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If you are the victim
of crime, help is available. Immediately after the crime has occurred,
you may feel confused about what to do next. The following offers guidelines
to help you decide what to do.
If this was a crime
that has left you fearful for your safety, it is important to first get to
a place where you feel safe and secure, and consider telling someone you
trust what happened. If you have been injured or suspect you are injured
as a result of the crime, seek immediate medical attention. Go to the
campus health center or call the Rutgers Police and request transportation
to the hospital. Once these basic needs have been met, you can evaluate
your options and decide what to do next.
Consider Reporting
the Crime
The decision to report
the crime is entirely your choice. Reporting is not necessary for you to
receive assistance from the Department of Sexual Assault Services and
Crime Victim Assistance. However, deciding to report the crime may be
helpful for a variety of reasons. There are different options for
reporting that you should consider.
Filing a report with
the Rutgers University Police Department will give the police information
to investigate the crime and take action against the perpetrator. Even if
it is a non-violent crime such as wallet theft, the information you
provide will allow the authorities to return your property to you if it is
recovered.
If the crime you
experienced involved another student and you wish to file a complaint
through the University Code of Student Conduct, you may contact the
judicial office in your college, the University-wide Director of Student
Judicial Affairs, the Dean of Students, or the Department of Sexual
Assault Services and Crime Victim Assistance. The University has
jurisdiction if the perpetrator involved is a student.
If it is a violent
crime and you decide to file criminal charges, they can be filed through
the Rutgers University Police Department or through the municipality where
the crime occurred. For certain types of crime, the police may contact the
county prosecutor's office and they will work together in investigating
and prosecuting the charge.
Both the police and
the University staff will be able to provide you with information
regarding their respective process so that you can make the decision that
is right for you. The following web addresses may be helpful to you as you navigate
the legal system.
Rutgers University
Police Department: http://publicsafety.rutgers.edu/
Camden County
Prosecutor's Office: http://www.co.camden.nj.us/government/offices/prosecutor
Essex County
Prosecutor's Office:
http://www.njecpo.org
Middlesex County
Prosecutor's Office: http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/prosecutor
Victims of Crime
Compensation Board: http://www.state.nj.us/victims
Seek information
and support
Whether you need
information about how to replace stolen items, or are seeking assistance
to deal with the range of emotions you may experience, remember that you
are not alone, and that help is available. In addition to support from
friends and family, you may want to consider seeking professional
assistance.
The Department of
Sexual Assault Services and Crime Victim Assistance offers support to
members of the Rutgers University community who have been victimized by
crime. Some of the services provided are crisis intervention, short-term
counseling, advocacy, referral, court and hearing board accompaniment, and
educational programming. If you think you may need any of these services,
or would like to talk with someone about your options, please call the
office at 732-932-1181 between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Monday through
Friday to schedule an appointment. If you are a victim of interpersonal
violence, staff are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
You can reach a staff member after regular office hours by calling the
Rutgers Police Department and requesting to speak with the SAS/CVA on-call
staff. Calling the police does not mean you are reporting a crime.
Camden Campus
Police: (856) 225-6009
New Brunswick
Campus Police: (732) 932-7211
Newark Campus
Police: (973) 353-5581
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