Campus Public Safety

Some basic steps to take if you are a victim of an assault:

• Don't bathe until told so by a physician and a rape kit analysis has been performed
• Don't throw away any clothes that were worn during the assault
• Don't wash or clip your finger nails after the assault
• Seek immediate medical care for injuries (external and internal) and any communicable diseases.

▶ Guide to sexual assault resources at Halifax Community College

Sexual Assault
Any grievance involving sexual harassment or any form of discrimination including race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or political affiliation is considered a harassment grievance. Such grievances should be filed directly with the VP of Student Services. Due to the special circumstances of the grievance, a student does not have to discuss the grievance directly with the person(s) involved and should initiate the grievance directly with the VP of Student Services who will facilitate the procedures.

Sexual Assault Grievance
All students who are victims of sexual assault are encouraged to report to campus security that a sexual assault has occurred on campus and/or contact the Sexual Assault Counselor as possible after the alleged incident. Complaints by or against students will be forwarded to the VP of Student Services for resolution within existing disciplinary procedures. The Crisis Team will investigate the crime and secure criminal warrants as appropriate. For more information on about procedures involving student reports of sexual assault and the information of preserving evidence as may be necessary to the proof of criminal sexual assault, contact the Sexual Assault Counselor (Building 300) or Campus Police (Building 300). All incidents of assault must be reported to the VP of Student Services with identifying information or anonymously.

▶ Guide to sexual assault resources at Halifax Community College

At HCC, we take sexual assault very seriously. Because sexual assault survivors can have wide range of responses- fear, anger, shame- HCC offers different services and resources to meet them where they are.

1. Those who are in life-threatening situations should call 911 or the HCC Security Office who can offer immediate assistance in protection from the assailant and in collecting evidence and testimony for criminal charges.
2. Survivors can also go to Halifax Regional Medical Center where a nurse who specializes in working with sexual assault survivors can collect evidence, treat injuries and offer medication for sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy prevention. Counselors from Hannah's Place are also available for emotional support.
3. Sometimes a survivor is too traumatized, disoriented or confused by an assault to report it immediately and for a long time afterward. Counseling is available through the HCC Counseling Center in room 323 or
   • Cardinal Innovations Mobile Crisis Line available 24/7 365 days a year. (Halifax County) 1-800-939-5911
   • Holly Hill Mobile Crisis Intervention Line available 24/7 365 days a year. (Halifax County) 1-877-619-3761
   • Hannah's Place, Inc. is a nonprofit agency that serves victims of domestic and sexual violence. They have a 24 hour Crisis Line (252) 541-2064. (Halifax and Northampton County.) Roanoke Valley Rape Crisis will accompany the survivor to the Hospital, to Local Law Enforcement, to Court if they decide to prosecute, and will be a 24 hour resource for referral, compassionate confidential counseling and emotional support.
   • Integrated Family Services Mobile Crisis in Northampton County 1-866-437-1821 Available 24 hours a day/7days a week 365 days of the year.
   • RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) Male or Female Survivors can call toll-free 1-800-628-9454 24/7 365 days of the year to talk with a trained staff person.
   • The National Sexual Assault Online Hotline: Uses secure anonymous online chatting. http://www.rainn.org/get-help/national-sexual-assault-online-hotline
   • REAL Crisis Center of Greenville, NC has a trained volunteers who are available to counselor both male and female survivors 24/7 365 days of the year 252-758-4357.
   • Safe Help Line: Sexual Assault Help for sexual assault survivors from the Department of Defense.
     • 1-877-995-5247 DoD Safeline 24/7 365 days of the year Free and confidential through RAINN.
     • https://www.safehelpline.org/ On the website, live confidential chat is available through secure instant messaging.
     • At the website, a regularly scheduled confidential moderated support group allows military sexual assault survivors to chat online safely and securely.
4. Beyond physical injuries, sexual assault survivors also experience mental trauma, both immediately and a long time afterward. The Counseling Center can assist and make referrals for off campus mental health services for long term treatment and other resources.
5. Feeling safe and in control is another important need for sexual assault survivors. To promote the student's safety and well-being, the VP of Students offers several protective measures outside any disciplinary process. These measures include changes in class schedules and a “no contact” order that requires a student to stop any and all communication with another student.
6. At some point in the process a sexual assault survivor may decide to pursue criminal charges against the assailant, file a complaint through the college process, do both or do neither. HCC is prepared to respond to whatever the survivor's choice may be, encouraging the pursuit of criminal proceedings whenever possible and especially to prevent assault by the same assailant.
7. To press criminal charges, survivors are encouraged to go to the HCC Security office to report an on-campus assault and to the appropriate law enforcement agency to report an assault that occurred off campus. Survivors can also file a complaint through the College process at the same time. They are separate processes.
8. There are many reasons survivors decide not to press criminal charges, from avoiding the exposure of a public trial to a lack of physical evidence. These survivors can still file a complaint through the College grievance process. The survivor is encouraged to contact the VP of Students who can coordinate certain protective measures and services right away while making sure the survivor knows about available resources and services right away and how to navigate the complaint process.
9. Sometimes a survivor decides not to pursue any action against the assailant. Even so, the same resources named above are still available through the College. If a student decides to maintain complete confidentiality and not report the assault to anyone at the College, help is still available. HCC encourages the use of such agencies as Hannah's Place and Cardinal Innovations Mobile Crisis for any survivors who wish to maintain complete confidentiality.

▶ Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act

In accordance with the "Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act" of 2000, Halifax Community College provides a link to the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry. The website for NC and websites for other state registers are listed below.

NC Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry
http://sexoffender.ncdoj.gov/search.aspx

National Sex Offender Public Registry
http://www.nsopw.gov/en-US/Registry

www.NCCASA.ORG | www.NCCASA.net/NCCAHT | www.http://clerycenter.org/parents-and-students

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/ncipc

National Institute of Justice
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij

National Sexual Violence Resource Center
www.nsvrc.org

National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center (NVAWPRC)
www.vawprevention.org

The Office on Violence Against Women
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo

The Prevention Institute
www.preventioninstitute.org

You can also check with Northampton County Sheriff's Office at 252-534-7101 or Halifax County Sheriff Office 252-583-8201, to see if any offenders are registered in your area or near Halifax Community College Campuses.