Reporting Parties may file reports with the University and local law enforcement. The University will not require someone to speak with law enforcement officials but strongly recommends that all Reporting Parties who have experienced a criminal offense report to local law enforcement agencies.

If there is a criminal process occurring simultaneously to the University process, evidence and/or other information may exist in the criminal process that is not available to the University. The University is not able to obtain evidence and/or other information from local law enforcement or the prosecutor unless Public Record laws or other laws allow for evidence and/or information to be released. Most evidence and/or information from criminal proceedings will not be made available to the University until after criminal proceedings are concluded, and some evidence and/or information may never be made available to the University.

The filing and process for addressing sexual harassment with a law enforcement entity is a separate process than the University’s process. In most cases, the University will not wait for a conclusion from local law enforcement for any criminal investigation or impending court proceedings, except in cases where the University temporarily delays its investigation while criminal investigators gather evidence. Law enforcement’s determination of whether to initiate prosecution will hold no weight on the University’s decision to charge a Respondent through the University’s resolution process.

A Complainant always has the right to seek a restraining order or similar no-contact/protective order from the police. The University will make reasonable efforts to enforce all protective and restraining orders regardless of who issues them. Enforcement of these orders by the University will begin upon notification and receipt of documentation of their existence. 

Should either party wish to cooperate with local law enforcement in a criminal investigation pertaining to a matter of sexual harassment, they may do so under the guidance of the appropriate legal authority(ies) without fear of penalty by the University for violating a no contact order issued by the University.