(Adapted from the Crisis Management Handbook: A Guide for Overseas
Staff, Peace Corps Volunteer Safety Council)
The Peace Corps Volunteer Safety Council designed the rape notification protocol for use in the case of major sexual assault. It has been adapted to be used by study abroad administrators and resident directors. It is intended to help ensure that all appropriate staff at the Study Center abroad and the US home institution receive timely notice of such an assault so that they may perform their assigned functions, and to serve as a guide and resource for the Resident Directors. The protocol is designed to manage communications between the study center and the US home institution, minimize duplication of effort, keep necessary personnel up to date on developments, and relieve those most responsible for taking emergency action of unnecessary burdens of communication in the days and weeks after an assault has occurred. (While men may be victims of sexual assault, the vast majority of victims are, in fact, women. The language of this document reflects this overwhelming disparity.)
When a staff member of the study center learns that a student has been subject to a rape or attempted rape, that staff member should take the following steps with regard to notifying staff at the study center and in the US home institution. This protocol assumes that the assaulted student and the Staff member have spoken directly. (See one page summary of the protocol).
A. Notification
The staff member first informs the student that the staff member is required to inform the establish protocol on a college campus.
1) Notification Checklist
| ______ | a brief summary of the incident; |
| ______ | gender of the student; |
| ______ | country of study center and of occurrence; |
| ______ | type of assault, date of incident, time of incident; |
| ______ | date of report to in-country medical staff; |
| ______ | type of community where the incident occurred; |
| ______ | type of location; accompaniment of student; |
| ______ | whether program-related or not; use of weapon; |
| ______ | information on assailant, relationship of assailant; |
| ______ | suspect apprehended; |
| ______ | student's intention to prosecute; |
| ______ | whether medical treatment provided; |
| ______ | medevac plans; |
| ______ | police role and position; |
| ______ | local counsel retained; |
| ______ | whether Embassy notified |
B) DEFINITIONS FOR REPORTING ELEMENTS/CATEGORIES
1) Summary of Incident
Briefly describe the incident. Include information not included in the body of the report that provides greater description of the event. Include information on injuries sustained including broken bones, lost teeth, internal injuries, loss of consciousness, and if hospitalization was required. When indicated, include information on whether the assailant had been under the influence of alcohol or other mind altering substance; include the same information for the Student.
Demographics
| Name | Full Name of Student |
| SSN | Social security number of Student |
| Age | Age of Student on their last birthday |
| Gender | Indicate whether the Student is male or female |
| Country | Indicate the program location (country) of the student. If the incident occurred in a place other than the program location, also provide the country of occurrence. |
| Date of Report | Date of report to the Office of Medical Services |
2) Description of the Incident
Type of Assault
Indicate if the incident is a completed rape, other sexual assault, aggravated assault, or simple assault. Use the following case definitions as a guide. The definitions are the same as those used in the Epidemiologic Surveillance System, with the exception that here completed rapes are separated from other sexual assaults.
2.1 Rape
Rape is defined as sexual intercourse without the consent, and against the will of the victim. There is always force or the threat of violence involved. Threats of violence include the display of a weapon or a verbal threat to do physical harm. The victim submits out of fear. For the purposes of reporting, sexual intercourse is defined as penetration of the penis and the vagina or anus. Attempted rapes (i.e., where penetration did not occur) should be reported under "Other Sexual Assault."
2.2 Other Sexual Assault
Sexual activity without the consent, and against the will of the victim. There is always force or the threat of violence involved. Threats of violence include the display of a weapon or a verbal threat to do physical harm. The victim submits out of fear. Includes attempted rape and any assaults that involve sexual activity. For the purposes of reporting, sexual activity is defined as direct contact involving the genitals, breasts, mouth, or anus. Sexual assault can be distinguished from sexual harassment because, in sexual harassment, force or the threat of violence is usually not involved. Do not include incidents of sexual harassment.
2.3 Aggravated Assault
Attack or attempted attack with a weapon, regardless of whether or not an injury occurred, and an attack without a weapon when serious injury results. Serious injury includes broken bones, lost teeth, internal injuries, loss of consciousness, and any injury requiring two or more days of hospitalization.
2.4 Simple Assault
Physical attack or threat of attack. Attack without a weapon resulting either in minor injury (e.g., bruises, black eyes, cuts, scratches or swelling) or in undetermined injury requiring less than two days of hospitalization. Also includes attempted assault without a weapon.
| Date of Incident | Indicate the date of the incident. |
| Time of Incident | Indicate the exact time of the incident. If the time is unclear, estimate to the nearest hour. |
| Date of Report to Medical Staff |
Indicate the date that the incident was reported to the in-country medical staff. |
| Type of Community | Indicate the type of the community where the incident occurred based on estimated population. If the incident occurred outside the boundaries of a community, such as on a road, provide an estimate for the nearest community. Use the following classification:
|
| Type of Location | Indicate the type of location of the incident as follows:
|
| Accompaniment | Indicate whether or not the student was alone at the time of the incident. If the student was accompanied by another student(s), please state how many other students were present. |
| Program Related | Indicate whether or not the incident was program related. |
| Use of Weapon | Indicate if a weapon was used or threatened to be used against the student. |
| Type of Weapon | If a weapon was used, indicate the type of weapon(s) that was used or threatened to be used against the student. If more than one weapon was used, indicate all that apply.
Examples of other weapons that could be listed here include but are not limited to: drags given to a student against his/her will; use of a motor vehicle to attempt to run down a student. |
3) Information on Assailant
| Motive | Indicate the motive of the assailant, as perceived by the student who was assaulted, as follows:
|
| Relationship of Assailant | Indicate the relationship of the assailant to the student:
|
| Suspect | Indicate whether or not the assailant(s) has been apprehended by law enforcement agent |
| Intention to Prosecute | Indicate whether or not the student intends to press charges against the assailant at the present time. |
4) Personnel Notification
| U.S. Home Institution Staff Notified | Besides the medical staff, list other in-country staff who have been notified of the incident. The Resident Director or his/her designee must be advised that the assault has occurred (See Section 3B above). |
| Other U.S. | Besides the Home Institution staff, list the in-country U.S. officials (e.g., Embassy Personnel) who have been notified of the incident. |
| Local Authorities | List the local authorities (e.g., police, principal, mayor) who have been notified of the incident. |
5) Medical Treatment
| Medical Treatment Provided or Planned | Briefly describe the medical treatment provided and/or planned for the student. Include X-rays and other diagnostic procedures needed to rule out injuries. |
| Medical Evacuation | Indicate whether or not the student has or will be medically evacuated to the U.S. |
| Counseling Provided or Planned | Describe counseling provided and/or planned for the student. |
6) Assault Case Notification Fax Form
FROM:
To: DIRECTOR
NAME OF STUDENT
SSN
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INCIDENT
DEMOGRAPHICS
AGE:
GENDER:
COUNTRY:
DATE OF REPORT TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL:
DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT
TYPE OF ASSAULT:
DATE OF INCIDENT:
TIME OF INCIDENT:
DATE OF REPORT TO MEDICAL STAFF:
TYPE OF COMMUNITY:
TYPE OF LOCATION:
ACCOMPANIMENT OF STUDENT:
JOB RELATED:
USE OF WEAPON:
TYPE OF WEAPON:
INFORMATION ON ASSAILANT
MOTIVE:
RELATIONSHIP OF ASSAILANT:
SUSPECT APPREHENDED:
INTENTION TO PROSECUTE:
PERSONNEL NOTIFIED
- STUDY ABROAD STAFF NOTIFIED:
- OTHER U.S. PERSONNEL NOTIFIED:
- LOCAL AUTHORITIES NOTIFIED:
MEDICAL TREATMENT
MEDICAL TREATMENT PROVIDED OR PLANNED:
MEDICAL EVACUATION PLANS:
COUNSELING PROVIDED OR PLANNED:
7) Sample Memorandum to Director from Resident Director for Notification of an Assault
MEMORANDUM
To: Director
From: Resident Director
Subject: Notification of an Assault
Date:
This is to report an assault involving a student. Details are as follows:
1) Demographics
Type of Assault:
Gender of student:
Country:
Date medical professional notified:
2) Characteristics of Assault
Date of the Incident:
Time of the Incident:
Location:
Number of Student's Involved:
Type of Weapon Used:
Motive:
Relationship of Assailant:
Intention to Prosecute:
3) Personnel Notified
Resident Director:
U.S. Embassy Staff:
Local Authorities:
4) Medical Treatment Provided
Treatment Provided:
Medical Evacuation Planned:
(Adapted from the Crisis Management Handbook: A Guide for Overseas
Staff, Peace Corps Volunteer Safety Council)
