Home / Education and Outreach / Sexual Misconduct and Violence

Sexual Misconduct and Violence

Santa Rosa Junior College is dedicated to fostering a safe and respectful community where everyone can work and learn free from violence, harassment, and intimidation. Sexual misconduct affects the entire community. Student Health Services supports survivors and aims to prevent sexual violence while offering compassionate intervention when needed.

šŸ“„ SRJC District Policy 2.15 and 2.15P: Prevention of and Response to Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking (PDF)

Affirmative Consent

What is Affirmative Consent?
Image of french fries that says CONSENT: Freely Given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, Specific
Image credit: Planned Parenthood
  • Affirmative Consent is consent that is informed, clearly affirmative, unambiguous, and a conscious decision by each participant to engage in mutually agreed-upon sexual activity.
  • Silence and/or lack of protest or resistance does not mean consent.
  • Consent is voluntary. It must be given without coercion, force, threats, or intimidation.
  • Consent is revocable and must be ongoing.
  • Consent cannot be given when a person is incapacitated.
  • Sexual activity with a minor is not consensual.

If the Affected Party states affirmative consent was not given, it shall not be a valid excuse that the accused believed consent was given under the following circumstances:

  1. Belief the consent arose from the intoxication or recklessness of the Affected Party.
  2. The accused did not take reasonable steps at the time of the alleged incident to determine if the Affected Party affirmatively consented.

It shall not be a valid excuse if the accused knew or should have known that the affirmative consent could not be given because the Affected Party:

  1. Was asleep or unconscious.
  2. Was incapacitated due to drugs, alcohol, or medication or could not understand the nature or extent of the sexual activity.
  3. Was unable to communicate due to a mental or physical condition.

Read More Key Definition at SRJC's Title IX Office Website

If You Are Assaulted

Sexual assault is never the survivorā€™s fault. You have the right to make informed choices.

Personal Safety is First
  • Get to a safe environment.
  • Call a friend.
  • If unsure about your safety or if you need immediate medical assistance, call 9-1-1.

If you are physically hurt, get medical attention.

  • Any medical provider who knows or suspects you are being treated for physical injuries related to an assault is required by law to report to law enforcement.
  • You do not have to cooperate with any investigation.
  • You can have personal support people with you, including a Verity crisis counselor/advocate.
Understanding and Support After Assault

Reactions to all types of assaults can include numbness and shock, feeling alone, self-blame and anger. The licensed clinical and behavioral health staff can listen to your concerns and assist you in determining next steps. They can coordinate with other agencies. These staff are also ready to support you concerning assaults that may have taken place months or years ago when you are ready for that discussion.

The Student Health Services offices are available in Santa Rosa, Monday through Friday, and in Petaluma, Monday through Thursday. They can work with survivors, families, significant others. They are supportive of your rights to make choices, and embrace all cultures, sexual preferences and genders.

Reporting Options

Title IX Office Reporting

All SRJC employees and students can make a report to the Title IX coordinator to ensure your safety by going to the Title IX website https://titleix.santarosa.edu. The Title IX coordinator will investigate all claims, issue protective restraints, for example, classroom reassignment. They determine appropriate punishment, up to and including termination and/or expulsion from the District.

Report sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic or dating violence, stalking, or threat of any of these committed by a student, staff, faculty, or other member of the college community, with or without filing a police report and whether on or off campus.

File a Report

Title IX Coordinator

Stephanie Jarrett: (707) 527-4822, sjarrett@santarosa.edu

Title IX Deputy Coordinators

Anonymous Reporting
  • You can make a report to police or sheriff department without giving your name. You can also have evidence collected in an anonymous report by contacting Verity at (707) 545-7273. An exam within 72 hours is recommended.
  • Avoid bathing, brushing your teeth prior to collecting evidence if possible.
  • Evidence can be held while you consider your next steps. Verity has English and Spanish speaking counselors and advocates available 24/7.
  • You may report any stalking, sexual assault, harassment or other misconduct to the District Police. They will relay the information to the correct jurisdiction and you will not have to speak with any additional officers.
  • You can call or go to a police station. You will speak with a law enforcement officer.
  • You can also go to an Emergency Room and tell them you have been assaulted and law enforcement will be called.
  • Read the SRJC District Police's Reporting and Safety Tips

Confidentiality

The Student Health Services licensed Clinical or Behavioral Health staff (Nurse Practitioners, College Physicians, Student Psychological Counselors, and SPS Interns) can provide confidential support, care, and information. These SHS licensed staff are not required to report to any authority without your consent.

If you discuss the assault with Santa Rosa Junior College faculty or staff (other than those noted above) be aware that, by law, they must report it to the Title IX office.

Read our Full Confidentiality Notice

Sexual Assault Support Services

SRJC Resources

SRJC and Sonoma County have many services available to support and assist you to discuss your feelings, regardless of when the assault occurred. Trained staff are available to work with survivors, families and significant others, and coordinate with other agencies to assist you in exploring options. 

Off-Campus Resources in Sonoma County

Verity

  • Verity 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline: (707) 545-7273
  • www.ourverity.org
  • FREE counseling line, accompaniment and advocacy services are provided to victims of all forms of sexual assault including: incest, child sexual abuse, date rape, marital rape, same sex rape, sexual harassment, and attempted sexual assaultā€¦No matter how long ago the incident occurred. These services are provided by staff and trained volunteers. Drop in group available.
  • Walk-in Crisis Counseling: Weekdays, 9:00 AMā€“5:00 PM
  • Hearing and Speech Impaired Rape Crisis Hotline TDD:Verity provides confidential services to deaf survivors and family members who have been affected by sexual assault. Now, persons with hearing or speech impairments have access to a confidential rape crisis line and can tap into local support services focusing on rape and sexual assault issues. Verity takes 711 (California Relay Service) calls from deaf, hard of hearing and speech-disabled callers. The California Relay Service (CRS) provides specially-trained operators to relay telephone conversations back and forth between people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled and all those they wish to communicate with by telephone.
  • English and Spanish.

YWCA of Sonoma County

  • YWCA 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: (707) 546-1234
  • ywcasc.org
  • The YWCA Sonoma County supports women and children in abusive environments by providing safe shelter, therapy and on-going support for up to two years.
Other Sonoma County Community Resources
Additional Resources

Sexual Assault Prevention

Find us on YouTube for all of our videos: @srjcstudenthealthpeers

It's On Us: Sexual Assault Prevention at SRJC

Santa Rosa Junior College prohibits all forms of dating violence, stalking, sexual assault and harassment. In this video, SRJC students share important information about the risk of sexual violence, tips for prevention, on and off campus resources for support, and reporting options.

Keeping Ourselves and Others Safe

One of the most essential parts of your college life will be the relationships you build with other students, staff, and faculty on campus. You have the right to be in relationships that you choose and to have those be safe for you. You are equally responsible for treating others with respect.

Actions You Can Take

Keep your own personal relationships safe and healthy.

  • Trust your instincts: If someone makes you feel uncomfortable remove yourself from the situation and tell someone.
  • Communicate clearly: In a relationship or interaction, get clear about what you want. If there are limits that you want to maintain, state what they are and stick to them. Practice describing your limits outside of intimate situations, so you feel ready to express yourself.
Domestic Violence Information and Resources

What is Domestic Violence and Domestic Assault?

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional abuse.

Who Can Be a Victim?

Anyone can become a victim of domestic violence, women, men, children, the elderly and disabled. Domestic violence can come from spouses, signiļ¬cant others, parents, caregivers, close family members, or roommates.

Services and Resources at SRJC

  • Referrals to local Domestic Violence shelters and resources.
  • On-Campus restraining orders.
  • Safe escorting from campus security to and from classes to car.
  • Teacher and faculty awareness and corroboration.
  • Counseling and mental health services.
  • On-campus and local support groups.

SRJC and Community Domestic Violence Resources

  • SRJC District Police
    Phone: EMERGENCY: (707) 527-1000 | Non-emergency: (707) 528-5222
    Address: 965 Sonoma Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95404
    Web: police.santarosa.edu
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline
    Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE(7233)
    Web: thehotline.org
  • YWCA of Sonoma County
    Phone: (707) 546-1234 | 24/7 Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline
    Address: 811 3rd St. Santa Rosa, CA 95404
    Web: ywcasc.org
  • Love is Respect
    Phone: 1-866-331-9474 | 1-800-787-3224 (TTY); Text 'LOVEIS' to 22522
    Web: loveisrespect.org

Sexual Assault Statistics

Collecting accurate data on sexual assault is difficult due to victimsā€™ reticence to report. It is estimated that approximately 70% of assaults are not reported by women, and even lower percentages for males. The most current data available, Dec 2014, Lynn Langton, PhD, Bureau of Justice Statistics shows the following:

One in five women is sexually assaulted while in college. A significant number of men also are sexually assaulted during college. 75 - 80% of these assaults are by someone they know.

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to publish an annual report every year that contains 3 years of crime statistics and certain policy statements including sexual assault policies which assure basic victimsā€™ rights. 

Clery Act data is available by campus

  • At least 50% of sexual assaults among college students involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, the victim, or both.
  • About 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 13 men will experience stalking.
  • Up to 1 in 3 relationships have abuse present.
  • Partner violence occurs in same-sex couples about same rate as heterosexual couples.