REPORTING ON-CAMPUS

If you have experienced interpersonal violence (including but not limited to: sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, relationship violence, and stalking) or know about an incident that occurred to someone else and are thinking of reporting it to campus officials, we know it can be confusing to know who the best person on campus is to tell. Our first recommendation is to work with our office to talk confidentially about your options.

I am Staff/Faculty:

please note: if you would like to report a student or faculty/staff from a different university on the Auraria campus or are unaffiliated with the campus, you would report to the school the perpetrator is affiliated with.

REPORTING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

If your incident occurred on campus, you might consider reporting to the campus police department (Auraria Police Department or Anschutz Police Department).  If you choose to report, APD will take the initial report from you.  For interpersonal violence cases, APD then refers your case to the Denver PD (or another jurisdiction, if necessary) for further investigation.  APD will refer you to resources that might be helpful.  Under the Clery Act requirement, APD may report your crime information for statistical purposes, but your name and identifying information will not be on this report.  APD may also notify The Phoenix Center at Auraria | Anschutz, who will follow up with you.  APD will not pursue any conduct proceedings through the campus (such as a disciplinary hearing for the perpetrator if they are a student) unless you want them to. Keep in mind, in certain situations, the APD is obligated to follow through once you report, but you do not need to be a part of the process if you change your mind.

If the incident occurred off campus, you will need to file a police report with the police agency where the crime occurred (for example, Denver Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Aurora Police Department, etc.).  If you decide to report to a police department, a patrol officer or detective will meet with and you will be a asked a series of detailed questions about the incident.  If a victim advocate is not provided, you have the right to request that one be provided to support you through this process.

If you wish, the police can also transport you to a hospital.  At the hospital, you can get checked for injuries.  In cases of sexual assault, a forensic medical exam (SANE or rape kit), can also be completed. In many cases, Crime Victims Compensation or other financial support services may be available to help cover medical costs.  Please make sure to consult with a Hospital Social Worker or PCA Advocates to find out your available options.

After talking with the initial officer, a report will then be filed, which will detail the incident. You will be assigned an investigator, who will be briefed on your case, but will most likely want to do a follow up interview the next day, called an “Order In.” During this, you may be asked to repeat many of the things you explained in your initial report and it is likely to be video taped too. At this point, your case will be assigned a case report number, which you should ask for. If the police are able to collect enough information and evidence for your case, it may move into the court system. Throughout this process, the DPD should provide you with a Police Victim’s Advocate, who can help to answer your questions about the process, or you may request a PCA advocate.

Find more about reporting in the criminal system here:

Criminal Justice System Flow Chart

CO Statute on Stalking

CO Statute on Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Procedures

REPORTING TO THE HOSPITAL

If you decide to go the hospital after your assault, a variety of things may happen. First, a physical exam will be done to check on your general health and treat any physical injuries you may have. If you have been sexually assaulted, the staff might test for pregnancy. If you are a female and have been sexually assaulted, you may also request to be checked for injuries, a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) exam, and/or receive prophylactic (plan B or STI prevention) medication. The SANE exam is a forensic examination to collect evidence in cases of a sexual assault which occurred within 72 hours. This is optional. Hospital staff will notify law enforcement in all cases of interpersonal violence.  However, you do not have to speak to the officers if you do not wish. 

If you choose to do so, you may file a report and any evidence collected during the SANE exam will be submitted to the crime lab for processing. You are allowed to stop the examination at any time or only do certain parts of it, if you wish. The forensic exam is free of charge. Whether or not you decide to report to the police or not, you may still get a free SANE exam (rape kit) completed.  If you do not report to the police, your kit will be assigned a number (which you will be given).  The kit will be kept for two years, and if at any time during that period, you decide to report to the police, the evidence from the kit will then be processed.  If you never decide to report, the evidence from the kit will be destroyed.

If you are unsure what to do…

If you are a CCD, CU Denver, Anschutz, or MSUD student, staff, or faculty member and you are not sure whether you are ready to (or want to) formally report, then please contact The Phoenix Center at Auraria | Anschutz before contacting any of the individuals noted above.

The Phoenix Center at Auraria | Anschutz can provide confidential information about your options without making a formal report.

A Note on Confidentiality

Survivors and those reporting knowledge of interpersonal violence should be aware that the CU Denver, Anschutz, CCD, and MSUD Counseling Centers can and will maintain confidentiality. The Phoenix Center at Auraria | Anschutz is also a confidential resource. Other CU Denver, Anschutz, CCD and MSUD staff members, however, cannot guarantee confidentiality where a threat of substantial injury or harm to any member of the community is present. However, every effort will be made to keep the identity of the survivor, or person reporting the interpersonal violence confidential. Specific details that would assist in the identification of the survivor, or person reporting the assault will be, where possible, kept confidential.

If this is a life-threatening emergency, you are seriously injured, or you feel as though you are in imminent danger, please call:

911 for the Denver Police Department

303-556-5000 for the Auraria Police Department

or 303-724-4444 for the Anschutz Police Department