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Interpersonal Violence Policy


Establishes procedures for responding to incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV), including procedures to assist reporting individuals, hold perpetrators accountable, and reduce the incidence of IPV and stalking.

Policy Information


Policy Number Policy Owner
2001.5 Title IX

 

  • 4.0 Policy

    It is the policy of SUNY Plattsburgh that interpersonal violence will not be tolerated.

    It is the policy of the college to support and assist reporting individuals in attaining the services they may need and/or to assist in reporting incidents to appropriate College offices and/or police agencies. Assisting reporting individuals includes providing them with information about all the medical, legal, and counseling services available so reporting individuals can make informed decisions and avail themselves of all the services and rights to which they are entitled. When IPV or stalking is reported, a coordinated response is initiated. Unless the reporting individual is in immediate danger, all steps taken should be discussed with the reporting individual and initiated with that person's consent.

    It is the policy of the College to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions, through campus judicial or personnel procedures if appropriate, and by working with community agencies and law enforcement as appropriate.

    Policy for Alcohol and/or Drug Use Amnesty in Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Cases

    The health and safety of every student at the State University of New York and its State-operated and community colleges is of utmost importance. SUNY Plattsburgh recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time that violence, including but not limited to domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. SUNY Plattsburgh strongly encourages students to report incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault to institution officials. A bystander acting in good faith or a reporting individual acting in good faith that discloses any incident of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault to SUNY Plattsburgh officials or law enforcement will not be subject to SUNY Plattsburgh Code of Conduct action for violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the commission of the domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault.

    It is the policy of the College to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions, through campus judicial or personnel procedures if appropriate, and by working with community agencies and law enforcement as appropriate.

    SUNY Plattsburgh will not wait for the conclusion of a criminal investigation or criminal proceeding to begin its own sex discrimination investigation, and if needed, will take immediate steps to protect a reporting individual in the education setting (e.g., classroom section change if available, etc.).
    All reports of interpersonal violence will be reported as required by the Clery Act.

    Portions of this policy may parallel state or federal laws, but are in no way intended to substitute or supplant those laws. As members of the SUNY Plattsburgh community, students and employees of the College are expected to comply with and abide by SUNY Plattsburgh’s policies and procedures, in addition to federal, state, and local laws whether off campus or on-campus.
    The College will conduct a thorough campus climate assessment every two years, in conjunction with SUNY Administration. The campus will conduct regular, on-going educational sessions with students, faculty, and staff, including “onboarding” education with new students.

    The policy will be reviewed annually by the Title IX Coordinator, the Vice President for Enrollment & Student Success, the Chief of University Police, and the Assistant Vice President for Human Resource Services.

    The following explains the Students' Bill of Rights Under New York State Education Law Article 129-B — Enough is Enough Legislation.

    YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

    • Make a report to University Police, local law enforcement and/or state police.
    • Have disclosures of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault treated seriously.
    • Make a decision about whether or not to disclose a crime or violation and participate in the judicial or conduct process and/or criminal justice process free from pressures from the institution.
    • Participate in a process that is fair, impartial, and provides adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
    • Be treated with dignity and to receive from the institution courteous, fair and respectful health care and counseling services where available.
    • Be free from any suggestion that the reporting individual is at fault when these crimes and violations are committed, or should have acted in a different manner to avoid such crimes or violations.
    • Describe the incident to as few institutional representatives as practicable and not to be required to unnecessarily repeat a description of the incident.
    • Be free from retaliation by the institution, the accused and/or the respondent, and/or their friends, family and acquaintances within the jurisdiction of the institution.
    • Access to at least one level of appeal of a determination.
    • Be accompanied by an advisor of choice who may assist and advise a reporting individual, accused, or respondent throughout the judicial or conduct process including during all meetings and hearings related to such process.
    • Exercise civil right and practice of religion without interference by the investigative, criminal justice, or judicial or conduct process of the institution.

    OPTIONS IN BRIEF

    Students have many options that can be pursued simultaneously, including one or more of the following:

    • Receive resources, such as counseling and medical attention
    • Confidentially or anonymously disclose a crime or violation
    • Make a report to:
      • An employee with the authority to address complaints, including the Title IX coordinator, a student conduct employee, or a human resources employee
      • University Police
      • Local law enforcement
      • Family court or civil court

    Reporting

    Reporting individuals shall have the right:

    • To report confidentially the incident to one of the following college officials, who by law may maintain confidentiality, and can assist in obtaining services (more information on confidential report is here):
      • Anonymously via an internet or telephone anonymous reporting system, Silent Witness or on the Title IX webpage by using this form: [PLEASE NOTE: these sites are not monitored 24 hours a day or 7 days a week. If you are requesting immediate attention, please call 911 or University Police at 518-564-2022]
      • Student Health & Counseling Center, 518-564-3086
    • To report to off-campus confidential or anonymous sources. See options for reporting here. (Online list updated regularly.)

    To disclose the incident to one of the following college officials who can offer privacy and can provide information about remedies, accommodations, evidence preservation, and how to obtain resources. Those officials will also provide the information contained in the Students’ Bill of Rights, including the right to choose when and where to report, to be protected by the institution from retaliation, and to receive assistance and resources from the institution. These college officials will disclose that they are private and not confidential resources, and they may still be required by law and college policy to inform one or more college officials about the incident, including but not limited to the Title IX Coordinator. They will notify reporting individuals that the criminal justice process uses different standards of proof and evidence than internal procedures, and questions about the penal law or the criminal process should be directed to law enforcement or district attorney:

    To file a criminal complaint with University Police and/or with local law enforcement:

    • On campus: University Police, 518-564-2022 or 911
    • Off campus: Plattsburgh City Police, 518-563-3411
    • In an emergency or if the person is in danger, call 911

    To file a report of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking, and/or talk to the Title IX Coordinator for information and assistance. Reports will be investigated in accordance with College policy. (More information here.)

    If a reporting individual wishes to keep personal identity private, that person may call and request privacy and/or to file a report and request an investigation:

    To report to Human Resource Services (HRS) when the accused is an employee, a reporting individual may request that one of the above referenced confidential or private employees assist in reporting to Human Resource Services. Disciplinary proceedings will be conducted in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements. When the accused is an employee of an affiliated entity or vendor of the college, college officials will, at the request of the reporting individual, assist in reporting to the appropriate office of the vendor or affiliated entity and, if the response of the vendor or affiliated entity is not sufficient, assist in obtaining a persona non grata letter via University Police, subject to legal requirements and college policy.

    • Human Resource Services, 912 Kehoe: 518-564-5062
    • Title IX/Affirmative Action, 110C Angell College Center: 518-564-3281


    You may withdraw your complaint or involvement from the College process at any time.

    Protection and Accommodations

    Reporting individuals shall have the right:

    • When the accused is a student, to have the college issue a No Contact Order (See Appendix) consistent with college policy and procedure, meaning that continuing to contact the protected individual is a violation of college policy subject to additional conduct charges; if the accused and a protected person observe each other in a public place, it is the responsibility of the accused to leave the area immediately and without directly contacting the protected person. Both the accused/respondent and reporting individual may request a prompt review of the need for and terms of a No Contact Order, consistent with SUNY Plattsburgh policy. Parties may submit evidence in support of their request.
    • To have assistance from University Police or other college officials in initiating legal proceedings in family court or civil court, including but not limited to, obtaining an order of protection or, if outside of New York State, an equivalent protective or restraining order.
    • To receive a copy of the Order of Protection or equivalent and have an opportunity to meet or speak with a college official who can explain the order and answer questions about it, including information from the Order about the accused’s responsibility to stay away from the protected person(s); that burden does not rest on the protected person(s).
    • To an explanation of the consequences for violating these orders, including but not limited to arrest, additional conduct charges, and interim suspension.
    • To have assistance from University Police in effecting an arrest when an individual violates an Order of Protection or, if outside of New York State, an equivalent protective or restraining order within the jurisdiction of University Police or, if outside of the jurisdiction to call on and assist local law enforcement in effecting an arrest for violating such an order.
    • When the accused is a student and presents a continuing threat to the health and safety of the community, to have the accused subject to interim suspension pending the outcome of a conduct process. Parties may request a prompt review of the need for and terms of an interim suspension.
    • When the accused is not a student but is a member of the college community and presents a continuing threat to the health and safety of the community, to subject the accused to interim measures in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements, employee handbooks, and SUNY Plattsburgh policies and rules.
    • When the accused is not a member of the college community, to have assistance from University Police or other college officials in obtaining a persona non grata letter, subject to legal requirements and college policy.
    • To obtain reasonable and available interim measures and accommodations that effect a change in academic, housing, employment, transportation, or other applicable arrangements in order to ensure safety, prevent retaliation, and avoid an ongoing hostile environment. Parties may request a prompt review of the need for and terms of any interim measures and accommodations that directly affect them. While reporting individuals may request accommodations through any of the offices referenced in this policy, the following office can serve as a point to assist with these measures:

For additional information about this policy, please contact the policy owner listed above.

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