Reporting Sexual Assault
A sexual assault can be reported at anytime and in Colorado, as of May 2016, may be prosecuted up to 20 years after the incident. If the incident happened when you were under the age of 15, in Colorado, there is no statutory limits on when it can be reported.
If you decide to report, there are a few options available to you.
OVA
If the assault happened a while ago, or if you are not sure you are ready to go right to the police, you can call OVA to talk through the issues and decide which reporting options could be best for you. We are confidential. If you’d like to report, but are apprehensive about talking with the police, the OVA can help schedule an interview in a comfortable setting.
Police
Reporting to the police is not the same as pressing charges against an offender. At the CU police department, you may be able to meet a detective or patrol officer and make a report without immediately triggering a full scale investigation. You can learn more about the process, meet the people involved, and make an informed decision. Other jurisdictions may not offer this option.
If the assault just happened, and you want to report, call 911. The officer’s first priority will be your physical and emotional health. They may recommend that you seek medical attention and possibly evidence collection.
Some victims simply want to file an “informational” report with the intention of making the police aware of their situation, other people want to file a report that will lead to an investigation and possibly criminal charges. You should know that if you have had a previous "dating" relationship with the person who hurt you the police may classify it as intimate partner abuse and would need to make an arrest.
Boulder District Attorney Sex Assault Division
If you report to the police, the police investigate the case and then present the case the the District Attorney's (DA's) office, who decide if the case will be filed/charged. The DA's Office has a division devoted to the prosecution of sex crimes. The division is staffed by experienced Deputy District Attorneys, who have specialized knowledge and training in the prosecution of sex offenses and a DA Victim Advocate assigned solely to work with sex assault survivors. The Division’s goal is to appropriately hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes, while at the same time focusing on the needs of sex assault survivors and helping them through the criminal justice system.
CU's Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance
The OIEC process is an administrative process and is different from criminal or civil processes. You can choose one or both. You can contact OIEC anonymously to get a better understanding of how they might handle your situation.
If you were sexually assaulted by a CU student: Sexual assault is a violation of the student code of conduct. The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) investigates reported instances of sexual assault under the Sexual Misconduct policy. If the CU student is found responsible for violating CU policy they will be sanctioned through the OIEC. If you would like to know more about the OIEC process, you can contact OVA or OIEC, or look at their website.
If you were sexually assaulted by faculty or staff member, you can also report to the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC).