Judicial
Affairs

Reporting Sexual Misconduct

Note that Campus Offices have different legal requirements regarding reporting.

Students should contact one of the following offices if they are the victim of a sexual misconduct offense:

1. The Sexual Assault/Wellness Advocate and Counseling Services provides professionally trained clinicians to offer advocacy, support, therapy and guidance. Health Services provides medical attention and referral to campus and community resources.  To reach Counseling Services and Health Services during regular business hours please call 240-895-4289.  During academic terms and after regular business hours a member of the Counseling or Health Center staff can be reached by contacting either Public Safety 240-895-4911 or a member of the Residence Life Staff and asking to have the counselor contacted. The Sexual Assault/Wellness Advocate can also be contacted by calling the First Responder Network.

• Non-reporting on campus. No requirement that the information result in a Timely Warning.  No report is generated nor is the incident included in the campus crime statistics or Clery report unless the survivor desires to.

2. First Responder Network (FRN) is a group of students specially trained in sexual misconduct crisis response protocols who provide on-call services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when school is in session. FRN can be reached at 301-904-2015 by calling or text message. The FRNs can assist with reporting options, advocacy, on and off campus resources, and accompaniment to the hospital.

• Anonymous reporting on campus. A Timely Warning may go out if needed and the incident will be reported to the Sexual Assault/Wellness Advocate.

3. Residence Life Staff (240-895-4207 or the staff member on duty or on call) and the Dean of Students Office (240-895-4208) are trained to respond to all kinds of student emergencies, and can quickly connect you to other resources on- and off-campus. All Residence Life and Dean of Students Office staff are required to report any incidents of sexual misconduct to Public Safety.  Residence Life and Dean of Students Office Staff can also assist with contacting the FRN, the Sexual Assault/Wellness Advocate, or Counseling and Health Center staff.

• Confidential reporting on campus. A Timely Warning may go out and the incident will be included in the Clery statistics. The names of the students involved will be kept in the strictest of confidence, sharing only with those who need to know to be able to provide support and guidance.

4. Public Safety (240-895-4911) is a place to file an on-campus report and start an on-campus investigation. Public Safety will contact the First Responder Network or the Sexual Assault/Wellness Advocate when an incident of sexual misconduct is reported. Public safety can assist with contacting the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office if the survivor requests a criminal investigation to be initiated. If the survivor does not wish for the Sheriff’s Office to investigate, Public Safety Officers will notify the Sheriff’s office of the incident and the fact the victim requests to remain anonymous (in accord with the Memorandum of Understand between St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Office of Public Safety and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office of March, 2011).

•  Confidential reporting on campus. A Timely Warning may go out and the incident will be included in the Clery statistics. The names of the students involved will be kept in the strictest of confidence, sharing only with those who need to know to be able to provide support and guidance.

5.  Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are campus officials who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities.  In addition to Residence Life, the Dean of Students Office, and Public Safety, Campus Security Authorities include:  Student Activities, Judicial Affairs, SGA club advisors (faculty/staff), Orientation, Athletics and Recreation (including coaches), International Education, faculty study abroad coordinators, Academic Services, and administrators.  CSAs are trained to respond to all kinds of student emergencies, and can quickly connect you to other resources on- and off-campus.    CSAs are required to report any incidents of sexual assault to Public Safety.  CSAs can also assist with contacting the FRN, the Sexual Assault/Wellness Advocate, or Counseling and Health Center Staff

• Confidential reporting on campus. A Timely Warning may go out and the incident will be included in the Clery statistics. The names of the students involved will be kept in the strictest of confidence, sharing only with those who need to know to be able to provide support and guidance.

6. The Walden Sierra 24-hour Crisis Hotline (301-863-6661) can be contacted day or night. Walden Sierra can provide advocacy, accompaniment to the hospital, crisis counseling, or on-going therapeutic support.

• Anonymous reporting off campus. No requirement that the information results in a Timely Warning or is included in the campus statistics. Walden Sierra is not required to report the incident to the Sheriff’s Office or State Police.

7. St. Mary’s Hospital (301-475-8981) and Calvert Memorial Hospital (410-535-4000) provide Sexual Assault Forensic Exams. All costs of these exams are free to the survivor and are provided by trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. Neither the Police nor the Sheriff’s Office will be contacted by the hospital unless the survivor desires to have them involved. If the survivor desires to obtain an SAFE exam, which is the best method of evidence collection, it is ideal if the survivor does not shower, use the bathroom, clean their body in anyway, and preserves any clothing including undergarments in a paper bag to bring with them to the hospital. The First Responder Network, the Sexual Assault/Wellness Advocate, and Walden Sierra can all provide accompaniment to the hospital. The student should notify the person to whom they are reporting the incident if she or he needs a ride to the hospital.

• Anonymous reporting off campus. No requirement that the information results in a Timely Warning or is included in the campus statistics. The hospital is not required to report the incident to the Sheriff’s Office or State Police. SAFE exams are anonymous and are kept for the minimum of 90 days as required by law.

8. A report can be filed with the Maryland State Police (301-475-8955) or St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office (301-475-8008). These law enforcement agencies will work in conjunction with the College, so the Clery requirements are present. Remember, in filing a criminal report, it is important to preserve criminal evidence and obtain a Sexual Assault Forensic examination at a hospital within 72 hours of the incident.  At any time after a report is made, it may be withdrawn from further action at the discretion of the survivor.

• Confidential reporting off campus. A Timely Warning may go out and the incident will be included in the Clery statistics. The names of the students involved will be kept in the strictest of confidence, sharing only with those who need to know to be able to provide support and guidance.