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

[Adriane Bang <>]

Hi Monica,
Thanks for sharing out.  This sounds like a troubling situation.  We do not currently have an investigative process, although I do believe we are moving towards this as a best practice. We absolutely do not require involvement with police for someone to access their right to the conduct process. In fact, I can't imagine our local police being willing to do any investigation unless someone was willing to move forward with the criminal process; and I can't imagine them being able to share out investigative findings with the university without inhibiting police processes. Additionally, I'm not clear if such findings could even be revealed in the timely manner needed for the university to address a situation, as outlined in the laws.  



If a student wished to access their right to the conduct process, and the university determined refraining from the criminal process prohibited such access, then this would hinder the ability of the campus to intervene as well as offer this form of justice to students.  At best, it seems like a poor practice. I'm interested to hear how your conversation goes.




Adriane Bang, LMSW
Violence Awareness & Response Coordinator
Boise State University Women's Center
1910 University Drive
Boise, Idaho 83725
208-426-2406

On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 4:35 PM, Monica Collins <> wrote:

hello all...

 

I learned today that our campus is planning to put a policy in place that sexual assault survivors who report to judicial affairs will also be required to report to the police. The reasoning is that judicial affairs doesn’t have the ability to fully investigate sexual assault complaints (e.g., they can’t do pretext phone calls) and they want to use campus police as the investigative body.

 

I am wondering if anyone has feedback about how this is handled on your campus. Does judicial affairs handle the investigating on campus for reports they receive? Do you have a separate investigator that acts in this role for your campus? Does anyone require police involvement to report to judicial affairs? If so, does your campus also require police involvement for other conduct issues or complaints (not related to sexual assault)?

 

We are feeling concerned about the impact that this might have for survivors who wish to file a complaint on campus... but dont necessarily want to involve police. Any feedback would be great!

 

thanks...

m. 

Monica Collins

Assistant Director for Prevention and Education Programs

& Victim Advocate

Women and Gender Advocacy Center

Colorado State University

112 Student Services

970-491-6384

www.wgac.colostate.edu

 

"The truth is on the side of the oppressed" -MX