- Former SafeSport investigator arrested for rape, theft, and sex trafficking
- Survivor Jacqui Stevenson experiences retraumatization after case audit announcement
- SafeSport launches third-party review of 3 years’ worth of cases
- Pennsylvania abuse victim highlights systemic failures in athlete protection systems
- 62% of sports abuse cases never reach disciplinary databases
Jacqui Stevenson’s journey through the SafeSport investigative process began with cautious optimism. The 38-year-old software executive spent 14 months working with investigator Jason Krasley to resolve her childhood abuse case, only to discover her advocate now faces criminal charges himself. Stevenson’s experience reveals critical vulnerabilities in systems designed to protect athletes from sexual misconduct.
The February 12 email from SafeSport counsel Jessica Perrill forced Stevenson to confront new layers of institutional betrayal. I’d finally reached closure,she explained, then learned the person who handled my case allegedly committed worse crimes than my abuser.This development comes as congressional leaders question SafeSport’s case management protocols following Krasley’s November 2024 termination.
Pennsylvania’s youth sports community provides a microcosm of nationwide challenges. Despite SafeSport’s 2017 creation to address abuse in Olympic organizations, Stevenson’s case demonstrates how local clubs remain vulnerable. Her abuser continued coaching for decades after initial incidents, mirroring patterns seen in 43% of USASwimming misconduct cases according to recent athlete safety reports.
SafeSport CEO Ju’Riese Colón emphasizes trauma-informed outreach efforts, but survivors like Stevenson question procedural transparency. They want me to trust another audit,she noted, after the system failed to detect a predator handling abuse cases.This tension highlights the complex balance between due process and survivor advocacy in sports organizations.
Industry experts identify three critical reforms needed: mandatory cross-agency reporting, investigator background checks every six months, and real-time case tracking systems. These measures could prevent repeat scenarios where, as Stevenson describes, the person investigating becomes part of the trauma.
The case’s psychological impacts reveal deeper systemic issues. Stevenson’s therapist documents a 300% increase in anxiety symptoms post-notification, reflecting broader mental health challenges among abuse survivors navigating bureaucratic processes. SafeSport now partners with 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline to address these secondary traumas.
As congressional inquiries progress, Stevenson’s story underscores the human cost of institutional failures. SafeSport wasn’t perfect,she admitted, but without it, we’re back to whispering about abuse in locker rooms.This Pennsylvania case becomes a national litmus test for athlete protection systems in the #MeToo era.
