From Slate Magazine · Sabrina Karim · · 1m 10s
Cornell Police Fail Jane Doe's Report
Cornell campus police ignored trauma-informed principles when responding to Jane Doe's sexual assault report.
In brief
Cornell campus police ignored trauma-informed principles when responding to Jane Doe's sexual assault report. Cornell University Police failed to follow gender-responsive and trauma-informed protocols after Jane Doe reported sexual assault. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
Jane Doe's Report
Jane Doe reported sexual assault to Cornell University Police Department after campus incident.
“I am an associate professor of government at Cornell University, where my research through the Gender and Security Sector Lab examines how police and justice institutions can become more gender-responsive and trauma-informed.”
Cornell Police Jurisdiction
Cornell University Police Department, not Ithaca Police Department, had jurisdiction to investigate the case.
“Cornell has stated that the Cornell University Police Department, rather than the Ithaca Police Department, had jurisdiction to investigate the case.”
Trauma-Informed Principles
Survivors should not be treated as definitive sources of trauma accounts and may revise statements over time.
“One statement from a survivor should never be treated as the final or definitive account of a traumatic event.”
Survivor Burden
Investigations should not place burden on survivors to recount traumatic events repeatedly.
“Investigations should not place the burden of establishing what happened primarily on the survivor.”
Survivor Communication
Survivors should be kept informed about case status and next steps throughout investigation.
“Survivors should be kept informed about what is happening with their case.”
Survivor Services
Survivors need ongoing access to mental health, safety, housing, and academic accommodations.
“Survivors should be connected to a range of services from the beginning and throughout the investigative process.”
Survivor Choice
Survivors should have meaningful choices about who interacts with them during investigations.
“Survivors should have meaningful choices about who interacts with them during an investigation.”
Cornell's Obligations
Cornell University must review campus police for gender- and trauma-responsive practices.
“Cornell and the law-enforcement and justice institutions that serve this community, as well as all universities across the country, should conduct a systematic review of whether their law enforcement agencies are gender- and trauma-responsive.”
Systemic Change
Institutional change requires public cases to reveal failures in gender-responsive policing.
“My global research has also taught me that institutional change of this nature often follows sustained advocacy and, unfortunately, comes after highly public cases reveal failure.”
The key point
Cornell University Police failed to follow gender-responsive and trauma-informed protocols after Jane Doe reported sexual assault.
