Victims of sexual assault should immediately report the incident to the DSC Public Safety Department by dialing 706-272-4461 or 911 and get to a safe place as soon as possible. The victim’s medical and emotional needs are given first priority by the campus security personnel. An anonymous reporting form is available as well at: https://www.daltonstate.edu/about/safety-overview.cms The following “Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights” exists as a part of the campus security reporting requirements, commonly known as the Jeanne Clery Act. These rights shall be accorded, by all campus officers, administrators, and employees of DSC, to victims of campus related sexual assaults:
- The right to have any and all sexual assaults against them treated with seriousness; the right, as victims, to be treated with dignity; and the right for campus organizations that assist such victims to be accorded recognition.
- The right to have sexual assaults committed against them investigated and adjudicated by the duly constituted criminal and civil authorities of the government entity in which the crimes occurred; and the right to the full and prompt cooperation and assistance of campus personnel in notifying the proper authorities. The foregoing shall be in addition to any campus disciplinary proceedings.
- The right to be free from any kind of pressure from campus personnel that victims not report crimes committed against them to civil and criminal authorities or to campus enforcement and disciplinary officials; or report crimes as lesser offenses than the victims perceives them to be.
- The right to be free from any kind of suggestion that campus sexual assault victims not report, or under report, crimes because: victims are somehow responsible for the commission of crimes against them; victims were contributory, negligent or assumed the risk of being assaulted; or by reporting crimes would incur unwanted personal publicity.
- The same right to have others present, in any campus disciplinary proceeding that DSC permits to the accused; and the right to be notified of the outcome of such proceeding.
- The right of full and prompt cooperation from campus personnel in obtaining, securing, and maintaining evidence (including a medical examination) as may be necessary to the proof of criminal sexual assault in subsequent legal proceedings.
- The right to be made aware of, and assisted in exercising any options, as provided by the State and Federal laws or regulations, with regard to mandatory testing of sexual assault suspects for communicable diseases and with regard to notification to victims of the results of such testing.
- The right to counseling from any mental health services previously established by DSC, or by other victim-service entities, or by victims themselves.
- After campus sexual assaults have been reported, the victims of such crimes shall have the right to require that campus personnel take the necessary steps or actions reasonably feasible to prevent any unnecessary or unwanted contact or proximity with alleged assailants, including transfer of classes if requested by the victim.