Welcome. The University of Alabama Police Department (UAPD) works to help you maintain your personal safety and to protect your property by providing full police and environmental safety services and by sharing information you can use to reduce your chances of becoming a crime or accident victim. We believe that an informed community is a safer community.

Each year, we publish the Annual Campus Security Report (which includes crime statistics and outlines UA security policies and procedures) and the Safer Living Guide (which describes campus security features and includes safety tips for on- and off-campus living). Please take the time to familiarize yourself with these two publications, so you’ll become an informed member of our community and can therefore contribute to the UAPD’s efforts to create and maintain a safe environment in which we all can live, study, and work. Remember: Always use good safety sense and don’t hesitate to contact UAPD whenever you need help or more information about one of our services.

Crime Statistics

Crime Statistics Map

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In October 2000, the UAPD began publishing campus crime statistics and UA security policies in the Annual Campus Security Report, available on the Web at safety.ua.edu. Printed copies of the Annual Campus Security Report are available to any member of the community or interested party.

The Annual Campus Security Report includes crime statistics for the following categories of crimes, as reported to the UA Police Department, other UA campus security authorities, and local police: homicide (murder, non-negligent and negligent manslaughter); sex offenses (forcible, non-forcible); robbery; aggravated assault; burglary; motor vehicle theft; and arson. Also included are statistics for the following categories of violation arrests and referrals for campus disciplinary action: liquor law violations; drug law violations; and illegal weapons possession violations.

In compliance with 1998 amendments to the Campus Security Act (now known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act) and Department of Education regulations, the crime statistics published in this report illustrate 1) the reporting of crime categories as specified above; 2) the reporting of hate crimes by category of prejudice: race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability); and 3) the reporting of violation arrests and referrals for campus disciplinary action as specified above. Each of these statistical categories are further broken down by geographic area: on-campus property (including on-campus residential facilities); non-campus buildings or property; and public property within campus or immediately adjacent to it. See the Crime Statistics and Crime Statistics Map for more information.

The breaking down crime statistics by geographic area was not required for the 1998, 1997, and earlier calendar years. Crime statistics from those years comply with the original Campus Security Act and/or the 1992 amendments to that act.

Procedures for . . .

Policies Regarding . . .

To maximize safety on campus, the University Police Department strongly encourages anyone with knowledge about any crime, suspicious activity, or unsafe actions or conditions on campus (either as a witness or as a victim) to make an immediate report to the University Police in person or by telephone. Reporting does not mean you must take legal action -- it may, however, help police officers stop further incidents as well as help them keep the community informed about criminal activity.

To make a report in person, go to the University Police Department, which is located in New Hall (800 Sorority Circle). To make a report by phone, call (205) 348-5454 and describe the situation to the communications operator. In emergency situations, including fires, call 911. All 911 calls made from campus phones go directly to the UA Police Department.

UA students requiring non-emergency medical care may contact the Student Health Center at (205) 348-6262. Students seeking counseling services may contact the Counseling Center at (205) 348-3863, the Psychology Clinic at 348-5000, or the Women’s Resource Center at (205) 348-5040.

UA employees may contact the Capstone Medical Center at (205) 348-1770 or any of the DCH Health System facilities -- e.g., the DCH Regional Medical Center at (205) 759-7111 and the Northport Medical Center at (205) 345-3500 -- for non-emergency medical care and for counseling.

See also Prevention and Reporting of Sexual Assaults.

When you report a crime to the UA Police Department, a UA police officer will meet with you, listen to what happened, and make a preliminary report. Next, investigators will review the report and conduct a follow-up investigation. If a suspect is found and you decide to press charges, information will be presented to a warrant magistrate, who decides if there is legal reason to arrest the suspect. If there is, you’ll be asked to sign the arrest warrant, which UA Police officers will serve. A court date will be set; you may have to be present to testify. See also Crime Alerts.

The University of Alabama Police encourages you to report criminal activity even if you don’t want to take legal action in order to help us maintain accurate statistical records. We are responsible for compiling the crime statistics included in the University’s Annual Campus Security Report and would like to keep the community as informed as possible. The information you report may even lead the UAPD to issue a Crime Alert, if they determine that the circumstances warrant such action.

Victims or witnesses to criminal activity occurring off campus should contact the agency that has jurisdiction:

• Tuscaloosa Police Department at (205) 349-2121
• Northport Police Department at (205) 339-6600
• Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office at (205) 752-0616
• Alabama State Troopers at (205) 553-5531

University Police officers will be happy to assist anyone in notifying these other law enforcement agencies.

All University of Alabama—recognized student organizations are headquartered on campus and are therefore monitored by the UA Police Department. If you believe a crime has been committed within an on-campus student organization building, please report the incident to UA Police.

The University of Alabama Police compiles statistical information from the contents of the UAPD daily crime log, which contains summaries of each day’s crime reports made to the UA Police Department. The crime log summaries include each incident’s location, type, date, and time. UAPD crime logs are posted for public viewing in New Hall.

If a serious or unique crime has occurred and the circumstances warrant it (as in the case of a violent crime against a person or a major property crime), a special, timely crime alert is prepared and distributed. Crime alerts are designed to give students and employees a timely notification of crimes and to heighten their safety awareness. Sometimes, a crime alert provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the perpetrator. The University Police will issue a crime alert when a crime that represents an immediate threat to the safety of community members is reported to any of the local law enforcement agencies or other crime reporting sources. In such situations, every attempt will be made to distribute a crime alert within 12 hours of the time the incident is reported; however, release of the alert is subject to the availability of facts concerning the incident. Crime alerts are prominently posted at on-campus locations frequented by students and employees and/or are placed on the University Police Web site at police.ua.edu

Crime reports made to the UA Office of Judicial Affairs and the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs are also disclosed in the crime statistics published in this report. Consistent with Department of Education federal regulations that became effective July 1, 2000, procedures are currently being implemented at the University to expand the collection of crime statistics from other UA departments for the year 2000. The UAPD will now include in campus crime statistics all reports made to the following campus security authorities: the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, Office of Judicial Affairs, Intercollegiate Athletics (including Crimson Tide team coaches), the Office of the Dean of Students, student organization advisers, and the Office of Residential Life (including residential hall advisers).

Prior to October 2000, The University of Alabama did not have policies or procedures that allowed victims or witnesses of crimes to report those crimes on a voluntary, confidential basis for inclusion in the Annual Campus Security Report -- except in the cases of forcible and non-forcible sexual offenses confidentially reported to the Women’s Resource Center. All verified and unverified, confidential reports of sexual offenses made to the Women’s Resource Center staff are included in UA campus crime statistics disclosed in the October 2000 Annual Campus Security Report. See Prevention and Reporting of Sexual Assaults for more information about UA policies and procedures concerning sexual offenses.

The UAPD also makes annual requests to the Tuscaloosa City Police Department for crime statistics taken from the public areas within campus or immediately adjacent to it to be included in the Annual Campus Security Report.

In October 2000, the University of Alabama Police began submitting crime statistics online to the Department of Education. We’ve also annually contributed crime statistics to the Uniform Crime Report published yearly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation by submitting data to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. This detailed statistical report is available each year at academic and public libraries.

The UA campus is made up of a variety of facilities, primarily student residences and academic/administrative buildings. Some student residence halls have entrance desks that are staffed by resident assistants during open hours. The entrance desks of Rose Towers, Tutwiler Hall, Paty Hall and Burke Hall are staffed 24 hours a day.

In the daytime, there is open access to academic and administrative buildings, with the exception of UA recreation facilities at which users must present membership cards. Academic and administrative facilities are locked before and after their business hours. Students and staff who have keys to administrative/academic buildings for after-hours work must lock the exterior doors behind them after they enter, and they are encouraged to follow all personal safety precautions. If you have to study or work alone at night in a campus building, be sure a friend knows where you are and when you’ll return home.

1. Monitor Booths: Monitor booths are located in the Tutwiler Hall and Barnwell Hall parking lots: These booths are staffed by student assistants during dark hours. Workers provide surveillance as well as escort students to and from their residences upon request.
2. Electronic Alarm Systems: A computer-based electronic monitoring system located at the UA Police Department communications center monitors a comprehensive network of door-control, duress/intrusion-detection, and fire-alarm systems within campus facilities.
3. Architectural Design: The UA Police gives input into the design of new and renovated campus facilities as it relates to physical and electronic security systems.
4. Security/Health and Safety Surveys: For University departments who request assistance, security surveys are conducted by Police Department sworn personnel. Health and safety surveys are conducted by Environmental Health and Safety.
5. Grounds and Building Perimeter Surveys: The University works to see that the indoor and outdoor lighting on campus contributes to safety. Each fall and spring semester, the Student Safety and Security Committee holds a "lighting tour" to ensure that current equipment is continuing to meet needs. Anyone who observes an outdoor light that is not working is encouraged to check the pole or base for a letter and number and then report the outage to University Facilities by calling 348-6001.

The University of Alabama Police Department (UAPD) provides full police and environmental safety services to the campus community. The University Police force consists of sworn officers with full arrest powers who are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are certified by the state of Alabama. These police officers are vested with all the powers, authority, and responsibilities of any police officer of the state -- on property owned or operated by the University, as well as on public streets and property immediately adjacent to campus.

In November 1998, UAPD became fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The three-year accreditation was granted after an extensive review of the UA Police Department’s policies, procedures, management, operations, and support services. CALEA’s approval of UAPD for accreditation symbolizes a high degree of professionalism and a strong commitment to excellence within its program -- standards that UAPD intends to maintain as it works to ensure campus safety now and in the future.

The University of Alabama Police Department cooperates fully with local and state law enforcement agencies in cases that involve both on-campus and off-campus jurisdictions, or when the resources of an agency other than the UAPD can be used to facilitate the resolution of an investigation. Local police agencies and University Police exchange information on a regular basis and work together during UA sporting and other community events.

University Police officers also participate in the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force, which enforces all narcotics violations in Tuscaloosa County, and in the Tuscaloosa County violent Crimes Task force, which is responsible for investigating all serious crimes against people in the county. These cooperative efforts enable the University Police to work with and for UA students and employees in situations that occur off campus.

As noted in the sections Procedures for Reporting On-Campus Crimes and Other Emergencies and Procedures for Reporting Off-Campus Crimes and Other Emergencies the UAPD encourages anyone with knowledge of a crime on or off campus to report it. Remember: In order to maximize safety on campus and assist in prompt investigations, we ask that you report to the UA Police Department any incident that may qualify as homicide (murder, non-negligent and negligent manslaughter); sex offenses (forcible, non-forcible); robbery; aggravated assault; burglary; motor vehicle theft; arson; and any hate crime involving bodily injury for inclusion in the Annual Campus Security Report.

The University uses various mechanisms to inform students and employees about the prevention of crime. For example, the UAPD's annually publishes the Safer Living Guide, which provides information on how to report criminal activity as well as practical steps students and employees can take to prevent theft of property and more serious crimes of violence, including physical and sexual assaults. This publication emphasizes that crime and accident prevention starts with the individual, and that becoming informed about the University’s safety procedures and services outlined in the guide is a good first step toward preventing crime.

Specifically, this guide

• encourages the use of the Bama Escort Service for free transportation on campus and in proximate service areas typically from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and use of the Motorist Assistance Program (MAP) for free assistance with vehicle problems
• highlights Operation Identification, a UAPD service that offers engraving tools for use by University community members to mark personal property for identification purposes in case of burglary or robbery
• invites participation in the semi-annual campus indoor and outdoor lighting tours designed to ensure a well-lit and safe campus
• explains how to operate the approximately 60 blue, exterior emergency phones, which are directly linked to the UA Police Department and located across campus (see campus map)
• sets forth practical and easy-to-implement safety tips for on-the-road traveling, visits to public places, and residential living
• lists several safety precautions to prevent acquaintance rape and drug-induced sexual assaults, and the more frequent theft-related crimes
• discusses the Victim Assistance Program, which was developed to assist victims of crimes that occur on campus in the areas of criminal prosecution, victim’s rights, and victim assistance
• provides tips on how to spot safe off-campus apartments
• gives advice on how to stay out of trouble by abiding by traffic, parking, and public nuisance laws and/or city ordinances
• provides information on how to handle medical and safety emergencies

The Safer Living Guide is widely distributed to the campus community and can be accessed online at police.ua.edu/slg.html

The UAPD also offers a variety of crime prevention/education programs to UA students and employees. These programs include the following:

• Safety 101 Presentations: Address all issues of personal safety, including alcohol/drug abuse awareness, prevention of sexual assaults and property crimes, travel safety tips, state/local laws, etc. Safety 101 presentations, accompanied by brochures and other printed materials are made to the following groups:

• Printed Crime Prevention Materials: Printed crime prevention brochures and posters (such as the Safer Living Guide) related to motor vehicle security, bicycle security, residence hall security, and the Bama Escort Service are widely distributed at Safety 101 presentations and at various on-campus locations.

• Crime Prevention Publicity: Crime prevention articles and related material s are periodically published in the student newspaper, The Crimson White.

• Rape Awareness, Education, and Prevention: The University of Alabama Women’s Resource Center and the Community Oriented Police program provide rape awareness, education, and prevention presentations to the University community throughout the year.

• Crime Stoppers: The University Police Department participates in the local Crime Stoppers program wherein callers may anonymously give information concerning crimes and receive monetary rewards for their help.

• Community Policing Program: Upon request by University divisions, departments, and organizations, University Police officers attend meetings to provide up-to-date crime prevention information, and to hear the concerns of University community members about crime and safety issues.

• UAPD Web Site: The UAPD maintains a Web site at police.ua.edu for quick and up-to-date information on police, fire safety, and emergency procedures. The University community is encouraged to take a few minutes to browse this site. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call the University Police Department at (205) 348-5454.

• Community Awareness Programs: Members of the University Police Department are active participants in University- and community-sponsored awareness programs, such as Student Health Center and UA Medical Center health fairs. The purpose of these programs is to inform the University community about the different resources available to them through various University departments such as the UAPD.

The University of Alabama maintains that all members of its community have the right to pursue their individual and collective goals in a healthy educational environment, one that is free of the effects of alcohol and drug abuse. To help maintain such an environment, the University abides by all laws governing alcohol and other controlled substances, and provides educational and rehabilitative counseling to its students, staff, and faculty. For a copy of the Drug-Free Campus and Workplace Policy, write The University of Alabama, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Box 870116, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0116 or access it online at www.ua.edu/advancement/ur/policies/policies.html.

All members of the University community -- including faculty, staff, and students -- have the right to pursue their individual and collective goals in a healthy work and educational environment, one that is free of the effects of alcohol and substance abuse. Such abuse adversely affects the University’s achievement of its mission and is not condoned. Responsibility for problems of substance abuse resides with each member of the University community. The University’s principal approach to issues of alcohol and substance abuse entails a wide range of education, prevention, and assistance activities conducted within its academic curricula; educational programs to inform individuals of the effects and consequence of using alcohol or other substances; and comprehensive counseling programs for faculty, staff, and students. The University recognizes that alcohol and substance abuse are illnesses that are not resolved easily by personal effort but may requires professional assistance and treatment. Faculty, staff, and students are encourage to take advantage of the preventive, diagnostic, referral, and counseling services available through the University.

All members of the University community have a personal responsibility to adhere to all applicable laws, policies, and regulations concerning the use of alcohol or other drugs. These include federal and state laws, city ordinances, the Code of Student Conduct, the faculty standards of conduct, regulations governing conduct of classified employees, and other University policy statements. The Drug-Free Campus and Work Place Policy applies to all members of the University community, including all full-time and part-time students; all full-time and part-time permanent and temporary employees, including faculty, administration, and all exempt and non-exempt staff; and all student employees and interns. It applies to behavior that occurs on the University campus, on property owned or controlled by the University, or at University-sponsored or University-supervised activities. Each vice president has been delegated the responsibility for coordinating University drug abuse education, prevention, and intervention activities serving individuals employed or functioning in his or her division. The University of Alabama continues its commitment to cooperate with the local school systems and area colleges, as well as other local, state, regional, and federal agencies, in addressing problems of substance abuse in its community.

The University will conduct an annual review of its drug abuse prevention program to determine its effectiveness, to implement any needed changes, and to ensure that disciplinary sanctions are enforced consistently.

Safety 101 Presentations made by UAPD representatives address all issues of personal safety, including but not limited to

• Alcohol awareness – what the physical/mental effects of alcohol are; what constitutes driving under the influence (DUI) and its possible consequences; what constitutes binge drinking and its possible consequences

• Date rape drugs – their names, and effects; and the ways they can be administered without the victim’s knowledge

• How to party smart

To assist the campus community in understanding the laws regarding alcohol and drug offenses, the Safer Living Guide mentioned previously educates students and employees about the penalties and risks associated with: a) driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; b) public intoxication; c) violation of the city’s open beverage container ordinance; d) violation of the laws prohibiting a minor from being in possession of alcohol and prohibiting the sale of alcohol to a minor; and e) violation of the law prohibiting adults to allow minors to consume or possess alcohol at an open house party. In addition to reviewing penalties under the law, the Safer Living Guide warns students that a violation of drug or alcohol laws, in addition to violations of any federal or state law, may subject the student to the disciplinary processes associated with a violation of the University of Alabama Code of Student Conduct. Students are advised that they may be asked to appear before a University of Alabama judicial body and explain their misconduct, even if it did not occur on campus. Sanctions could include a warning, probation, loss of privileges, fines, discretionary sanctions, residential housing suspension or expulsion, or University suspension.

The Health Education and Wellness Department of the Student Health Center offers a number of workshops and awareness programs about alcohol, drugs, and related issues. Topics include responsible drinking tips, alternative activities to drinking, sex under the influence, and physical effects of alcohol and drug use. Many of the programs are interactive and excellent for group or individual consultations. The popular Alcohol 101 interactive CD-ROM, as well as many other resources, is available for review in the Frances S. Summersell Library in the Women’s Resource Center.

The University of Alabama is committed to maintaining a supportive and safe educational environment, one which seeks to ensure the well-being of all members of its community. This commitment reflects the institution’s adherence to its mission, to its various policies supporting its mission, and to relevant state and federal laws. To that end, the University has adopted the following sexual assault policy and procedures.

The University of Alabama Women’s Resource Center and the Community Oriented Police program provide rape awareness, education, and prevention presentations to the University community throughout the year.

Sexual assault is defined for purposes of this policy as any form of attempted or actual nonconsensual sexual contact by a member of the University community, whether such person is known or unknown to the victim, against another member of the University community.

A person shall be deemed not to have knowingly and/or voluntarily consented within the meaning of this policy if, at the time of the attempt or of the sexual assault, the person is incapable of giving consent because of mental incapacitation, physical impairment, alcohol or drug consumption, or loss of consciousness.

For the purposes of this policy, sexual contact shall mean any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person, done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either party.

The University strongly encourages individuals to report sexual assaults to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and University officials. Reporting an assault is the only effective way that action can be taken against the alleged attacker. Victims are encouraged to use the following procedures:

Report to the Police: Individuals are strongly urged to first contact the University Police (if assaulted on campus) or local police authorities (if assaulted off campus). Both agencies may be reached by calling 911. UA police officers will assist in notifying local police authorities, if the victim so requests such assistance.

Report to Other UA Officials: Individuals may also contact the following University administrative offices for assistance:

Women’s Resource Center (348-5040)

After hours a victim's advocate may be reached by calling UA Police (205-348-5454) and requesting that an advocate be notified.

Voluntary, Confidential Reporting of Sexual Offenses: Although victims of sexual offenses are not required to report offenses to the police, reporting is strongly encouraged. If an individual is entirely certain that she/he will not take legal action, she/he is encouraged to contact the Women’s Resource Center (348-5040), which can confidentially receive information for inclusion in the crime statistics and which can provide free confidential counseling to the victim.

Local news media may receive notice of sexual assaults reported to the University Police Department so that others are alerted; however, names of victims are not released -- their privacy is stringently protected at all times by the University. No one will pressure a sexual offense victim to report the attack if the individual chooses not to report, and no one will notify the victim’s parents without the student’s consent.

It is very important for victims of sexual assault to obtain immediate medical care following a sexual assault, whether or not the sexual assault is reported, to ensure the victim’s well-being and to document, collect, and properly preserve physical evidence of the assault.

Medical attention: In addition to care of obvious injuries, medical attention is needed to protect the victim from sexually transmitted diseases or the possibility of pregnancy. If you have been raped and might consider taking legal action against the rapist, you need to receive medical care at DCH Regional Medical Center, adjacent to the campus, or at Northport Hospital-DCH. The DCH emergency-room doctors are the only area physicians who give medical exams in which evidence of rape can be obtained and preserved for legal action. Without this evidence, the chances for successful prosecution drop. The exam should occur as soon as possible. You should bring a change of clothes, because clothes worn during the assault will be kept as evidence. If you’ve already changed clothes, bring along any articles that may have blood or semen on them. In order to preserve physical evidence of the assault, victims should not change clothes, bathe, douche, or use the toilet before seeking medical care.

Forensic sexual assault examinations are available free of charge to victims at the DCH Regional Medical Center. Anyone in need of transportation to the student health center, DCH Regional Medical Center, or Northport Hospital-DCH, should contact the UA Police Department at 911 or 348-5454.

Confidential counseling: Student victims of sexual assault or relationship violence can seek confidential counseling services through the UA Women's Resource Center or the Counseling Center at Russell Hall.

a) The Women's Resource Center offers a Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Program for victims of dating/domestic violence and for victims of sexual assault. The program provides confidential counseling and advocacy for victims, including individual and group counseling, accompaniment to a hospital immediately after an assault, information and referral for campus or community resources, and general assistance to victims, their families, and friends by providing information and support. If requested by the victim and if reasonably available, the University will provide modifications to living arrangements for the victim, if residing in University housing. Also, if requested by the victim and if reasonably available, rearrangement of academic class schedules for the victim may be provided. The Women's Center Sexual Assault Victim Advocate can be contacted at 348-5040 or by calling University police after regular business hours.

b) Project Hope, a program created by the Women’s Resource Center and funded by the Violence Against Women Act, provides programs and services dedicated to decreasing incidents of violence against women, including dating/domestic violence, rape, and other forms of sexual assault. Individual and group counseling services are provided through the Women’s Resource Center for victims of relationship violence (including dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, childhood physical violence) and for victims of sexual assault (including attempted rape, rape, childhood sexual assault, sexual harassment). Persons eligible for these services include students, faculty and staff of the University of Alabama. All services are free and confidential. Group Sessions are offered for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Childhood Sexual Abuse, and a Relationship Violence Education group is also offered.

Other resources: Off-campus counseling, mental health services, and a variety of other services are provided by Turning Point Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Services (758-0808).

The University of Alabama Women’s Resource Center provides a Victim Advocate Program. This program provides needed support in a time of crisis to victims of sexual assault and relationship violence. The advocate will help victims, their families and friends by providing information and support. For example, modifications to living arrangements for the victim and the accused, if residing in on-campus housing, may be provided if requested and if reasonably available. Also, rearrangement of academic class schedules for the victim and the accused may be provided if requested and if reasonably available. The Victim Advocate can also assist the victim in dealing with academic difficulties which may arise because of the victimization and its impact. For example, notifying professors of class absences, obtaining missed assignments, and arranging for tutoring and assistance may be provided upon request and if reasonably available.

When a rape is investigated, the victim may be unprepared for the lengthly, public process of bringing the rapist to justice. Police officers on the UA campus and in Tuscaloosa city and county respect victims' feelings but must observe the due process of law. The following outline of a rape investigation should help victims of sexual offenses understand that the police officers’ professionalism -- nothing else -- requires them to be thorough in their questioning and in gathering evidence.

Immediate Response to Report: When a sexual offense victim contacts campus or city police after an attack, patrol officers will come to the victim, ensure her well-being, and summon a victim advocate from the Women’s Resource Center or the District Attorney’s Victim Services officers to help the victim throughout the investigation. The officers will help the victim arrange medical care at the emergency room, where a doctor will counsel the victim, treat injuries and potential sexually transmitted diseases, and preserve physical evidence of the rape. The victim advocate can go with the victim to the hospital and can give advice about the additional counseling and support services that are available.

Step One. The responding patrol officers, having heard a brief description of what happened from the victim, will inform the appropriate police units, including investigators. Then, the patrol officers will secure the crime scene and interview any witnesses. The investigators will arrive to note and preserve evidence at the crime scene and conduct more interviews if needed.

Step Two. When ready, the victim must provide a detailed statement of the assault to the investigators. The victim advocate or a Victim Services officer may be present.

Step Three. Police officers may ask the victim to try to identify the suspect in a photograph or suspect lineup.

Step Four. Investigators must gather enough evidence to establish "probable cause," i.e., legal reason to arrest the suspect. When the evidence is ready, the investigators and victim will appear to meet with a magistrate to ask for a warrant allowing the suspect’s arrest. If a warrant is granted, the suspect can be arrested and jailed. However, because of the bail system, the suspect may not spend all of the time before the trial in custody.

Step Five. There may be several judicial proceedings before the actual trial. For instance, a "preliminary hearing" is held. At this hearing, which is conducted before a judge, the victim will answer questions from the prosecuting lawyer and the suspect’s defense lawyer. In addition, the victim will be asked to appear before the grand jury when it convenes to determine if the suspect is to be indicted. If the grand jury issues a "True Bill," a trial will be scheduled.

Step Six. The trial will be held in the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse downtown. Rape trials generally involve testimony from the victim, the police investigators, the emergency-room doctor, and other witnesses. If the accused rapist is found to be guilty of the crime, the judge will set the term of punishment.

The Office of Judicial Affairs will investigate a case and assess sanctions if a student or student organization is found to be in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Any member of the University community may file charges against any student for alleged misconduct. Violations of the Code of Conduct include sexual misconduct. Charges must be prepared in writing and directed to the judicial investigator in the Office of Judicial Affairs. Any charge should be submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place, preferably within one month of knowledge of the occurrence. For more information, contact the Office of Judicial Affairs at 348-0211.

Sanctions up to and including expulsion from residence halls and suspension from the University may be imposed if, through the investigation and hearing process, the accused is found to be guilty. The University of Alabama is committed to providing an investigative hearing process that is sensitive, fair, supportive, and respectful of the rights and needs of all involved. To the extent not already provided for by existing disciplinary procedures, the complainant and the accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during a disciplinary proceeding; both the complainant and the accused shall be informed of the outcome of any institutional disciplinary proceeding brought alleging a sex offense. As provided by existing University disciplinary procedures, under appropriate circumstances, interim measures may be taken to provide for the safety of the complainant, of the accused and of witnesses. University disciplinary procedures and possible sanctions are described in the Code of Conduct.

The University of Alabama is committed to providing preventive, informative, and supportive programs for all members of the University community. Campus-wide programs coordinated by the Women’s Resource Center are designed to increase safety awareness, develop self defense techniques, improve communication skills between women and men, help prevent acquaintance and stranger rape and drug-induced sexual assaults, alcohol and other drugs and violence information, build self-esteem, and provide information on steps to take in the event of a sexual assault. Some of the more noted educational programs offered by the Women’s Resource Center include:

• Gentlemen’s Agreement and the Female Focus are groups comprised of students and staff members who provide informative presentations to same sex audiences about the issues of dating/domestic violence and sexual assault. They were each developed to speak to their respective single sex audiences. Upon special requests, coed presentations are available for mixed audiences.

• Men Against Violence is a group of males that volunteer to help spread the word about stopping violence through awareness activities around campus and in the community.

• Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Against Women Peer Education Group are one-day workshops on how to start a peer education program.

• Violence Against Women on Campus: A Guide for Faculty and Staff was designed especially for faculty and staff who work with students at the University. It defines sexual assault and dating violence, as well as the role of alcohol and other drugs, warning signs, and what to do if you know someone who has been raped or is in a violent relationship. This guide was distributed to all faculty and professional staff in 1998, and is given to all new faculty and staff. Please contact the Women’s Resource Center if you would like a copy.