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Reporting a sexual assault can be daunting, especially if you don't know the outcomes or processes involved. This page is designed to assist you in making the right choice, and to help you understand what may happen if you choose to report to a DU official. This applies to whether you have been sexually assaulted, a friend of yours has been assaulted, or if someone you know is perpetrating and you are unsure what to do next. For further advice and information please contact Lisa Ingarfield, the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Coordinator at 303.871.3853.

A Note on Confidentiality
Survivors and those reporting knowledge of a sexual assault should be aware that the DU Counseling Center can and will maintain confidentiality. The Gender Violence Education and Support Services (GVESS) office is also a confidential resource. Other DU staff members, however, cannot guarantee confidentiality where a threat of substantial injury or harm to any member of the community is present. However, every effort will be made to keep the identity of the survivor, or person reporting the assault confidential. Specific details that would assist in the identification of the survivor, or person reporting the assault will be, where possible, kept confidential. All DU staff members, except those employed in the Counseling Center, are required by the federal government to complete a confidential statistical report. This report does not include any names or information that could lead to the identification of the victim, survivor, or person reporting the assault.

A Note on Victim's Rights
In 1992, Colorado voters passed a constitutional amendment that guarantees rights to victims of certain crimes. Victim/survivors of sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact, and stalking have rights. These rights include, but are not limited to:

* To be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect
* To be informed about the status of their case
* To consult with the district attorney
* To have restitution ordered
* To be informed of, present, and heard at critical stages of the criminal justice process
* To have property returned when it's no longer needed as evidence
* To be free from harassment, intimidation, or abuse by the attacker or someone acting on the person?s behalf
* To be informed of the results of any court-ordered HIV testing
* Receive information about resources in the community
* If the victim/survivor is a child he/she has the right to have information communicated to him/her in a level of language in which he/she can understand

For more information about the rights of crime victims, click here: or, go to www.Colorado.gov and type "victim rights" into the search tool.

If you disclose or report a sexual assault, the following things may happen:

1. The Program Director for Gender Violence Education and Support Services, the Health and Counseling Center, and/or Campus Safety can assist you in contacting Denver Police Department (DPD) if desired. Contacting any of the above groups does not then obligate the survivor to report the incident to Denver Police if he or she does not want to although a report of a sexual assault in progress may result in the immediate requests for DPD assistance.

2. If DPD is called, the survivor still retains the right not to file a report. The presence of a DPD officer does not in any way obligate or require the survivor to make a report.

3. The GVESS Program Director, the Health and Counseling Center, and/or Campus Safety can assist the survivor in getting medical help and caution the survivor against bathing, urinating, drinking, eating, douching, or changing clothes so as to preserve evidence

4. Assistance can be given in connecting the survivor to Denver victim advocacy services if the survivor so desires (such as the Denver Victim Assistance Unit or the Rape Awareness and Assistance Program [RAAP])

5. Every attempt will be made to keep the survivor's identity confidential

6. The survivor can be informed of options available to them regarding housing and academic concerns

7. If a perceived ongoing threat occurs, then a crime alert will be posted and emailed to the entire campus community. Other forms of communication may also be utilized. Every effort will be made in this circumstance to keep the survivor's identity confidential

8. If the survivor so chooses, he or she can be informed about the judicial process at the University of Denver and his or her rights (the right to have someone present during the hearings and the right to be notified of the outcome of the hearing). Regardless of whether criminal action is taken, a student found responsible by a Conduct Review Board will have action take against him or her, up to and including dismissal.

9. A confidential statistical report will be made to Campus Safety. This is required by federal statute. This report does not include any details that could identify the survivor.

 
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