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FAQs For Reporting Parties/Complainants

What should I do if a friend or I have been sexually assaulted at a campus site?
Seek medical attention as soon as possible. If this is an emergency, call 911.

You can also call Campus Police at (562) 860-2451 ext. 2325.

You can report the incident to the Campus Police Department at (562) 860-2451 ext. 2325 and/or to Dr. Lauren Elan Helsper, Director of Diversity, Compliance, and Title IX Coordinator at (562) 860-2451 ext. 2276.

If the incident happened outside campus, contact the police department for that area.

If you wish to pursue a complaint against the alleged perpetrator, or if you wish to discuss your options,please contact the Title IX Coordinator at TitleIXCoordinator@cerritos.edu. 

If the incident involves Cerritos College faculty or staff, first file a complaint with the Office of Student Conduct and Grievances, then file a complaint with the Office of Human Resources located in Multi-Purpose building.

Can I file a complaint with Cerritos College and with police? Can I do one and not the other?
Yes, you may take action through both the campus disciplinary system and the criminal justice system. Cerritos College encourages victims to pursue criminal action for incidents of sexual harassment or misconduct that may also be crimes under California law. Cerritos College will also assist a victim in making a criminal report and will cooperate with law enforcement agencies if a victim decides to pursue the criminal process to the extent permitted by law. However, a victim may also choose not to pursue criminal action, and under most circumstances, police will not force a victim to pursue charges if he/she is not willing to do so.

What should I do about preserving evidence of a sexual assault?
Physical evidence of a sexual assault must be collected from the victim’s person within 72 hours, though evidence can often be obtained from towels, sheets, clothes, etc. for much longer periods of time.

If you believe you have been a victim of a sexual assault, go to a medical facility capable of collecting medical/legal evidence in cases of sexual assault, and has specially trained staff to do so before washing yourself or your clothing. Anaheim Regional Medical Center (714) 774-1450 is the only hospital in Orange County that performs sexual assault exams. You can also contact your local law enforcement agency or a crisis hotline for assistance. Having the evidence collected in this manner will help keep all your options open, but will not obligate you to any course of action. Collecting evidence can assist authorities in pursuing criminal charges if you decide to later.

If you have changed clothing since the assault, bring the clothing you had on at the time of the assault to the hospital in a clean, sanitary container such as a clean paper grocery bag or wrapped in a clean sheet (plastic containers do not breathe, and may render evidence useless). If you have not changed clothes, bring a change of clothes, if possible, as authorities will likely keep the clothes you are wearing as evidence.

What should I do if I am uncertain about whether what I experienced constitutes sexual assault?
If you believe that you have experienced a non-consensual sexual contact, but are unsure of whether it was a violation of Cerritos College's sexual misconduct policy, contact the nurse or psychologist at the Student Health and Wellness Center, the Title IX Coordinator, Campus Police or another trusted administrator who can help you define and clarify the event(s), and advise you of your options.

Does the complaint remain confidential?
The privacy of all parties to a complaint of sexual misconduct must be strictly observed, except insofar as it interferes with Cerritos College's obligation to fully investigate allegations of sexual misconduct. Where privacy is not strictly kept, it will still be tightly controlled on a need-to-know basis. Dissemination of information and/or written materials to Cerritos College faculty or staff not involved in the complaint procedure is not permitted. Violations of the privacy of the victim or the accused may lead to conduct action by Cerritos College.

Cerritos College must statistically report the occurrence on campus of major violent crimes, including certain sex offenses, in an annual report of campus crime statistics. This statistical report does not include personally identifiable information.

If I share information about a sexual assault, what is the difference between confidentiality and privacy?
CONFIDENTIALITY: Under California law, communications with some individuals are confidential. This means that any information shared by the victim with a specific individual will not be used against the individual in court or shared with others. This individual cannot be subpoenaed to testify against the victim in a court of law.

Students should always confirm whether confidentiality applies to the communication. Generally, confidentiality applies when a student seeks services from the following persons:

• Psychological counselor (including psychologists at the Student Health and Wellness Center)
• Personal attorney
• Religious/spiritual counselor

PRIVACY: Cerritos College is committed to creating an environment that encourages students to come forward if they have experienced any form of sexual misconduct. The college will safeguard the identities of students who seek help or who report sexual misconduct.

A Cerritos College employee cannot guarantee complete confidentiality, but the individual can guarantee privacy. Information is disclosed only to select college personnel who have an essential need to know in order to carry out their responsibilities. As is the case with any educational institution, Cerritos College must balance the needs of the individual student with its obligation to protect the safety and well-being of the community at large. Therefore, depending on the seriousness of the alleged incident, further action may be necessary, including a campus security alert. The alert, however, would never contain any information identifying the student who brought the complaint.

Do I have to name my assailant?
Yes, if you want formal disciplinary action to be taken against the alleged assailant. No, if you choose to respond informally and do not file a formal complaint. Victims should be aware that not identifying the assailant may limit Cerritos College's ability to respond comprehensively.

Will the accused know my identity?
Yes, if you file a formal complaint. Sexual misconduct is a serious offense and the accused has the right to know the identity of the victim. If there is a hearing, Cerritos College provides options for questioning without confrontation.

No, if you do not provide a specific name or identity. In this situation the issue is counted in Cerritos College's reporting data, but no formal investigation or confrontation can be conducted.

If I report my assailant, I am afraid that I will be subject to retaliation from him/her or his/her friends. What kinds of protection can Cerritos College provide?
It is a violation of Cerritos College's policy to retaliate in any way against an individual or a group because the individual or group reported an allegation of sexual harassment or misconduct.

The college recognizes that retaliation can take many forms, may be committed by an individual or a group against an individual or a group, and that the accused can also be the subject of retaliation by the victim or a third party. Cerritos College will take immediate and responsive action to any report of retaliation and may pursue disciplinary action as appropriate. An individual reporting sexual harassment or misconduct is entitled to protection from any form of retaliation following a report that is made in good faith, even if the report is later not proven.

What if I have a relationship with the person who assaulted me?
It is never acceptable to force, threaten or coerce someone into having sex, even if they are in a relationship. Just because you have been intimate with someone in the past does not automatically mean you give consent for any and all future sexual activity.

Will my parents be told?
Whether you are the victim or the accused, Cerritos College's primary relationship is to the student and not the parent. However, in the event of major medical, disciplinary or academic jeopardy, students are strongly encouraged to inform their parents. College officials will directly inform parents when a student requests it, in certain instances where a health or safety emergency exist, or if the college determines such communication is necessary.

My assailant attends one of my classes. I am having difficulty concentrating on my schoolwork. How can I receive help with my courses?
If your assailant attends one of your classes, you may change classes. Linda Fontanilla, vice president for student services and Title IX Coordinator, will work with the Admissions and Records Office to help switch your classes and assist in getting extensions on course work if necessary.

Will a student be punished when reporting a sexual misconduct policy violation if he/she has illegally used alcohol and/or drugs?
Cerritos College's primary concern is the health and safety of its students. When conducting an investigation of an alleged sexual assault, the college’s focus will be on addressing the sexual assault and not the lesser policy violations that may be discovered or disclosed. Cerritos College may, however, provide referrals to counseling or require other educational options.

Will the use of alcohol or other drugs affect the outcome of a sexual misconduct complaint?
The use of alcohol and/or drugs by either party will not diminish the responsibility of the accused. However, alcohol and/or other drugs are likely to affect memories and may affect the outcome of a case.

Will either party’s prior use of drugs and/or alcohol be a factor when reporting sexual misconduct?
Not unless there is a compelling reason to believe that prior use or abuse is relevant to the present complaint.

What is the time frame for resolution?
The investigation and resolution (including appeal) of all reports will generally be completed in 60 to 90 days. Extenuating circumstances, including the complexity and severity of a complaint, may arise that require the complaint process to extend beyond 90 days. In general, the victim and the accused can expect to receive periodic updates. In the event that the investigation and resolution exceed this time frame, the college will notify all parties of the need for additional time and best efforts will be made to complete the process in a timely manner.

Filing a Civil Rights Complaint
If you believe that you have been discriminated against because of your race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, or religion in programs or activities that HHS directly operates or to which HHS provides federal financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). You may file a complaint for yourself or for someone else.

Please know that Cerritos College would like to have the opportunity to solve the issue prior to filing this report so that the college may assist you with all of your needs and offer support.