Assemblywoman
Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced the passage of legislation she sponsored
to strengthen the 1999 Campus Safety Act by requiring colleges and universities
to report violent felonies and missing students to law enforcement within 24
hours of an incident (A.2089-B). Russell noted that this legislation is crucial
to dealing with violent felonies, such as sexual assaults, that have remained an
intractable problem on college campuses across the nation.
“Sexual assault on college campuses is an epidemic that has
no place in our society and will no longer be tolerated,” Assemblywoman Russell
said. “This bill, with clear and specific reporting requirements, ensures our colleges
and universities act swiftly to protect students and provide victims with
justice.”
The legislation updates the Act by requiring all colleges
and universities to report all violent felonies and missing persons to local
law enforcement no more than 24 hours after the incident is reported to the
college or university itself. To protect confidentiality, the bill incorporates
applicable components of the federal Campus Sexual Assault Victims Bill of
Rights, which gives victim of a sexual offense the right to decide whether or
not to report such an offense to local law enforcement.
Research indicates that sexual assault on college
campuses is chronically underreported. Studies
show that one in five women are sexually assaulted while they are in college, however,
just 12 percent of such attacks are
reported.[1] In
most cases, the victim’s attacker is an acquaintance, classmate or former boyfriend.[2]
“As parents, we
work to instill values in our children that compel them to stand up to these
horrible crimes and do the right thing,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “It is our
responsibility to put laws in place that provide a meaningful response when
claims are made and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.”
In
recognition of the need to reduce sexual assault on college campuses, the White
House and federal legislators have recently made efforts to raise awareness of
this often underreported crime. A PSA was recently released in which male
celebrities encouraged men to be a part of the solution to the problem. To view
the video and find additional resources regarding enforcement data and other
sexual assault resources visit www.NotAlone.gov.
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