It is your right to choose whether to report sexual violence. There are several confidential resources that can help you make an informed decision regarding reporting. You may choose to report the incident right away, after taking some time to get support and take care of yourself, or you may choose to never report the incident. You may choose to report the incident to the University, law enforcement, both, or neither. It's entirely up to you. If you are a student, you should not be deterred from reporting a sexual violence because you were intoxicated or under the influence of other drugs at the time of the incident. Complainants who disclose they were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs as part of the process of reporting sexual violence will not be disciplined.
Whether you choose to report the crime or not, you are encouraged to contact the University CARE advocate where all intervention services are confidential, free, and available to any UC Davis student, staff, or faculty.
All University employees, including student employees, are required to report all incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence against students to the Title IX Office. Additionally, certain University officials – supervisors, faculty, coaches and other officials – are required to report all incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. If you prefer to stay anonymous, consider talking with one of the UCD confidential resources before making an official complaint.
A formal investigation may be conducted in sexual harassment cases under certain circumstances. Again, the Title IX Officer and Sexual Harassment Officer, with other appropriate administrators, will review each complaint to determine the best response.
- Reporting to Law Enforcement
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If you would like to report to the police, the first step is to determine which law enforcement agency to report to. This is based on the location of the sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, or stalking. For example, if the incident occurred on UC Davis property, the report would be made to the UC Davis Police Department. If the incident occurred at an off-campus residence within the City of Davis, the report would be made to the Davis Police Department.
The CARE victim advocate can help you to determine which law enforcement agency to contact if you wish to report the assault to the police.
Generally, a report to the police will involve speaking with a first-response patrol officer who will make sure you are safe, gather basic information about the incident, and evaluate the need for a medical exam to collect evidence. If an evidentiary exam is necessary, the exam is NOT done by the officer; it is conducted by a specially trained medical practitioner. You might also be contacted by a detective for a follow up interview to obtain a more extensive account of what occurred. As a victim of sexual assault or other sexual violence, you have the right to have a victim advocate present with you during the evidentiary exam and all law enforcement and prosecutor interviews.
Local Law Enforcement Agencies:
UC Davis Police Department: 530-752-1230
City of Davis Police Department: 530-758-3600
Sacramento Police Department: 916-732-0100
City of Woodland Police Department: 530-666-2411 - Reporting to UC Davis
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If you choose to file a report with the University and the perpetrator is a UC Davis student or employee, the University will take prompt action to respond to your complaint and will impose disciplinary sanctions against the accused if the University determines the accused violated University policy. For more information about the process of reporting to the University, see below.
What happens if I report sexual violence to the university?
UC Davis takes all complaints of sexual harassment and sexual violence very seriously. Your safety and well-being are among the University’s highest priorities, and you have the right to a learning or work environment that is free from any type of harassment or discrimination. UC Davis responds to reports of sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking through the University's sexual violence and sexual harassment policy and procedures.
First Steps
If you choose to report to the University, you may do so by contacting a staff member in the campus Harassment & Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program (HDAPP) or by completing the online Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Incident Report Form. If you use the online report form, someone from the Title IX Office will follow up with you. If you choose to speak with an HDAPP representative, you may arrange with CARE beforehand to have a Victim Advocate accompany you. The HDAPP staff member will explain the UC Davis administrative procedures for responding to complaints of sexual violence. They will also determine with you whether any interim protections need to be put into place. Some examples of what UC Davis might do include:
•Creating a plan to limit or prevent contact between you and the other person
•Taking steps to increase your sense of safety and security while you continue with your classes, work and other activities
•Providing confidential emotional support through Counseling and Psychological Services, the Academic and Staff Assistance Program, and/or the University CARE advocate.•After your meeting with HDAPP, your complaint will be reviewed to determine if a formal investigation should be conducted. Most sexual violence cases are handled through a formal investigation.
Formal Investigation
The University investigator will separately meet with you, the accused individual, and other potential witnesses, to gather information. When the fact-gathering portion of the investigation is complete, the investigator will prepare and submit a report addressing whether the allegations are substantiated and make either a recommendation or finding on whether University policy was violated. For allegations against students, the Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs makes the final determination on whether University policy was violated. For allegations against staff and faculty, the investigators determine whether University policy was violated. If there is a finding of a policy violation, the University will consider disciplinary action against the accused. The University will also consider whether any other action should be taken, such as remedies that may be appropriate for you.
If there is a finding of no violation of University policy, the matter will be closed if the accused is a staff or faculty member. If the accused is a student, you will have the option to appeal the decision. In all cases, necessary measures will continue to be taken to ensure that you feel safe.
Who will know about my report?
The University will protect the privacy of everyone involved in a report of sexual harassment or sexual violence to the greatest degree possible under law and University policy. If you report sexual violence to the University, the University will monitor the progress of the case through its case management team. This team consists of representatives from the Title IX office, CARE and, depending on the affiliation of the accused, representatives from Academic Affairs, Student Support and Judicial Affairs, or Human Resources. These people will be informed of both parties’ names and the allegations.
If an investigation is charged, the accused party will not be told who brought the complaint forward. However, your name will probably appear in the notification letter sent to the accused by the Title IX Officer. For example, that letter usually contains this language (this particular example addresses alleged sexual assault):
"As Title IX Compliance Officer for UC Davis, I am writing to notify you that I have received a complaint that you engaged in conduct that may have violated the University’s Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy as well as the University’s policy on conduct and discipline. Specifically, it is alleged that you sexually assaulted (name) at (location) on (date)...”
Witnesses who are interviewed by the investigator may also know about the report, but they won’t be told who made the report. Until the investigation is completed, no one else would have reason to be told about your report. Professors, parents, supervisors, co-workers or others are not informed. If you need assistance getting extensions, changing your residence, or with any other interim actions, the University CARE advocate can generally provide that assistance without providing any details to others.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the Title IX Officer will notify the accused student and the alleged victim about the outcome of the investigation and will provide each a copy of the investigation report.
If the accused is a UC Davis student, the investigation report will be released to the Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs. OSSJA will review the report and make a final determination regarding whether the accused violated the Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy as alleged.
- What about other forms of sexual harassment?
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Most reports of sexual harassment that do not include sexual violence are resolved through Alternative Resolution. This can take many forms, including:
Helping you communicate directly with the other person.
Arranging for a UC Davis official to talk with the other person (a “no-fault” or “notice” conversation.)
Helping you and the other person agree to certain changes in how you interact.
Separating you and the other person.
Negotiating a disciplinary agreement with the other person.
Conducting training on sexual harassment for you, the other person, or a department or group.
Using Counseling and Psychological Services or the Academic and Staff Assistance Program for emotional support.
Other strategies you and the University agree to try.A formal investigation may be conducted in sexual harassment cases under certain circumstances. Again, the Title IX Officer and Sexual Harassment Officer, with other appropriate administrators, will review each complaint to determine the best response.