Victim Assistance Resources

When You’re The Victim Of Sexual Violence…

There is never an excuse for using force, intimidation, or drugs/alcohol to induce someone to perform sexual acts of any kind. If you (or someone you know) have been the victim of sexual violence, on or off-campus, help is available, immediately and in the long-term. You are not alone – there are many sources of confidential help, and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences is committed to helping you secure the assistance you need.

Regardless of whether you wish to file a police report, it is important to seek medical assistance as soon as possible to receive preventive medication for possible sexually transmitted diseases and be eligible to receive emergency contraception.

GET IMMEDIATE HELP…

  • Get to a safe place as soon as you can.
  • If the assault has taken place recently, and you are able to do so comfortably, avoid the following activities before deciding whether you will participate in a forensic medical exam: Eating or drinking, bathing, showering, or douching, using the bathroom, changing your clothes.
  • Contact Public Safety or the local police:

Newark Campus
Emergency: dial 911
For University Telephones, obtain an outside line, then dial 911
For Non-Emergency calls dial 973-972-4490/4491

New Brunswick/Piscataway Campus
Emergency: dial 911
For University Telephones, obtain an outside line, then dial 911
For Non-Emergency calls dial 732-932-7211

Blackwood Campus
Emergency: dial 911
For University Telephones, obtain an outside line, then dial 911
For Non-Emergency calls dial 856-256-4922

  • Get medical attention as soon as possible. A medical examination will provide any necessary treatment and collect important evidence. Injuries may not be immediately apparent.
  • Contact someone you trust, such as a close friend, to be with you and support you.

Other victim assistance resources for immediate help:

    • RBHS Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance 
      The RBHS Office for Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance (VPVA) is a free and confidential resource that provides services regarding sexual violence, dating violence, stalking, and harassment for the RBHS community. VPVA offers counseling, advocacy, education, and programming to address and prevent interpersonal violence that impacts the RBHS campus. Please visit their website by clicking here (https://oasa.rbhs.rutgers.edu/violence-prevention-victim-assistance/ )

    Rutgers Office of Employment Equity (OEE)
    OEE provides assistance with the following:

      • Investigations
        • OEE investigates complaints of Discrimination and Harassment based on membership in a protected class, Sexual Misconduct Under Title IX, Workplace Violence and Conscientious Employee Protection Policy violations.
      • Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action
        • The Office of Employment Equity is responsible for monitoring Rutgers’ compliance with state and federal equal employment opportunity and affirmative action laws and regulations.
          Please visit their website for more information regarding the services offered by OEE – Click Here (https://uhr.rutgers.edu/oee/home)
  • State-wide Sexual Assault Toll Free Hotline (800) 601-7200 or online at http://www.njcasa.org/

Sexual Violence Hotline Numbers – State of NJ, Dept. of Children and Families http://www.state.nj.us/dcf/women/hotlines/

Rutgers Health Sciences Campus at Newark
Student Health Services – Doctor’s Office Center, 90 Bergen Street, Suite 1750, Newark 973-972-8219

New Brunswick/Piscataway Campus
Student Health Services – Monument Square, 317 George Street, First Floor, New Brunswick 732-235-5160

Services available 24/7
Emergencies after 5:00pm & Weekends – 1-800-327-3678
Monday – Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, evenings by appointment.

Newark Campus/Scotch Plains Campuses
Rutgers-University Behavioral HealthCare, Employee Assistance/Student Wellness Program
183 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103
973-972-5429

New Brunswick/Piscataway Campus
Rutgers-University Behavioral HealthCare, Employee Assistance/Student Wellness Program
242 Old New Brunswick Road, Piscataway
732-235-5930

Blackwood Campus
Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care
Student Wellness Program
One Echelon Plaza, Suite 101
Voorhees, NJ 08043
856-770-5750

Notifying the police does not require you to pursue criminal prosecution or Rutgers disciplinary action. Your rights include:

  • Contacting Public Safety to file criminal charges or report any issue regarding physical security, or contacting local police; and, or;
  • Filing civil charges through the courts; and, or;
  • Independent of filing criminal or civil charges, pursuing charges through University policies (see below), if the alleged assailant is part of  the Rutgers community.
  • Deciding to file no charges.
  • Rights as outlined in the Campus Sexual Assault Bill of Rights (see below).
  • Contacting the University’s Title IX Coordinator who is responsible for overseeing complaints regarding sexual assault. http://compliance.rutgers.edu/Title-ix.  RBHS Title IX Coordinator: Susan Hamilton – 973-972-5338 – susan.hamilton@rutgers.edu.

Introduction (Pursuant To NJSA 18A, Chapter 61E)

A college or university in a free society must be devoted to the pursuit of truth and knowledge through reason and open communication among its members. Academic communities acknowledge the necessity of being intellectually stimulating where the diversity of ideas is valued. Its rules must be conceived for the purpose of furthering and protecting the rights of all members of the university community in achieving these ends.

Applicable state and federal laws and institutional rules and regulations governing interpersonal behavior limit the boundaries of personal freedom. In creating a community free from violence, sexual assault and non-consensual sexual contact, respect for the individual and human dignity are of paramount importance.

The State of New Jersey recognizes that the impact of violence on its victims and the surrounding community can be severe and long lasting. Thus, it has established this Bill of Rights to articulate requirements for policies, procedures and services designed to insure that the needs of victims are met and that the colleges and universities in New Jersey create and maintain communities that support human dignity.

The campus sexual assault victim’s Bill of Rights was adopted by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and enacted by the State of New Jersey, effective September 1, 1995.

The following Rights shall be accorded to victims of sexual assault that occur:

  • On the campus of any public or independent institution of higher education in the state of New Jersey, and
  • Where the victim or alleged perpetrator is a student at that institution, and/or,
  • When the victim is a student involved in an off-campus sexual assault.

Human Dignity Rights

  • To be free from any suggestion that victims must report the crimes to be assured of any other right guaranteed under this policy;
  • To have any allegations of sexual assault treated seriously; the right to be treated with dignity;
  • To be free from any suggestion that victims are responsible for the commission of crimes against them;
  • To be free from any pressure from campus personnel to:
  • Report crimes if the victim does not wish to do so;
  • Report crimes as lesser offenses than the victim perceives the crime to be;
  • Refrain from reporting crimes;
  • Refrain from reporting crimes to avoid unwanted personal publicity

Rights to Resources On and Off Campus

  • To be notified of existing campus and community based medical, counseling, mental health and student services for victims of sexual assault whether or not the crime is formally reported to campus or civil authorities;
  • To have access to campus counseling under the same terms and conditions as apply to other students in their institution seeking such counseling;
  • To be informed of and assisted in exercising;
  • Any rights to confidential or anonymous testing for sexually transmitted diseases, human immunodeficiency virus, and/or pregnancy;
  • Any rights that may be provided by law to compel and disclose the results of testing of sexual assault suspects for communicable diseases.

Campus Judicial Rights

  • To be afforded the same access to legal assistance as the accused;
  • To be afforded the same opportunity to have others present during any campus disciplinary proceeding that is allowed the accused;
  • To be notified of the outcome of the sexual assault disciplinary proceeding against the accused.

Legal Rights

  • To have any allegation of sexual assault investigated and adjudicated by the appropriate criminal and civil authorities of the jurisdiction in which the sexual assault is reported;
  • To receive full and prompt cooperation and assistance of campus personnel in notifying the proper authorities;
  • To recieve full, prompt, and victim-sensitive cooperation of campus personnel with regard to obtaining, securing, and maintaining evidence, including a medical examination when it is necessary to preserve evidence of the assault.

Campus Intervention Rights

  • To require campus personnel to take reasonable and necessary actions to prevent further unwanted contact of victims by their alleged assailants;
  • To be notified of the options for and provided assistance in charged academic and living situations if such charges are reasonably available.

Other Things You Should Know:

  • Note that the University will investigate allegations of sexual harassment, and take appropriate action, even if you do not wish to pursue action through the University’s disciplinary process; the University’s response, however, may be hindered by your wishes, if any, for anonymity and/or inaction.
  • The University will make every effort to stop sexual harassment, remedy the harassment and prevent recurrence. To acheive this, you may request changes in your academic schedule and housing (if you reside in RBHS housing – Newark only); such charges will be designed, whenever possible, to minimize the burden on your educational program. In certain cases, due to curricular constraints, remedies such as separate classes or classrooms may not be possible.
  • The University will issue, in writing, a “no contact” order to all parties to an alleged sexual assault promptly after receiving notice of a complaint.

The University recognizes that sex-based cyber-harassment is a form of sexual harassment and individuals have the right to be free of such harassment within the University and report these incidents to School and University officials.

Please see the Safety Matters brochure for helpful information on many issues impacting the public safety of students and employees.