Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

[Kris Montgomery <>]

Hello all:

Recently I asked if any one knew of guiding principles for creating Sexual
Assault protocols that I could share with my campus SA group. I got a few
suggestions of web sites to look at.

I then created a draft (see below) of my ideas and what I gleaned from the
web sites. I hope this list will give us a framework from which to judge the
humanity, legality, etc., of what we do once a victim reports.

I'd be interested in comments from the list-- additions/deletions or
changes.

Thank you!
Kris Montgomery
Coordinator, Women's Resource Center
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Email: 

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Draft (long)
Sexual Assault
Protocol Criteria and Principles

What criteria do we use to judge our SA policies and protocols? What do we
want our policy and protocols to accomplish for the victim, the accused and
the University?

a.       General: The rights of the alleged victim and the accused can be at
odds with the University's need for investigation, communication across
campus and the concern for community safety.  Good policy and protocol finds
a balance between these interests.

b.      For victim
      - encourage reporting through accessible and fair processes
      - knowledge of her/his rights
      - tells story as few times as necessary
      - as few people know about incident as necessary
      - as few people know details of incident as necessary
      - confidentiality/anonymity as requested by alleged victim
      - sensitive, impartial, non-judgmental interactions with campus
authorities
      - information on services available from off-  and on-campus
resources, such Health Center, Counseling, WRC, UASA, Warwick Hospital
(forensic exam)
      - information on housing and academic options
      - information about criminal and campus judicial options, plus
referral by request to appropriate offices
      - well-coordinated, impartial, thorough, confidential, and timely
investigations and action by Police Services, Office of  Diversity and
Compliance, Judicial Affairs, WRC, and/or Residential Life

c.       For Accused
      - knowledge of her/his rights
      - sensitive, impartial interactions with campus authorities
      - tells story as few times as necessary
      - as few people know about or know details of incident as necessary
-confidentiality/anonymity as requested by alleged perpetrator
- information on services available from off-  and on-campus resources, such
Health Center, Counseling,
      - information about legal and campus judicial procedures
      - well-coordinated, thorough, confidential, and timely investigations
and action by Police Services, Office of  Diversity and Compliance, Judicial
Affairs, WRC, and/or Residential Life

d.      For the University and its agencies
      - University protects the rights of alleged victim and accused by its
fair and impartial processes
      - insures that students involved in incidents get services and
information that will help them deal successfully with their needs
(psychological, medical, academic, etc.), by themselves or with the support
of advocates
      - helps foster interdepartmental cooperation and clear, consistent,
confidential communication
      - identifies campus authorities and delineates shared and independent
responsibilities and oversight of those entities
      -  University meets its responsibility under the law(s) and its own
policies
      - helps prevent the University from being sued successfully