Information for Crime Victims
If you become a victim of a crime while at Highlands, you are encouraged to report it immediately to the Highlands Police/Security Department. Prompt reporting and specific information will increase the chances of solving your case. When you call, give your name, the location from where you are calling, and a brief description of what occurred. If evidence from the crime is still intact, please do not destroy it. This is especially important in sexual assault cases. Note: showering, changing clothes, or grooming can destroy vital evidence.
Many students worry about reporting crimes to the police because they do not want to testify in a trial. Victims are nevertheless encouraged to at least contact the Highlands Police/Security Department so they can be made aware of other services (counseling services, medical treatment, etc.) that might lessen the trauma of the incident. If the victim does not wish to pursue criminal charges or misdemeanor crimes, his or her wishes will be respected.
Students who are victims of crimes may pursue another avenue of complaint through the vice president of Student Affairs. While this is not a substitute for the criminal justice system, it does afford students the opportunity to have their side heard in a less formal environment. If another student is found to have violated any of the regulations in the Highlands Code of Student Conduct, he or she can be sanctioned or even expelled from the university.
Both the victim and the accused will be afforded the same rights during disciplinary hearings, which include the opportunity to have someone with them, and to be informed of the results of the hearing. If students are interested in this course of action, they may call the vice president of Student Affairs at 454.3020, obtain information from the Highlands Student Handbook, or contact the Highlands Police/Security Department.