The Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) provides the campus community with safe, anonymous and confidential options to report sexual misconduct and to receive assistance, support, medical help, counseling, advocacy, or academic intervention following a sexual assault, rape, dating or relationship violence and stalking. SART is coordinated by the WGRAC Director. SART members, their photos, reporting options, “date-rape drug” information and prevention tips for women and men can be found on the links in the left hand navigation column.
The college encourages you to report an incident to the Dean of Students and/or the Hartford Police. However, the choice of what you do following an assault is yours.
POST EVIDENCE COLLECTION KIT: “RAPE KIT” at HARTFORD HOSPITAL
The college encourages you to go to Hartford Hospital to get a 'post-evidence collection kit,' also known as a "rape-kit." Campus Safety will provide transportation (860) 297-2222. You may bring a friend, and, a Campus Advocate from the local rape crisis center will be notified and meet you at the hospital, and stay with you the entire time. She will be an advocate at your request. The AOC may also accompany you if you wish. Please bring a change of clothes, and try not to shower or douche following the assault. Please bring the clothes you had on during the assault. The "kit" can take up to four hours, depending on the wait time. Tests for "date rape" drugs - such as GHB or Rohypnol - and STDs, can be administered if requested. You will not be charged with underage drinking. You will not have to pay for the "kit", and it will not go on your insurance: the state of Connecticut covers it. The "kit" will be used as evidence if you decide to press charges with the Hartford Police. You must have this "kit" done within 72 hours of the assault.
REPORTING OPTIONS
CONFIDENTIAL OPTION: If you would like to disclose the incident to someone at the College in full confidence, you can speak to the College Chaplain or the Catholic Campus Ministry representative in the Chaplain's office, or a staff member at the Counseling Center. In addition to providing support and counseling, they can also make referrals and talk about your options. You can also contact the Connecticut 24-hour sexual assault hotline:888-999-5545; and, the intimate partner violence hotline: 888-774-2900.
HARTFORD POLICE OPTION: A student may contact the Hartford Police to press criminal charges. A member of the Campus Safety administration or an AOC (Administrator on Call) can accompany the student to make the report. If the student has a post-evidence collection kit done at Hartford Hospital, this evidence can be used to help convict the perpetrator should the matter go to trial. A SART member can accompany you when you file a report. In Connecticut, you have up to five (5) years following the incident to file a police report.
DEAN OF STUDENTS OPTION: The College encourages you to file a complaint with the Dean of Students Office for formal adjudication. The college will conduct an investigation in advance of any hearing. A hearing will take place with an administrative panel, at which all parties to the complainant can have an adviser who is a member of the College and witnesses that you name who have relevant information. Based on the hearing, the alleged perpetrator will be found responsible or not responsible, and appropriate sanctions will be imposed in cases where the respondent is found to be responsible. If you had been drinking at the time of the incident, and were under age 21, you will not be found in violation of College alcohol policy unless the circumstances are extraordinary. In the event that the victim is in an academic or living situation that involves contact with the alleged assailant, the dean of students will, to the extent possible, facilitate the reassignment of living quarters and/or academic situation and provide such reasonable accommodations to prevent such a contact. A student who wishes to bring a complaint against a member of the administration, staff or faculty should consult:
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SART OPTION: Students can speak to a SART member to receive support, referrals, information, and help understanding the reporting options. SART members are trained in victim and survivor response. The SART member will document your assault on the reporting from. Listing your name on the report is optional. This form will act as a statistic for the College, as the College must track the number of reported sexual assault in compliance with federal law - the Clery act. SART members will maintain confidentiality to the fullest extent possible unless the name of the alleged perpetrator is revealed. You will need to report the incident to the dean of students if you are under 18, you or the campus community is in imminent danger, or the SART member has to comply with a legal order. The survivor may even request a third party to report the incident to the dean of students, campus safety, or the police in order to protect his or her anonymity.
If you have any questions about these options, please get in touch with Laura.Lockwood@trincoll.edu, Lauren.Donais@trincoll.edu, or any of the SART members.