UCONN Report Finds Sexual Assaults More than Double in Past Year

Boucher: When a student attends college, he or she should expect their campus to be as safe and secure as it possibly can be.

Hartford, CT – State Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton) released the following statement today re: UCONN annual Security Fire and Safety Report which found rapes in 2014 were up significantly, from 18 to 43.

“When a student attends college, he or she should expect their campus to be as safe and secure as it possibly can be. I am saddened any student was put in harms way at the hand of another. It’s horrible.

“What we know here in Connecticut is that safety and security on college campuses must include procedures, policies and programs to ensure the right response to a sexual assault. That is why I fought for the new safety standards at our universities and college campuses.

“This is not merely a Connecticut issue – it is a national issue. The good news is that Connecticut has model legislation for the rest of the country. Connecticut has improved services for victims, and through legislative cooperation we streamlined the often-confusing campus policies dealing with sexual assault.

“The steps taken by UConn have been commendable and should provide added safety, security and sensitivity in response to traumatic incidents. Our priority must continue to be the safety of students which also requires training of employees and students on violent assault policies. There must also be clear responses and consequences. I am pleased to see UConn is taking the law so seriously.”

Background:

Connecticut’s new law, co-sponsored by Sen. Boucher:

• Allows victims including employees of college institutions to report incidents of sexual assault anonymously, provided that doing so does not violate state or federal law.
• Requires schools to provide counseling and advocacy services to students who are victimized off-campus including being sexually assaulted and stalked.
• Empowers bystanders to prevent such crimes by requiring colleges and universities to provide prevention and awareness training to all students and staff, including a clear explanation of what constitutes consent in a sexual relationship and strategies for bystander intervention.
• Requires schools to report annually to the legislature about policies on sexual assault, training programs, numbers of sexual assaults and disciplinary action.
• Require sexual assault response teams to be put in place on campuses and for universities to collaborate with clinics in their area so students have access to free care.

Some of the improvements being undertaken by UConn include:

• A new Assistant Dean of Students for Victim Support Services position has been created to coordinate services for sexual assault victims.
• Investigations will be centrally coordinated to avoid confusion and duplication and clarify responsibility.
• Two new investigators have been hired to support UConn’s investigations.
• UConn Police Department has created a “Special Victims Unit” comprised of officers specially trained in sexual assault response. Officers from this unit will be available at all times 24/7.
• A “Bystander Intervention Committee” comprised of students, staff and faculty will be created to develop and oversee UConn’s bystander training and programs.
• All Resident Assistants (RAs) and supervisors will receive specific sexual assault training.

To see the full report visit http://today.uconn.edu/2015/09/new-annual-security-and-fire-safety-report-released/