Skip To Content

Campus Police
Blaney Hall

Sexual Assault Prevention and Respose

Reporting Procedures

Security PatchCCC educates the student community about sexual assaults and date rape through mandatory freshmen orientations each fall. the Campus Police offer sexual assault education and information programs to CCC students and employees upon request. Literature on date rape education, risk reduction and CCC response is available through the Residence Life office.

If you are a victim of a sexual assault at CCC, your first priority should be to get to a place of safety. You should then obtain necessary medical treatment. The Cedar Crest College Campus Police strongly advocate that a victim of sexual assault report the incident in a timely manner. Time is a critical factor for evidence collection and preservation. An assault should be reported directly to a CCC Campus Police officer and/or to a Residence Life representative. Filing a police report with a CCC Campus Police officer will not obligate the victim to prosecute, nor will it subject the victim to scrutiny or judgmental opinions from officers.

Filing a police report will:

  • ensure that a victim of sexual assault receives the necessary medical treatment and tests, at no expense to the victim;
  • provide the opportunity for collection of evidence helpful in prosecution which cannot be obtained later (ideally a victim of sexual assault should not wash, douche, use the toilet or change clothing prior to a medical/legal exam); and,
  • assure the victim has access to free confidential counseling from counselors specifically trained in the area of sexual assault crisis intervention. When a sexual assault victim contacts CCC Campus Police, the City of Allentown Police Special Victims Unit will be notified as well. A representative from the Residence Life office will also be notified.

The victim of a sexual assault may choose to have the investigation pursued through the criminal justice system, the CCC Honor and Judicial Board, or both. A CCC representative from the Campus Police office or the Residence Life office will guide the victim through the available options and support the victim in her or his decision. Various counseling options are available through CCC and through the Health Services office. Counseling and support services outside the CCC system can be obtained through the Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley at 610-437-6611.

REPORTING PROCEDURES

IMPORTANT STEPS TO REMEMBER:

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, tell someone.

  1. You could report it to an RA, RC, Student Affairs Staff, Campus Police or even a trusted Professor or Administrator.
  2. Visit Health Services and speak to a Physician or Counselor. Call extension 3476 or 610-606-4640.
  3. If you want to file a formal complaint, or Health Services is gone for the day, contact the Campus Police by dialing “0” from a campus phone or 610-437-4471 from an “off campus” phone.

YOUR OPTIONS WHEN REPORTING:

  1. "On campus" (internal) investigation and disciplinary action.
    1. Student Affairs and the Campus Police will explain the process.
    2. Physical evidence will be collected and processed.
    3. The scene will be investigated and witnesses will be questioned, in a timely fashion.
    4. Depending on the location of the incident, the Police Department that has jurisdiction may be called in to assist with the investigation or may in fact take over the part of the investigation which took place in that location.
    5. The Campus Police and Student Affairs will consult with the complainant about the contents of the "Federally Mandated Notice" which will be released to the campus community.
    6. The Dean of Students will receive the report on the completed investigation. The Dean of Students or her designee will coordinate with the Honor and Judicial Board on charges to be made and action to be taken or set up an Administrative Hearing Board to do the same.
    7. After hearing testimony from the complainant and the accused student (both may be accompanied by a "college" advisor) and any witnesses, the Board will make a decision on the guilt and what appropriate sanctions will be enforced.
    8. The complainant and the accused will be notified about the decision as soon as possible.
  2. Filing Criminal Charges.
    1. Student Affairs and the Campus Police will explain the process.
    2. The initial investigation starts the same as the "On Campus" investigation.
    3. Allentown Police will conduct the investigation with help from Cedar Crest College Campus Police.
    4. The completed investigation report will be sent to the Lehigh County District Attorney for possible prosecution in Criminal Court.
    5. The Campus Police and Student Affairs will consult with the complainant about the contents of the "Federally Mandated Notice" which will be released to the campus community.
  3. Filing both "On campus" and Criminal Charges.
    1. Filing both options listed above (1 & 2)
    2. Both "On Campus" and Criminal proceedings take place independently.
  4. Report the assault but do not file charges.
    1. Request a protection from abuse against the accused.
    2. The Campus Police and Student Affairs will consult with the complainant about the contents of the “Federally Mandated Notice” which will be released to the campus community.

Note: The complainant may choose to not use any of these procedures, but they are strongly encouraged to seek help from Health Services and the Counseling Staff.

For off campus counseling, support, and help for sexual assault victims, their family members and others close to them note the following contact information:

Agency: Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley
Hotline Number: 610-437-6611

Campus Police
Press - 0