Plot: A former nun is imprisoned when she refuses to release the records of the teenage rape victim she is counseling.

Reality: There is very little information on this movie. This incident did not spark very many articles, but it involves the 1983 case of Peggy (Peg) Langhammer, a social worker in Rhode Island who refused to turn over private records of a 15 year old rape victim in the trial of Arthur Donnelly, 25, of North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Peggy, was jailed for a short time before the 15 year old decided to willingly turn over the records.


Judge jails former nun for contempt By Alina Tugend UPI Writer ."•",' SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. - Rape:Crisis Center Director Peggy Langhammer is a former nun who often visited the state prison in Cranston as a chaplain. Today, she is there as a prisoner. *-.;•_ Miss Langhammer, 31, was jailed yesterday for refusing to give a judge the counseling center's records involving the 1981 rape of a 15- year-old girl. - •' "I desire to assert the confidentiality of the Rape Crisis Center above everything else," Miss Langhammer told Superior Court Jud^e Thomas H. Needham. Supporters groaned in the packed courtroom when Needham ordered her to the women's prison until she decides to turn over the documents. • , "You leave me no alternative but to judge.you in contempt. You are not superior to the system in which we live," the judge said. "The 6th amendment gives a defendant the right to adequately prepare examination of a victim and a potental witness." . Blocks appeal ' ' • * • Shortly after the decision, state Supreme Court Justice Florence K. Murray denied-a" request to block the jailing pending appeal of-the confidentiality issue. The full Supreme Court bench will hear the case Jan. 20. Three hours later, Miss Langhammer,. wearing handcuffs, was taken from Washington County Courthouse by two sheriffs who drove her to the prison 22 miles away. • Needham ruled Wednesday the center, does riot fall within the definition of Rhode Island's Health Care Confidentiality Law because .its counselors are not licensed in the health field-or any other medical field. ••.-*.' About 100 of her supporters gathered yesterday at the Statehouse, wearing white-armbands to show solidarity, to seek legislation that-woQld grant confidentiality to such counseling* centers. . ",•;•" Such a bill, introduced yesterday by Rep.'Elizabeth Morancy, D-Providence, a nun and former high school teacher of Miss Langhammer's, will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee on Monday. •" • *•: