UI police makes promises to sex assault victims

In hopes of securing the trust of sexual assault victims and encouraging more of them to report criminal behavior, University of Iowa police are making a promise.

Actually, the UI Department of Public Safety is making 11 promises as part of a new 'sexual assault response guarantee' debuted Friday through an email to the campus community. The promises don't represent a change in how UI investigators respond to sexual assault, said David Visin, interim assistant vice president and director of public safety.

'It's always been the practice,' he said. 'But we've never put it out there like this, saying we will guarantee it.'

In the guarantee, UI police vow to meet with victims in private at a place of their choice; keep their identity private — except where disclosure is required by law; help arrange for medical treatment; and contact counseling and advocacy services.

Officers also promise to accommodate requests to speak with a male or female officer, fully investigate reports, and keep victims updated on progress of the investigation.

'Our officers will not prejudge you, and you will not be blamed,' according to the list of promises. 'We will treat you and your particular case with courtesy, sensitivity, dignity, understanding, and professionalism.'

The department, in its guarantee, reiterates its policy not to pursue alcohol or drug charges against victims who report sexual violence and to consider every case seriously — regardless of gender or sexual orientation of the victim or suspect.

'We will continue to be available for you, to answer your questions, to explain the systems and processes involved … and to be a listening ear,' according to the guarantee.

Should the department fall short of its guarantee, victims can meet in person with Visin, who said he hopes putting the guarantee on the department's website will eliminate any mystery surrounding the investigation process and encourage more victims to report criminal behavior.

'There is the whole question mark about what will happen,' he said. 'We are trying to alleviate some of their concerns about reporting to law enforcement.'

UI police have taken 11 reports of sexual assault so far this academic year — although that doesn't include victims who didn't report the crime or told UI officials but not police, Visin said. UI police in the last calendar year responded to 13 reports of sexual abuse and one report of attempted sexual abuse, according to the department's annual report.

It did not file any sexual abuse or attempted sexual abuse charges in the year. The department has filed sexual abuse charges in only two cases since 2010, according to the report.

The university has ramped up efforts to combat sexual assault after students last year protested an apparent increase in sexual violence and controversial comments from UI President Sally Mason on the topic.

Mason, in response, introduced a six-point plan to address sexual assault, including cracking down on offenders, improving training and education, and putting more resources toward campus safety. The school revamped its warning emails to do away with 'victim-blaming language,' officials said. The new language clearly states the 'only person responsible for sexual misconduct is the perpetrator.'

UI police on Friday also announced the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team, of which it's a member, has adopted a 'Start By Believing' campaign, which is part of a national initiative encouraging survivors to tell others and for those confidants to 'start by believing.'

The campaign juxtaposes frequent responses to sexual assault with the support victims of theft, illness, or death typically receive. 'They don't blame you for 'bringing it on yourself,'' according to the national campaign. 'It should be the same with sexual violence.'

Other communities that have adopted 'Start By Believing' campaigns include the University of Southern California and Flagstaff, Ariz.

'When someone tells you they've been sexually assaulted, don't blame them,' Visin said. 'That's not what you do.'