Sexual Violence Response
The Virginia Tech Police Department is committed to the safety of all of our community members. If you report a sexual assault that occurred on the Virginia Tech campus, Virginia Tech Police has officers and detectives that will work with you to arrive at a decision that is best for you and your safety.
Officers are available 24/7 and can help navigate next steps and answer any questions that you may have. As the survivor of a sexual assault, you can choose to solely document the crime, or you may decide to have the offense fully investigated by law enforcement and/or the university’s Title IX office. Investigations can be conducted to preserve evidence now while taking the necessary time to determine whether you wish to seek charge(s). The Virginia Tech Police and the Title IX office, which is part of Virginia Tech’s Office for Equity and Accessibility (oea.vt.edu) can investigate simultaneously. Virginia Tech Police can facilitate and support you in accessing assistance from another jurisdiction in which a crime has occurred.
Ways to Report Sexual Violence to VTPD
Call 540-382-4343 and ask to speak with an officer. The dispatcher may ask where the incident occurred in order to connect you with the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Visit the Virginia Tech Police Department in the Public Safety Building (330 Sterrett Drive) on campus. Go to the Security Center on the first floor and ask to speak with an officer.
**Documentation only** This option does not allow for outreach efforts, clarification or other follow-up, dissemination of resources or a police investigation.
Reports of sexual assault can come from various places and the response will differ based on how we receive the report. A criminal process requires a participating survivor in order to investigate and prosecute. The Virginia Tech Police Department’s Investigations Unit will consult with the Title IX Coordinator on all cases of sexual violence shortly after the report is made. VTPD and the University’s Title IX Office can investigate simultaneously, or a survivor may choose to navigate one process at a time. VTPD can facilitate and support you in accessing assistance from another jurisdiction in which a crime has occurred.
A survivor of sexual assault may directly report their experience to VTPD. Survivors can speak with the officer/detective by themselves or bring someone with them for support.
CSAs are any individuals who have responsibility for campus security, and/or individuals who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities-- for example: Residential Well-Being staff members. They are required by federal law to report a crime. Survivors of sexual assault who report to CSAs do not have to speak to the police, but they will be given the option.
VTPD most often receives reports of sexual assault from individuals who are not involved in the crime, otherwise known as as Third-Party reports.
If a survivor reports a sexual assault to VTPD:
- A uniformed officer will respond to your location
- You may request a female officer to respond if available
He or she will:
- Clarify if you need medical attention and clarify the location of the incident
- If the incident occurred off-campus, the officer will pause and assist you with reporting to an officer with the appropriate jurisdiction, if requested
- Ask you to share as much as you’re comfortable with about the incident
- Identify items of potential evidence that can be collected and preserved (for example: clothing and bedding)
- You may request the officer to contact an advocate on your behalf. Advocates are available from the VT Women’s Center and the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley.
- Ask if you’re interested in a PERK Exam in which transportation can be provided to the emergency department of the Carilion New River Valley Medical Center at 2900 Lamb Circle in Christiansburg.
- A Physical Evidence Recovery Kit is an exam completed by a forensic nurse, who collects DNA evidence and other samples following crimes of sexual assault. Forensic evidence can be collected from the survivor’s clothing and body, while he or she receives appropriate medical attention.
- The exam may last a few hours, and can be stopped or paused at the discretion of the survivor.
- You do not need to contact the police in order to have a PERK completed. PERK’s can be completed anonymously and stored securely.
- Discuss the criminal process and your options with you
- Offer and explain local resources, as well as answer any questions you may have
- Notify their on-duty supervisor
- A call will be given to the Investigation’s Sergeant Tim Wines and/or Lieutenant Kendrah Cline and a decision will be made of whether the on-call detective is needed or specifically requested.
- An Investigation’s supervisor and detective are on-call 24/7
- Ask if you would like VTPD to investigate and if you would like to press charge(s)
- You can take the necessary time that you need to arrive at a decision that is best for you and your safety. You can change your mind.
- A full criminal investigation may involve interviews with the survivor, suspect, witnesses, to include other means of collecting and preserving evidence. Detectives will connect with you and assist you throughout the process to ensure that you understand and agree with next steps suggested
- You can choose to document the incident, preserve evidence, and not pursue an investigation or charges
- The Investigation’s Sergeant and/or Lieutenant will gather information about the reported incident as it stands at the time of reporting and assess the need for a Timely Warning to be sent to the community via email – All efforts will be given to notify survivors prior to the dissemination of a Timely Warning. Timely Warnings never include personal identifying information.
- After a full investigation, a detective will present the facts of the case to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for their recommendation of prosecution
CSA’s are required by federal law to report a sexual assault to VTPD and Title IX.
- The CSA will contact VTPD and forward the report to an officer
- A police report will be made. The information provided will be documented in that report, and if warranted, the daily crime log and Timely Warning
- Survivors do not have to speak to the police and officers/detectives will not complete outreach efforts unless requested or specified
- The report will be utilized as documentation and as a crime statistic for a crime that was reported and occurred on the campus of Virginia Tech as required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act also known as the Clery Act.
- VTPD will work with the reporting CSA to notify the survivor of resources, and if warranted, when a crime alert will be sent to the community via email
- VTPD does not have the opportunity to gather additional information or clarify facts with a report of this nature
- The survivor can change their mind regarding the status of their report and their interest in an investigation and charges
VTPD will document third-party reports of crimes that have occurred on campus to include sexual assault:
- A police report will be made. The information provided will be documented in that report, and if warranted, the daily crime log. Timely Warnings are not required to be sent for third-party reports
- The report will be utilized as documentation and as a crime statistic for a crime that was reported and occurred on the campus of Virginia Tech as required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act also known as the Clery Act.
- Survivors do not have to speak to the police and officers/detectives will not complete outreach efforts unless requested or specified
- VTPD will work with the reporting individual to notify the survivor of resources and their options of reporting and an investigation
- VTPD does not have the opportunity to gather additional information or clarify facts with a report of this nature
- The survivor can change their mind regarding the status of their report and their interest in an investigation and charges
Any questions regarding VTPD’s response procedure to any type of sexual violence can be referred to Lieutenant Tim Wines at twines@vt.edu or 540-231-1250.
