Protocol & Proxy Reporting
State University of New York at Buffalo Response to Victims of Campus Sexual Assault Staff Protocol and Proxy Reporting
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In an effort to provide an appropriate and coordinated response to campus victims of sexual assault, this protocol, resource listing, and proxy reporting process have been established. Developed in consultation with various university units, this protocol provides staff persons, to whom an assault may be reported, an opportunity to respond in a manner designed to best serve victim's needs and meet institutional responsibilities. This protocol should be used in conjunction with campus sexual assault policy and individual unit procedures.
Note: Campus personnel, other than those with significant counseling responsibilities (such as licensed professionals or certified counselors), must file a report when informed by a student of a sexual assault, to maintain compliance with the federal Crime Awareness Act. For further information on reporting requirements, contact University Police or Judicial Affairs.
Staff Protocol
Any time you are informed by a student that they have been a victim of sexual abuse or sexual assault you should do the following:
- Ascertain whether the victim needs immediate medical assistance. Ask victims directly how they are physically and if medical treatment is needed. Explore this issue beyond initial questioning and observation if you feel it is necessary.
- Make sure the victim has as much privacy as desired when speaking with you. Having anyone else in the room should be the victim's decision. Ask victims if they want someone with them at the time of your conversation. If a third party is present, assure that this person will hold information in strict confidence.
- Find out the victim's most critical concern and respond in a non-judgmental, informed way.
- Advise the victim of options regarding further steps in the process. Some of the options relate to personal, medical matters, and some to legal, practical matters. If the assault has just occurred, some of the medical options need to be addressed quickly, while other decisions may be deferred temporarily, depending on the particular circumstances and concerns of the student victim. The victim may choose to do one or more of the following:
- Call University Police. The victim may wish to report the incident to the campus police. A female officer may be utilized to assist a victim. After providing victim support, an investigation will be conducted to determine crime and suspect. A Department of University Police Sexual Assault Response Team is trained to respond, utilizing specialized skills.
- Call the Police (municipal). The victim may wish to report the incident directly to local police (generally Buffalo or Amherst). Unless an investigation will be compromised or jeopardized by doing so, the local police generally inform University Police when they receive a substantiated report of a sexual assault involving a UB student. The police, however, are not required to notify UB University Police and may be willing to consider the victim's wishes when determining whether, and how, UB should be informed.
- Students should also be advised that they cannot control the extent of an investigation, or the outcome, once local police become involved. Although police will give the victim's wishes serious consideration, there may be circumstances (multiple assaults, for example) where local authorities determine evidence is sufficient and justice requires that one or more assailants be charged, despite victim objection.
Adapted in part from Rape on Campus: A Model for Institutional Response, National Association of College and University Attorneys (1991) and Dartmouth College Sexual Assault Protocol (1991).
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