Better response to sexual assaults is goal of training at UA

The University of Akron News

07/29/2015

The University of Akron is one of five public universities chosen to host Campus Sexual Assault Investigation Training, an initiative of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

Mike DeWine

Mike DeWine

Led by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, the one-day session will be held on Thursday, July 30, in Student Union 312, 303 Carroll St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The advanced training is designed to educate campus, municipal and county law enforcement professionals connected with colleges and universities on issues relating to sexual assault, physical violence and stalking.

Improving crucial services

"Sexual assault happens far too often in this country,” the attorney general said. “We know it happens in Ohio, and we know that it happens on college campuses. Streamlining investigations and prosecutions, and improving victim services are crucial to addressing campus sexual assaults."

The training initiative was one of three announced by DeWine in early June. His office also has:

  • Dedicated $3 million in competitive Victim of Crime grants for campuses to strengthen their sexual assault victim advocacy programs.
  • Prepared resources for schools to develop agreements with law enforcement, prosecutors and victim services providers. These Memorandums of Understanding clearly define each party's role when a sexual assault is reported since law enforcement investigations and campus disciplinary proceedings often commence simultaneously.

Collaborative effort

“We are very pleased that the Attorney General’s Office has asked us to be a host site for this training,” said Capt. Dale Gooding of UA Police. “We value our partnership with the Attorney General’s Office, as we have worked together in the past to bring law enforcement training to The University of Akron.” 

Here’s the schedule of training sessions:

  • Legal Framework Surrounding Campus Sexual Assault, 8 to 10 a.m., presented by UA’s John Reilly, associate vice president and associate general counsel, and Mark Stasitis, director of labor relations and immigration services and Title IX coordinator.
  • Victim Advocacy, 10 to 11 a.m., Vanessa Sampsel, campus outreach coordinator, Rape Crisis Center of Summit and Medina counties; Alex Leslie, director of prevention programs, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center; and Lynn Bilal, prevention coordinator, Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence.
  • Ohio Protocol for Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations, 11 a.m. to noon, Carol B. Gray assistant nurse manager, Emergency Department, Ohio State’s University Hospital East.
  • Conducting Sexual Assault Investigations and Evidence Collection, 1 to 4 p.m. Sgt. David Pelphrey, Sexual Assault Unit, Columbus Police Department.
  • Criminal Law Issues (4th, 5th and 6th amendments) 4 to 5 p.m., Lucinda Lee, Esq., law enforcement training officer, Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Online registration is still available for the training session on the Ohio Attorney General’s website at Campus Sexual Assault Investigation.