Sexual Assault

Victims of sexual assault, or persons who have information regarding a sexual assault, are strongly encouraged to report the incident to the San Jacinto College Police Department immediately. It is the policy of the department to conduct investigations of all sexual assault complaints with sensitivity, compassion, patience, and respect for the victim. Investigations are conducted in accordance with guidelines established by the Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

All information and reports of sexual assault are kept strictly confidential. In accordance with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures, Art. 57, victims may use a pseudonym to protect their identities. A pseudonym is a set of initials, or a fictitious name, chosen by the victim to be used in all public files and records concerning the sexual assault. The victims of sexual assault are not required to file criminal charges or seek judicial actions through the College’s disciplinary process. However, victims are encouraged to report the assault in order to provide the victim with physical and emotional assistance.

The San Jacinto College Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit is available to all victims to provide information about personal safety, Texas Crime Victims’ Rights, Texas Crime Victims Compensation Fund and other information upon request. The Office of the Dean of Students can assist the victim with issues including, but not limited to, class schedule changes, withdrawal procedures.

The San Jacinto College Police Department is available to receive and investigate reports of sexual assault, assist a victim in securing medical attention, participate in evidence preservation and collection, conduct investigations, and inform the victim of legal and administrative options both on and off campus.

Guidelines or suggestions to follow after a sexual assault:

• Go to a safe place as soon as you can.
• Contact the San Jacinto College Police Department at 911 (5555 using an on-campus phone).
• Get medical attention as soon as possible to make sure you are physically well and to collect important evidence in the event you may later wish to take legal action.
• Try to preserve all physical evidence. Do not wash, use the toilet, or change clothing if you can avoid it. If you do change clothes, put all clothing you were wearing at the time of the attack in a paper, not plastic, bag.
• Talk with a counselor who will maintain confidentiality, help explain your options, give you information, and provide emotional support.
• Contact someone you trust to be with you and support you.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

It is important to seek immediate and follow-up medical attention for several reasons: first, to assess and treat any physical injuries you may have sustained; second, to determine the risk of sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy and take preventive measures; and third, to gather evidence that could aid criminal prosecution. Physical evidence should be collected immediately, ideally within the first 24 hours. It may be collected later than this, but the quality and quantity of the evidence may be diminished.

SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION

The college Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit provides education, prevention and personal safety programs.

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

The “Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act” is a federal law enacted on Oct. 28, 2000 that provides for the tracking of convicted, registered sex offenders enrolled as students at institutions of higher education, employed, or volunteering on campus.

This act amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to clarify that nothing in that Act may be construed to prohibit an educational institution from disclosing information provided to the institution concerning registered sex offenders and requires the Secretary of Education to take appropriate steps to notify educational institutions that disclosure of this information is permitted.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the official Texas internet source for Sex Offender Registration information. The Sex Offender Registration open record information is extracted from the DPS Sex Offender Registration Database. The DPS maintains files based on registration information submitted by criminal justice agencies and represents a statewide source of information on sex offenders required by law to register. The DPS public web page can be found at https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/DPS_WEB/Portal/index.aspx.

The San Jacinto College Police Department receives notification of registered sex offenders from the Harris County Sheriff’s Sex Offender Registration Office that are currently employed, work, teach, volunteer, or attend classes on the campuses of San Jacinto College. Information about these registered sex offenders may be found on the San Jacinto College Police Department’s public web site at http://www.sanjac.edu/police “Registered Sex Offender Notification.”

DISCIPLINARY ACTION – ALLEGED SEX OFFENSES

The San Jacinto College Office of the Dean of Students will review information received regarding incidents involving sexual offenses for alleged violations of the San Jacinto College Student Handbook. For information on the definition of sexual misconduct student rule violations, please see the Student Rules.

Accuser and accused are entitled to same opportunities to have others present during a disciplinary proceeding. Accuser and accused will be informed of the outcome of any institutional disciplinary proceeding alleging a sex offense.