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The Smith College Department of Public Safety
complies with the Federal Higher Education Amendments of 1992 9Public Law 102-325)
and 1998, which contain provisions requiring colleges to develop and disseminate
sexual assault policies. It is crucial that individuals report crimes of sexual assault
so that offenders can be apprehended and kept from repeating their actions.
The Department of Public Safety provides professionally
trained officers including state-certified sexual assault investigators trained in
the investigation of such offenses and the impact it has on the victim. They will
approach each case in a sensitive manner and will assist the victim to ensure preservation
of evidence and contact with appropriate medical services provided by both Smith
College Health Services and the Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
As a victim of rape or sexual assault you may want your
assailant identified, apprehended and prosecuted in court. An important part of the
criminal investigation is the collection of physical evidence. Victims should contact
the Department of Public Safety or go to Health Services or the hospital as soon
as possible after the incident (without showering, douching, or changing first, although
they should bring a change of clothes with them). The evidence will be collected
and used only if the victim chooses to prosecute. Health Services provides medical
evaluation, preventative treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and emergency
contraception. Cooley Dickinson Hospital provides sexual assault exams, including
collection of forensic evidence, clinical evaluation, assessment, and treatment of
injuries. Counseling Services are provided by the Smith College Counseling Services
staff. They provide counseling for crisis and healing, as well as referral to agencies
off campus, when applicable.
Survivors are involved in all decisions about proceeding
with criminal charges. If the survivor of a rape or sexual assault chooses to proceed
in this manner, DPS will provide assistance and guidance and will serve as a liaison
with the District Attorney’s Office. The victim’s name in all reports
of sexual assault is kept confidential, by Massachusetts law. College personnel,
including Deans, Student Affairs staff, ombudsperson, will assist survivors in notifying
on-campus law enforcement authorities (Department of Public Safety) and local law
enforcement authorities Northampton Police Department upon request. The Department
of Public Safety and other College staff will also advise survivors of their rights
to counseling and other services offered by the college and the community.
An on-call professional staff member with the Office
of Student Affairs is available 24-hours a day to respond to a crisis when school
is in session. The Office of Student Affairs will help a victim who needs academic
assistance by working with an academic dean and with campus housing by working with
the director of residence life. Students will be assisted with changes to their academic
and living situations after a sexual assault if requested. Requests for these changes
are coordinated through the Office of Student Affairs, and Public Safety may serve
as a liaison.
The Department of Public Safety, in cooperation with
the Office of Student Affairs and Residence Life makes rape awareness programs available
to every campus house and student group. Workshops on self-defense (Rape Aggression
Defense) and crime prevention training covering, awareness, prevention, risk reduction
and avoidance are regularly offered on campus and is included as part of the first-year
orientation.
The college encourages students to report a situation
in which she believes a sexual assault occurred, in order to ensure that appropriate
support and resources are provided to the victim. Any information regarding a sexual
assault on or off the Smith College campus can be reported to the Department of Public
Safety, College Health Services, or the Dean of Students. The Department of Public
Safety has been designated to receive all reports of sexual assault and to report
those centralized statistics to the community. Complaints regarding violations
of rules of conduct by Smith College students may also be directed to the Dean of
Students and processed in accordance with the College Judicial Board procedures.
The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act,
enacted on October 28, 2000 went into effect October 28, 2002. The law requires institutions
of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where law
enforcement agency information provided by the state concerning registered sex offenders
may be obtained. The law further mandates that sex offenders already required to
register in a state to provide notification to the state of each institution of higher
education in the state at which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, or
is a student. Information may be obtained at the following locations:
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