Reporting a sexual assault:
Any student, employee or visitor who is the victim of a sex offense, forcible or non-forcible, is encouraged to report the assault to college authorities of the Avondale Police Department. If a victim so chooses, he/she may be assisted by college authorities in reporting the assault to the proper law enforcement authorities. After making the report, the victim is not obligated to continue with legal or college disciplinary action. The assault may be reported in person or by calling:
Preserving evidence of a sexual assault:
After a sexual assault, it is very important that the victim receive a medical examination for health and evidentiary reasons. A victim should not wash; use the toilet or change clothes before seeing trained medical personnel. If clothes are changed, those worn during the assault should be placed in a paper bag and taken along to the examination. Even if the victim is certain that he/she will not prosecute, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible just in case the victim decides to pursue criminal charges as a later date.
Coping with sexual assault:
Victims of sexual assault may find it helpful to discuss their experience with a counselor. College counselors are available to meet with victims in an informal and private setting. The counselor can assist by changing a victims academic situation, serve as a source of referral to outside agencies, and provide information about on-and-off campus reporting, prosecution procedures, and the college disciplinary process. College counselors may be contacted by calling 623.935.8922.
Victims of a sexual assault may also receive free, confidential, twenty-four hour, counseling by calling the Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN) at 1.800.656.4673, extension 1. Trained counselors are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
How to reduce the risk of sexual assault (reproduced from the RAINN web site at http://www.rainn.org/):
- When you go to a party, go with a group of friends.
- Arrive together, watch out for each other, and leave together.
- Don't leave your beverage unattended or accept a drink from an open container.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Trust your instincts
- Think about the level of intimacy you want in a relationship, and clearly state your limits.
Prevention programs:
Public Safety Officers conduct presentations relating to crime prevention and safety policies during orientations and at other times, when requested by staff or students. Crime prevention materials are distributed to all incoming students.
As required by the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, law enforcement agency information concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained by visiting the following Internet address:
http://www.azsexoffender.com/
College response to a sexual assault:
Sexual assault is a criminal act, which subjects the perpetrator to criminal and civil penalties in state and federal courts. Besides the sanctions that can be imposed in court, Estrella Mountain Community College will respond administratively if a sexual assault or other criminal offense involves a student or employee as the offender. Students and employees are subject to applicable District policies and disciplinary procedures, including policies prohibiting sexual harassment, Sanctions may include suspension or expulsion for student offenders or termination of employment for employees.
Victims may commence a disciplinary action by submitting a written, signed statement detailing the incident to the Vice President of Student Services. The accuser and accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during the disciplinary hearing, and in the case of sexual assault, both the accuser and accused shall be informed of the outcome. |
