Victim Support and Title IX Investigations

Victim Support and Title IX Investigations

Director, Office of Victim Assistance at the University of Colorado-Boulder Licensed Professional Counselor Former police advocate and case manager at local rape crisis center LADDJ@colorado.edu

Investigator, Office of Student Conduct at the University of Colorado-Boulder Former Title IX Investigator at the University of Arizona Juris Doctor, Master s degree in Gender & Women s Studies from the University of Arizona Alexandra.tracyramirez@colorado.edu

Introduction Office of Victim Assistance Importance of Confidential Support CU-Boulder Title IX Investigation Model Nuts and Bolts of Collaboration Q & A

Prevention Work to prevent prohibited behaviors Prevention Education Education Training on responsibilities and broader education Investigation Promptly, thoroughly, fairly investigate reports/concerns Investigate Support Support Address impacts of sex discrimination

The Office of Victim Assistance works towards a safer, more socially just, and supportive campus community by providing culturally relevant trauma response and prevention services. 303-492-8855 http://cuvictimassistance.com

Keys to the OVA Model students, staff, faculty, & partners counseling, support, advocacy OVA Free and confidential information

How and why the office formed Advocating for clients, while advocating for the bigger issues Promoting informed decisions to crisis response Increasing support during an administrative investigation Funding Started in health center Department of Justice Grant can help http://www.justice.gov/ovw/grant-programs

Physical Assault Sexual Assault Crime Hazing Death of a loved one Sexual harassment Natural/humanmade disasters Bias motivated incident Discrimination Harassment Intimate partner abuse Stalking Serious accident Other...

Continuum of Interpersonal Violence Rape Assault/abuse Death Harassment Bias, slurs, sexist remarks

Beyond counseling center & women s center OVA staff Counselor and Advocate OVA staff Professional counselors who are also advocates Counselor and Advocate Important to have both for outreach and knowing the dynamics beyond the clinical role Beyond Social justice is the underpinning of helping all underrepresented and traumatized members.

Crucial Collaborations Police City & campus District Attorney OVA Campus Admin Policy/conduct code/ Title IX Other Orientation, Health center, Etc. Community Local DV/SA Centers, etc. Res Life Housing, if applicable

What you can do to create an OVA Bring to administrators Increase involvement with orientation Designate a counselor to be an advocate Increase key collaborations Your ideas?

Emotionally, Physically, Academically, Socially More likely to abuse drugs and alcohol More likely to attempt suicide More likely to contemplate suicide more likely to have major depression

INFORMAL Most victims seek help from friends, family 58-94% FORMAL FORMAL Use mental health services Use medical care 27-40% 16-60% FORMAL Report to law enforcement 5-20% End Violence Against Women International

Research documents benefits of formal support on victim recovery, well-being Less likely to experience self-blame or feeling bad about themselves and are less reluctant to seek further help Help mitigating the negative impact of trauma Health Care Victim Advocacy Counseling End Violence Against Women International

End Violence Against Women International family, friends, and intimate partners Emotional Support increases access of other formal resources Information Help with Tangible Needs Increases choosing to engage Increases continuing to engage

Victims disclose to formal or informal support providers AND These individuals respond in positive ways End Violence Against Women International

60% of on campus sexual assaults take place in campus housing. 1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men have experienced stalking in their life time. 20-30% of college students have experienced relationship violence 58% of students don t know how to help http://www.aauw.org/resource/crossing-the-line-sexual-harassment-at-school/ http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/10/08/stalking-campuses-major-issue-expert-says-clery-event

Sexual harassment and sexual assault can occur between and among people of any sex or gender identity. About 60% of men and 60% of women report experiencing sexual harassment in college. 60% About 34% of LGBTQ-identified students experienced harassment. 34% Bystanders who witness harassment can be impacted and can bring complaints for themselves or report concerns about others.

1 21 31 41 They do not want anyone to know. They do not understand what constitutes sexual assault They are afraid the police or the school will not believe them or discourage the reporting They do not know how much control they will have after they report

A study demonstrated that rape survivors who worked with advocates reported receiving more services from the legal and medical system Most survivors who worked with advocates reported less secondary victimization from legal and medical systems than those who did not work with advocates. Advocacy decreases victims feeling bad about themselves, guilty, depressed, and self blame Having an advocate at the start also help lead to victims seeking out future support and services Campbell (2006), Rape Survivors' Experiences with the Legal and Medical Systems: Do Rape Victim Advocates Make a Difference?

Main sources of reports about student respondents come from Residence Life/Housing, University Police, Victim Assistance, and other referrals Institutional Equity and Compliance/Title IX Coordinator oversees team of investigators who investigate reports of protected class harassment/discrimination including Title IX issues Some Key partners: Housing (including Family Housing), Student Conduct, Victim Assistance, Counseling and Psych Services, Students of Concern Team (Student Support Services), Dean of Students Office

Trained investigator model Investigators trained in trauma-informed practices as well as interviewing/investigation techniques Investigators as neutral fact-finders Gather information & determine by preponderance whether or not policy/code has been violated Reports presented to a review committee for approval prior to finalizing findings Investigators share findings with sanctioning authority Student Respondents: Director of Student Conduct Employee Respondents: Supervisor(s)

Sanctions, cont d In student-respondent cases, parties separately meet with sanctioning authority to discuss mitigating or aggravating circumstances related to sanctioning (prior conduct history/lack thereof, risk-reduction steps, restitution efforts, victim impact, etc.) NO ADJUDICATION PANELS NO APPEALS Benefits: Both complainants and respondents have a final, certain outcome Reduce trauma for impacted individuals

Assessing for immediate interim actions to help ensure safety Promptness and thoroughness Fairness and neutrality Trauma reduction for complainants Reduce the number of times students must re-live/re-tell the incident Awareness of and access to support and assistance options Transparency about roles, process, timeline, interim measures, next steps Awareness of retaliation and why it s prohibited Open mind Clear, complete records

Full Investigation Resolution Initial Report Ongoing Support Outcome Info Prelim Investigation Interim Remedies

SUCCESSES Increase reporting Increase cooperation CHALLENGES Navigating when only one party can share information It can work! Trust

State laws limit disclosure of information that would identify a victim of sexual assault Providing accommodations when a complainant wishes to remain anonymous to non-confidential officials Maintaining institutional support for confidential resources even/especially when complainant chooses to remain anonymous or investigation options are otherwise limited Fostering trust among different stakeholders in the prevention and response processes