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Asian Female

Penalty towards the criminal reduced crime rates

Participant 1: [If a friend comes to me following sexual assault], I will try to help him/her think about what happened during this crime, because the more things you remind them of, the more recalls they will have [...] these will help us punish this criminal.[...]
Facilitator: So you think the penalty towards the criminal is the most important thing?
Participant 1: Yes, because it can help to reduce crime rates, I think.

Recommendations

  • Emphasize the victim's right to decide whether they would like to report the incident after they have disclosed it to the university. Ensure the victim is aware of the formal and informal routes for reporting, including the option of reporting to the police. Clearly communicate any limits to confidentiality.

  • Describe possible legal and institutional consequences for respondents found to have engaged in sexual violence. Provide indication of the range of consequences likely to follow a range of policy violations.

  • Provide students with information about what can serve as evidence of sexual assault for the purposes of a university investigation. This information should appear in the policy itself and in educational materials about the policy.