Reporting an Incident

This site will look much better with a web browser that supports current web standards.

Reporting Options & Descriptions | Online Notification Form

A person who has experienced, or is aware of, a sexual assault, relationship violence, or stalking is urged to make an official report to the Police, the Office of Judicial Affairs, and/or the Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs. Informal (non disciplinary) and anonymous reporting options are also listed below. Whether or not you choose to make an official report, you are strongly urged to seek the appropriate help...

to ensure your safety
to begin your healing process
and to obtain any necessary academic or work related accommodations.

All of these important considerations pertain whether you have survived a sexual assault or know someone who has. Sexual violence can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved.

If you do not want to make an official report at this time please feel out a Notification Form (for statistical purposes only - you may remain annonymous and no action will be taken).

Reporting Options & Descriptions

The following chart is a guide to the various reporting options available. More detailed descriptions of services and how each office responds to reports are listed below. If you need further clarity as to your reporting options and which may be reight for you, please contact the YWCA 24-hour confidential hotline at (650) 725-9955. The YWCA works on an empowerment model and will not take any action or notify any University official without your expressed request and permission.

REPORTING OPTIONS Anonymous Disciplinary / Legal Investigation Resources for Faculty/Staff Free SART Medical Exam Counseling & Other Resources

YWCA YES NO YES NO YES

Police - Official Report NO YES YES YES YES

Police - Informational Report OPTIONAL OPTIONAL YES YES YES

University Notification OPTIONAL NO YES NO NO

Judicial Affairs NO YES If assailant is a student NO YES

Ombuds YES NO YES NO YES

Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs OPTIONAL NO NO NO YES

Human Resources NO YES YES NO YES

Sexual Harassment Policy Office OPTIONAL YES YES NO YES

* YES/OPTIONAL/NO are typical characteristics of the above reporting options, but there are often exceptions/caveats.
Ex: A confidential consultation with Judicial Affairs will not lead to a university disciplinary investigation until the victim/survivor chooses to do so through filing a formal complaint. Even then, the victim/survivor may choose to withdraw the complaint at any time. However, information based on that report will be entered confidentially for mandatory reporting statistics based on the Clery Act.

Benefits of Reporting

Seeking justice (through the student or employee judicial disciplinary process and/or the criminal justice system)
Seeking protection (physical safety, emotional security, and/or academic and workplace accommodations)
Knowing when and where and under what circumstances sexual assaults take place will enhance the effectiveness of the University's education and prevention efforts.

- TOP -

YWCA Sexual Assault Center

24-hour hotline: (650) 725-9955

A confidential place to explore the range of options available to you as you deal with the experience of having been raped or otherwise sexually assaulted. You are not actually making a report when you call the YWCA hotline. Rather, you will be told of your reporting options (and what is involved with each process) should you wish to report. By request, the YWCA can help coordinate services with campus and community resources. The YWCA Sexual Assault Center at Stanford helps Stanford students, faculty and staff to minimize the traumatic aftermath of sexual assault by providing a 24-hour crisis hotline, immediate crisis counseling and assistance, information and referrals, and accompaniment services to medical, police, court facilities and the judicial affairs process. The YWCA also provides services and counseling for friends and relatives of survivors.

As noted above, the YWCA works on an empowerment model and will not take any action or notify any University official without your expressed request and permission.

What will happen?

It’s up to you. The 24-hour hotline is staffed by trained volunteer advocates that provide immediate counseling and resources. They can connect you to professional staff member and/or schedule an on-campus confidential appointment.

Advantages:

Due to their experience in responding to all types of sexual assault and sexual violence the advantages are numerous. However, the most important is that you are 100% in control of everything that happens. Click here for alternative
Rape/Domestic Violence Crisis Hotlines.

- TOP -

Police Report

Stanford University Department of Public Safety
(650) 723-9633 or 9-911
police@stanford.edu

If you contact the police, you may choose to fill out either an Official Criminal Report to press charges against the offender, or to make an Informational Report.

An Official Criminal Report initiates a criminal investigation.
An Informational Report is not activated until you ask the police to do so.

Option A: Official Criminal Report

A police report must be made before a criminal prosecution can be considered by the local District Attorney’s Office. The chances of a successful prosecution are greater if the report to the police is timely and is supported by the collection of medical-legal evidence. If you contact the police and provide the name of the assailant or sufficient information for them to identify that person the police will initiate an official criminal investigation. You can ask for a male or female officer if you have a preference.

You have the right to have a free legal advocate with you when you talk to the police – you can contact the YWCA on your own or the police can make that call for you.

For sexual assault that occurs on the Stanford campus, contact the Stanford Police at 723-9633 or 9-911.

For an off-campus incident, call 911 or the local police jurisdiction:

Palo Alto: (650) 470-1258 East Palo Alto: (650) 321-1112
Los Altos: (650) 947-2779 Los Altos Hills: (408) 299-3233
Menlo Park: (650) 325-4424 Millbrae: (650) 697-1212
Mountain View: (650) 903-6922 Redwood City: (650) 369-3333
San Carlos: (650) 592-2222

What will happen?

The police will follow their normal protocol to initiate a criminal investigation. You can request that the process be stopped at any time but the police department has certain legal obligations once they are aware of and have evidence that a crime has been committed. You should discuss your options with the YWCA, an attorney and/or the police department before deciding whether to file an official criminal report or an information report (described below) with the police department.

Advantages:

You can help bring a criminal offender to justice. Holding someone accountable for their crime is key to future prevention.

- TOP -

Option B: Informational or Informal Report to Police

To file an informational report with the police without initiating a criminal investigation (in order to obtain a medical-forensic exam within the first 72 hours and/or to have an official record of the incident), it is important that you tell the police that is your goal and that at this time you only wish to file an informational report. If you give the police the offenders name or sufficient information for them to determine who committed the crime they will be obligated (as noted above) to initiate a criminal investigation. Additionally, if you do not wish to provide your name, you can anonymously report an incident of sexual assault to the Stanford police.

What will happen?

If you file an informational report with the police (and do not provide the name of the assailant) they will record your statement but will not launch an investigation. You will be eligible for a forensic-medical exam (no cost to you) and if you later choose to initiate an official police report they can use the information you provided at this time. As the victim you have a right to a copy of the informational report. The police department cannot release that report to anyone. However, as the victim, you have a right to have it. You may, for example, request a copy of that report and provide it to the Office of Judicial Affairs if you ultimately choose to file a complaint against a Stanford student for violating the Fundamental Standard.

Advantages:

This option allows you to document what happened to you as soon as possible. The report will be written by a trained officer. The biggest advantage is that it helps you to retain your options without launching an official police investigation. If you do this within the first 72 hours of the incident you can get a forensic-medical exam (a valuable source of evidence). You can later choose to have the informational report launch either an official police investigation or a Judicial Affairs investigation. It demonstrates that you believe a crime occurred and records details and memories that may elude you later.

- TOP -

University Notification

Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs
(650) 723-2733

In all cases, we urge you (even anonymously) to notify the University about any incident of sexual violence and/or assault. You can do this by filling out the on-line notification report (you can submit it on line or mail a hardcopy) and students may also contact the Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs at 723-2733. You may provide as much or little information as you would like. You may remain anonymous and you are not required to provide the name of the other party involved. This report will not initiate either a police or Judicial Affairs investigation but will be used for central statistical reporting and to ensure campus safety.

University notifications may be made regardless of the location and/or date of the incident.

What will happen?

On-line reports and University Notifications will be collected for statistical information only and in compliance with the Clery Act. If requested, University officials will direct you to appropriate resources and/or offer other (more formal) reporting options.

Advantages:

In order for the University to help protect its community, notification is critical. If you file a University Notification you are part of the solution to eradicate sexual violence on our campus without requiring further action on your part.

If you wish to fill out an University Notification to provide information that will help track Stanford’s response to the incident, we have two procedures based upon your Stanford affiliation.
Please note: The following form is for informational and tracking purposes only. It is not to take the place of filing an actual report with the proper authorities.

To provide security and anonymity for the victim/survivor of the incident, we have a secure online form for Stanford affiliates only.

If you are not affiliated with Stanford, please click here for a downloadable form that can be printed out. Please send the completed form to:

Dr. Jennifer Gregory
Counseling and Psychological Services
Vaden Health Center
866 Campus Drive
Stanford, CA 94305-8580
(650)723-3785
Fax: (650)725-2887
jgregory@stanford.edu

Incident Notification Form

Online Form for Stanford Affiliates

Downloadable Form for non-Stanford Affiliates

- TOP -

Office of Judicial Affairs

(650) 725-2485
judicialaffairs@stanford.edu

Sexual assault is a violation of the Fundamental Standard. If the assailant is a Stanford student you may file a complaint with the Office of Judicial Affairs. It is important to know that the Student Judicial Charter of 1997 requires that the Judicial Officer files a charge (this is not your complaint but the charge issued at the end of the investigation) be issued within 6 months of the date of the incident or when it should have reasonably been discovered. Consulting with the Office of Judicial Affairs does not obligate you to file a complaint and does not initiate an investigation.

Information about the judicial affairs process (http://www.stanford.edu/dept/vpsa/judicialaffairs/students/complaint.reporting.htm) and the rights of the reporting party (http://www.stanford.edu/dept/vpsa/judicialaffairs/judicialprocess/victimsrights.htm) can be found on the judicial affairs website.

Print

REPORTING OPTIONS	Anonymous	Disciplinary / Legal Investigation	Resources for Faculty/Staff	Free SART Medical Exam	Counseling & Other Resources
YWCA	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES
Police - Official Report	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
Police - Informational Report	OPTIONAL	OPTIONAL	YES	YES	YES
University Notification	OPTIONAL	NO	YES	NO	NO
Judicial Affairs	NO	YES	If assailant is a student	NO	YES
Ombuds	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES
Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs	OPTIONAL	NO	NO	NO	YES
Human Resources	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES
Sexual Harassment Policy Office	OPTIONAL	YES	YES	NO	YES

Palo Alto: (650) 470-1258	East Palo Alto: (650) 321-1112
Los Altos: (650) 947-2779	Los Altos Hills: (408) 299-3233
Menlo Park: (650) 325-4424	Millbrae: (650) 697-1212
Mountain View: (650) 903-6922	Redwood City: (650) 369-3333
San Carlos: (650) 592-2222