of the number of severe cases in the county.

CapRadio is tracking the number of new cases and deaths in each California county, as well as the prevalence of vulnerable populations there. As we continue to learn more about the data behind COVID-19, we’ll continue to update you with the latest accurate information about the virus’ transmission in Sacramento and beyond.

Emily Zentner
Data Reporter

ICYMI

How Much Did Protests Contribute To LA’s COVID-19 Surge? The Data Is Still Sparse.

Sacramento County Health Officials Say Young People, Essential Workers and Seniors Are Of Major Concern In Current COVID-19 Surge

Is The Summer Surge Fading? California’s Test-Positivity Rate Finally Declines.

Sacramento Police Release Body-Worn Camera Footage Of Jeremy Southern Shooting

Cyclists And Shop Owners Hope Downieville Mountain Bike Race Returns

How Early Should You Send In Your Mail-in Ballot To Make Sure It Gets Counted? The Answer Varies By State.

HBO Documentary Shines Spotlight On Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs

Low-Wage Workers Nervous As $600-A-Week Unemployment Stimulus Expires

California Measure Aims To Protect Almost A Third of State’s Land And Oceans, Increase Access For People Of Color

2020 has been a year like no other as we have expanded coverage to meet the need for information, while some positions have remained unfilled to be financially prudent amidst uncertainty. Thanks to the support of our members, we are now in a position where we feel comfortable bringing on new staff to help fill these much needed roles, and we’re excited to announce the following new additions to our team.

Kris Hooks, News Editor. Kris worked as a senior digital editor in Sacramento, overseeing abc10.com content and developing the KXTV-ABC10 daily newsletter. He’ll join CapRadio as a news editor, where he’ll help oversee daily content creation, working with both broadcast and digital teams.

Ed Fletcher, Interim News Anchor. Ed worked for nearly two decades as a reporter at The Sacramento Bee. He'll join CapRadio as an interim news anchor, and you'll be hearing him soon during All Things Considered. 

Mike Hagerty, Interim News Anchor. Mike is a 30-year broadcast veteran, including as former News Director at KFBK, where he also co-anchored the afternoon news. He joins CapRadio as a part-time, interim news anchor. You'll be hearing him during mornings and afternoons — and possibly more.

Andrew Garcia, Fill-in News Host. Andrew comes straight from Sacramento State's student-run station KSSU after stints as the station's Music Director and then General Manager. He joins CapRadio as Fill-in News Host, and you will soon hear him occasionally on All Things Considered.

James Tejada, Operations Technician. James served as an Ops Technician with iHeartRadio and Relevant Radio, helping to manage radio automation systems for over thirty national stations. He'll join CapRadio as an Operations Technician, where he will be working to keep our studio's systems and stations working properly.

Jasmine Vu, Member Engagement Associate. Jasmine comes from KDVS, UC Davis' student-run radio station, where they held a wide range of roles. They will be joining CapRadio as a part of our member engagement team, where they will help with operations and assist members over the phone and email.

Have you submitted a donation online recently or had to make a change to your membership? If so, we'd love to learn about your experience as we are in the early stages of planning an online account to manage your membership. 

As we go through this process, we would like to work with you to build a product that meets your needs. If you are interested in providing feedback through surveys, phone/video calls or by testing the interface at different stages of development, please sign up below. Your input is valuable, and we look forward to serving you better.

Join CapRadio and host Donna Apidone for a virtual author interview with Alka Joshi about her debut novel, The Henna Artist, a New York Times bestseller.

You can purchase your book or audiobook online here.

If you missed last month’s interview with Devi S. Laskar, listen to it here.

Thanks to all the artists who have contributed to this year's contest! Submissions that have advanced to the next round are up on our website through August 8th for public voting. Winners receive cash prizes and more, so be sure to cast your vote share with friends and family!

We'll be announcing final winners in late August and will have more details about how you can get your hands on our culminating 2021 art calendar soon.

Thank you to our 2020 sponsor Bonney Plumbing, Electrical, Heating and Air.

The Moth: Get Free Tickets To A Virtual Event

On August 6, The Moth takes their tales of the wild and unforeseen, nagging truths, startling discoveries and hard-fought wisdom to a virtual stage. We’re offering CapRadio members a chance to gain free tickets to the event on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Moth shows are renowned for the vast range of human experiences they showcase. Each show starts with a theme, and different storytellers explore it in true, authentic and often unexpected ways.

There are only 15 available tickets. Tickets are limited to 1 per person.

CapRadio and NPR are accessible any time you want through your Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple Homepod smart speaker. To help you out, our digital products team put together a guide so you can easily stream the news and music you love.

In order to better serve our listeners, we now have a web page where you can check the status of our broadcast signals across our coverage areas. You can also report problems you're having and easily access other listening options through our online streaming, mobile app and more.