|
Public Safety
Sexual Assault Policy
Harford Community College is committed to providing a working and
learning environment in which all members of the academic community are free
from any crime and the fear it may elicit. Therefore, the College
prohibits and will not tolerate any form of sexual misconduct make by an
employee, student, or participant in any College - sponsored program.
This also includes any individual present on the College's campus or any
property that the College owns or leases, or is being used by the College
for a College - sponsored program.
Definition
Sexual assault is when a person is touched in a sexual way without
that person giving consent to that sexual contact, either forcibly and/or
against the person's will, or where the victim is incapable of giving
consent, such as instances of physical or mental impairment. This
nonconsensual, physical conduct of a sexual nature applies whether it occurs
between members of the same gender or between members of opposite gender.
Consent means that both partners actively initiate and participate
in specific sexual acts, or freely provide verbal agreement to engage in
specific sexual contact.
Lack of consent can be implied by circumstances other than physical
resistance or verbal refusal. Silence, previous sexual relationships,
current relationships, or use of alcohol and/or drugs cannot be taken
as an indication of consent. Someone who is asleep or unconscious is
incapable of providing consent. An individual who is significantly
impaired by alcohol or drugs may also be considered incapable of providing
consent.
Although consent may initially be given, it may be revoked at any point,
either verbally, through physical resistance, or by losing consciousness.
Failure to respond promptly to a withdrawal of consent constitutes sexual
assault.
Maryland Criminal Law Article 3, Section 303-308, Rape/Sexual Offenses outlines
what legally constitutes the offense (s) of sexual assault and the criminal
penalties. Copies of the statute are available from the Department of Public Safety
Office located is the lower level of the Library.
College Response to Victims of Sexual Assault
The Department of Public Safety Office is located in the lower level of the Harford
Community College Library and is open 24 hours a day to assist victims of
sexual assault. Public Safety officers can be reached on campus by
calling ext. 2272 or 443-412-2272.
An individual who believes to have been a victim of sexual
assault occurring at HCC or during the course of HCC - sponsored activities
should report the incident to the HCC Department of Public Safety and/or
may contact any College administrator who will notify the Associate Vice
President for Student Development and the Vice President for Student
Development and Institutional Effectiveness. All complaints will be
investigated, and confidentiality will be maintained to an extent with the
College's duty to investigate the complaint. HCC Department of Public Safety will inform the alleged victim of his or her right to
notify the appropriate law enforcement authorities to file criminal charges,
and the importance of preserving evidence necessary as proof of the
criminal sexual offense. With the victim's consent, the HCC Department
of Public
Safety may notify the Harford County Sheriff's Office to conduct official
criminal investigations of any allegations of sexual assault. With the
victim's consent, Department of Public Safety will arrange for
transportation to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center for medical evaluation and treatment. Student
victims of sexual assault will be connected with a member of the Harford
Community College Student Intervention and Prevention (SIP) Team for support
and assistance through the reporting process. The student will also
receive referrals for immediate assistance from professionally trained
crisis intervention counselors who are specifically experienced in dealing
with sexual offense crises.
Only those College administrators with a legitimate need to know will be
informed of the incident. They include the Associate Vice President of
Student Development and Vice President of Student Development and
Institutional Effectiveness, and other with concrete knowledge of the incident or with
a legitimate need to know will be notified of the incident. This
notification is to ensure that any reasonable academic accommodations that
need to be made on behalf of the victim can be completed upon request.
Enforcement
Individuals of the campus community who have been found to have
committed crimes involving sexual assault, are subject to severe
sanctions through the campus judicial/disciplinary systems and/or the
criminal justice system in accordance with existing procedures outlined in
the Harford Community College Student Code, found in the College Catalog and
Student Handbook. such sanctions include, but are not limited to
suspension or expulsion, criminal and/or civil prosecution. Copies of the
Maryland Law Article 3, Sections 305-308, Rape/Sexual Offenses statute
which outlines the criminal penalties associated with sexual assault offense
(s) can be obtained from the Department of Public Safety Office located in the lower level
of the College Library. Procedures
Both the individual who claims to be a victim of a sexual offense and
the individual accused of the alleged sexual offense may have a person of
his or her choice present with them during any meeting or hearing conducted
during the course of a disciplinary proceeding arising our of an alleged
sexual offense, provided that the unavailability of such a person shall not
be reason to delay or postpone any meeting or hearing. Both the
individual who claims to be a victim of a sexual offense and the individual
who is asserted to have committed suck an offense may be informed, in
writing, of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding arising out of the
sexual offense. There shall be no acts of retaliation against a person who
files a complaint of a sexual offense, except when an individual knowingly
files a false complaint. This individual will be subject to
appropriate administrative action according to the Harford Community College
Student Code, found in the College Catalog and Student Handbook.
Education and Prevention
Harford Community College's commitment to preventing sexual assault is
demonstrated by the implementation of educational programs to promote the
awareness of sexual assault, including date and acquaintance rape.
Students, staff and other participants in College - sponsored programs are
strongly encouraged to take advantage of these programs to further develop
an understanding of what constitutes a sexual offense, steps which may be
taken to prevent such conduct, and steps to be taken in the event such
conduct does occur. Services to Assist Students
Staff are available in the Advising, Career, and Disability Services
Offices to assist students in crisis situations. Local referrals to
community services are also available through Advising, Career, and
Disability Services. Call 443-412-2357, 443-412-2402, or 443-412-2301.
|
Student Life @ HCC
