Sexual Assault Protocol

This protocol defines and coordinates the efforts of various agencies in order to provide caring and effective uniform response to the person who reports having been sexually assaulted. It is based on the following understanding of sexual assault:

1.   Sexual assault is any form of sexual activity without the consent of one of the parties.

2.   Lack of consent can take many forms including impairment due to mental disorder, voluntary or involuntary drug or alcohol consumption, sleep, age and/or a power differential.

3.   Sexual assault victims need to know what services are available to them and who provides them. They also need to know that such providers will stay safely in their roles.

4.   Victims of sexual assault need clearly defined choice points and options.

5.   Time is of the essence to ensure immediate support for a student who is in crisis and in order to secure evidence for possible prosecution.

6.   Service providers must be clear about the student's confidentiality because any outside communication may be experienced by the victim as another violation of trust.

7.   The victim needs to move at his or her own pace through the process of recovery.

8.   An array of police, medical, psychological, administrative and disciplinary services must be in place and immediately available to students who report sexual assault. The University is committed to maintaining the student's confidentiality and supporting informed decision making regarding services. The University will continue to provide support services as outlined in this protocol to students who choose to seek criminal or civil prosecution as well as disciplinary action under the University’s Student Code of Conduct. This protocol outlines these services and describes how they might work in concert.

Campus & Community Resources
This above link will provide you with a listing of services with contact information which can aid a victim or witness of sexual assault.

Victim/Witness Services for Coconino County 
The role of Victim/Witness Services for Coconino County will be to: 

• Explain limits of Coconino County Services confidentiality to the victim.

• Serve as a primary resource for students who report sexual assault. 

• Be on call to a student who has been sexually assaulted, if the student is willing to have them contacted. 

• Serve as a link between students and available resources for aid in the community and on campus. 

• Provide on-site crisis intervention, advocacy and referrals. 

• Provide an application for crime victim compensation. 

• If this is the first contact made by the student, if given permission, an anonymous sexual assault incident report may be filed with the Office of Student Life within 24 hours. 
  

Residence Life 
The role of Residence Life will be to: 

• Maintain confidentiality, except in situations that may require notification of the Incident Management Team in order to safeguard the University community; or as required by the Campus Crime Act or other laws. 

• Provide option of talking to the Residence Hall Director or other Residence Life personnel. 

• Suggest that student may want to call family/loved ones for support. 

• Help student secure needed professional services, such as Victim/Witness.  Explain that an advocate from Victim/Witness will respond to campus, Flagstaff Medical Center or the NACASA site, if desired, to assist them through the process.

• Encourage student to go to Fronske Health Center or Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Room (if physical injury or complaint of pain is present) or to the NACASA site (if no physical injury or pain is present) for a medical/forensic examination.

• Advise student that time is of the essence for medical services and retrieval of evidence. 

• Advise student against inadvertently destroying evidence by showering or changing clothes. 

• Discuss with the student the option of filing a report with the University Police. 

• Encourage student to take advantage of counseling services available through the Counseling and Testing Center on campus. 

• Inform student that the Office of Student Life can help manage academic demands and that the Office of Residence Life can help relocate a student if necessary or desired. 

• Assist student in finding a safe place to go.

• Inform student of the option to file a report under the Student Code of Conduct in the Office of Student Life.

• If this department is the first contact made by the student, the Resident Assistant or the RHD may (if given permission) file an anonymous sexual assault incident report form with the Office of Student Life within 24 hours. 
  

Fronske Health Center 
The role of Fronske will be to: 

• Offer appropriate consultation, examination and/or treatment.

• Explain the limits of confidentiality to the student/employee.

• Advise student/employee how to protect and maintain chain of evidence.

• If disclosure occurs within the 96-hour period, offer an appropriate referral for medical/forensic examination and counseling at NACASA (if no physical injury or complaint of pain are present) and/or Flagstaff Medical Center (if injuries or complaint of pain is present).

• If disclosure occurs after the 96-hour period, or student/employee chooses not to report, offer medical services at Fronske Health Center.

• Offer a medical examination, testing for sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV), pregnancy testing and/or Plan B as indicated.

• Explain the availability of testing for Rohypnol and other "date rape" drugs.

• Explain to the student/employee how to file a report with the University or local police.

• Inform the student/employee of the option to speak with NACASA.

• Encourage the student/employee to seek counseling at NACASA, the Counseling and Testing Center or Employee Assistance and Wellness.

• Explain that there may be some situations that will require notification of the Incident Management Team in order to safeguard the University community.

• Inform the student/employee that the Office of Student Life can help manage academic demands and that the Office of Residence Life can help make arrangements to change a living situation for safety reasons.

• If Fronske Health Center is the first contact made by the student/employee, the provider may (if given permission) file an anonymous sexual assault incident report form with the Office of Student Life within 24 hours.
  

Counseling & Testing Center 
The role of the Counseling and Testing Center will be to: 

• Offer student direct counseling support and crisis intervention. 

• Explain the limits of confidentiality to the victim.

• Present the option of receiving services from Victim/Witness Services.  Explain that an advocate from Victim/Witness will respond to Flagstaff Medical Center or the NACASA site, if desired, to assist them through the process.

• Encourage student to go to Fronske or Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Room (if physical injury or complaint of pain is present) or to the NACASA site (if no physical injury or pain are present)

• Explain that time is of the essence in obtaining evidence. 

• Advise student not to inadvertently destroy evidence by showering or changing clothes. 

• Explain that the police will hold any evidence obtained until the student decides whether or not to press charges. 

• Present option to file a report with either the University or local police. 

• Inform student of the option to file a report under the Student Code of Conduct in the Office of Student Life. 

• Inform student of services available through the Office of Student Life. 

• Assist the student in finding a safe place to go by reviewing resources available through the Office of Residence Life. 

• Explain that there may be some situations that will require notification of the Incident Management Team in order to safeguard the University community. 

• If this department is the first contact made by the student, the Counseling and Testing staff may (if given permission) file an anonymous sexual assault incident report form with the Office of Student Life within 24 hours. 
  

University Police 
The role of University Police will be to: 

• Conduct a full investigation upon victim request; complete a departmental report, which will be maintained in the NAU Police Department Records Division. 

• Advise victim that all discussions are not confidential, as the investigation may require, as per the Campus Security Act, notification of the Incident Management Team if immediate danger is posed to the University community; the case may also be forwarded to the County Attorney's Office and/or Student Life for review. 

• Present victim with the following options for further action: 
              *  Review by the County Attorney's Office for Criminal Complaint. 
              *  Deferral or Referral to the University's disciplinary proceedings. 
              *  "Information only report"-victim wants no action taken. 

• Explain the evidence gathering process and the importance of timeliness in obtaining such evidence. 

• Encourage victim to go to the Flagstaff Medical Center (if physical injury or complaint of pain is present) or to the NACASA site (if no physical injury or pain are present) for a medical/forensic exam; explain the examination process and offer further victim support services. 

• Refer victim to Fronske Health Center for medical care (excluding medical/forensic exam).

• Present the option of speaking with Victim/Witness.  Explain to the victim that an advocate will respond to campus, Flagstaff Medical Center, or the NACASA site, if desired, to assist them through the process.

• Advise the victim that actions taken through the University's Student Code of Conduct may affect the outcome of any criminal or civil proceedings, and vice versa. 

• Inform victim that police will retain evidence until the Court System or the University disciplinary proceeding has reached a final disposition.  If the victim decides not to pursue any further investigation, then the property may be returned to the legal owner.

• Reinforce counseling services available through the University Counseling and Testing Center and local community agencies.

• Complete and furnish victim with the Victim's Rights Pamphlet. 

• If necessary, contact the Office of Residence Life to review the victim's housing situation if student safety is an issue.

• Make notification of sexual assault to University officials via page-out system. 
  

Office of Student Life 
  The role of the Office of Student Life will be to: 

• Explain confidentiality, role, and scope of office, student options and impact of reporting time frame.

• Present the option of speaking with Victim/Witness. Explain that an advocate from Victim/Witness will respond to campus, Flagstaff Medical Center or the NACASA site, if desired, to assist them through the process.

• Provide student with information on counseling services provided by the NAU Counseling and Testing Center and facilitate access.

• Assist the student in finding a safe place to go by reviewing services available through the Office of Residence Life.

• Make changes in living arrangements in order to prevent further contact between victim and perpetrator, at student’s request.

• Encourage student to go to Fronske or FMC ER (if physical injury or complaint of pain is present) or to the NACASA site (if no physical injury or pain is present) for a medical/forensic exam.

• Explain that time is of the essence in obtaining evidence.

•  Offer to contact faculty to request compassion and academic accommodation.

• Provide information on course withdrawals and withdrawal from the University.

• Advise student of the University disciplinary process and option to file a written referral to initiate student disciplinary proceedings.

•  Explain that the Dean may share information with the Incident Management Team in a case that poses immediate danger to the community.

• Help initiate process of filing a report under the Student Code of Conduct or criminal report through the University police or both.

•  Present student with options to file a report with campus or local police.

• Recommend that student speak with an attorney to seek advice (which may be available through ASNAU Legal Aid or Coconino County Legal Aid) about legal action and impact; student may have the option to bring civil suit.

• If this department is the first contact made by the student, the Office of Student Life staff may (if given permission) file an anonymous sexual assault incident report form that will be retained by the Office of Student Life.  
  

Flagstaff Medical Center 
The role of Flagstaff Medical Center will be to: 

• Explain to the patient and report the incident to a law enforcement agency as mandated by the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Aging and Adult Administration.

• Inform the patient of the option to speak to Victim/Witness Services.

• Offer a medical screening exam and consultation.

• Discuss the option of a medical/forensic examination.

• If this is the first contact made by the victim, and she or he is an NAU student, Flagstaff Medical Center will provide Anonymous Sexual Assault Incident Report form to other agencies (e.g. Victim/Witness, NAU Counseling and Testing) to be filed with the Office of Student Life within 24 hours.

• Provide the patient with referral sources for HIV and STD testing (students and employees of NAU are eligible to go to Fronske Health Center).

• Encourage the patient to seek individual counseling if the patient is a student at the NAU Counseling and Testing Center.

• Encourage the patient to seek follow-up medical services in 4-6 weeks at Fronske Health Center or a private provider.
  

NACASA (Northern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault)
  ***When a victim arrives she/he will meet with an advocate who will explain their rights and options.  

If the victim chooses to report the assault, the role of NACASA will be to:

• Law enforcement will be notified.

• Contact a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) to come to the center.

• The victim will speak with law enforcement.

• Law Enforcement will authorize a medical/forensic examination.

• SANE will provide medical/forensic exam and treatment.

• Victim will be offered clothing and a shower.

• Victim will meet with Law Enforcement for an interview.

• Multi-disciplinary team will meet to review case.

• Victim will be referred to counseling, medical follow-up and any other needed services.

• Advocate will have ongoing contact with the victim through the criminal justice system (see Victim/Witness Services).
  

NAU Employee Assistance and Wellness
  The role of the Employee Assistance and Wellness will be to: 

• Offer employee direct counseling support and crisis intervention.

• Discuss confidentiality guidelines with the employee.

• Present the option of receiving services from Victim/Witness Services; explain that an advocate from Victim/Witness to respond to Flagstaff Medical Center or the NACASA site, if desired, to assist them through the process.

• If employee is reporting the incident within 96 hours of the assault, encourage the employee to go to Fronske Health Center, Flagstaff Medical Center ER (if physical injury or complaint of pain is present)  or to the NACASA site, (if no physical injury or pain are present).

• Explain that time is of the essence in obtaining evidence.

• Advise employee not to inadvertently destroy evidence by showering or changing clothes.

• Present option to file a report with either NAUPD or local police.

• Inform employee of services available through the University.

• Inform employee of service available through the Office of Employee Assistance and Wellness, Biodyne, NACASA, and other supportive agencies that offer services to employees.

• Assist the employee in finding a safe place to go by reviewing resources available in the community.
  

Faculty 
The role of faculty will be to : 

• Inform student that services are available through the Counseling and Testing Center and the Fronske Health Center.
  

(Revised August 2003)