G13.3.1 Victim and Witness Assistance
Chapter: Chapter 13 – Investigative Services
Sub-Chapter: 13.3 - Crime Victim Services
Effective Date: 11/29/2022
Revised Date: 11/29/2022
Rescinds: None
Purpose
To describe the role of the Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) in providing victim and witness assistance information.
General Order
The IUPD is committed to providing appropriate victim/witness assistance or referrals for assistance. The IUPD will ensure the rights of victims and witnesses are always observed in accordance with Indiana law. The IUPD will treat victims and witnesses with fairness, dignity, compassion, and respect free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse.
Role of IUPD in delivering victim/witness assistance services (13.3.1 a)
The role of the IUPD in victim and witness assistance services includes offering the appropriate services, referrals, and information required under Indiana Code (IC) 35-40-5 Victim Rights, IC 35-40.5 Rights of Sexual Assault Victims, and IC 35-42-3.5-4 Rights of Alleged Victims upon initial contact. Officers assigned to follow up on cases will also offer services, referrals, and information as appropriate.
The IUPD maintains close working relationships with other agencies, organizations, and campus departments that provide victim or witness assistance. These entities include, but are not limited to, local prosecutor’s offices, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Dean of Students office, campus counseling centers and health services.
The IUPD Bloomington Division employs a specially trained and educated victim advocate/social worker professional who provides services to individuals, including victims and witnesses. Responding officers will consult with the shift supervisor, who will make the final determination on if the IUPD victim advocate/social worker will be called to the scene. Reasons for an on-scene response by the IUPD victim advocate/social worker may include, but are not limited to:
- Calls involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis (welfare checks, suicide ideation, etc.).
- Investigations of domestic violence, sexual assault, or death.
- Traffic crash investigations involving fatalities or serious bodily injury.
- An individual is found to be unable to properly care for themselves.
- Juveniles believed to be suffering from a mental health disorder.
- Calls related to the transient population and associated issues for those experiencing homelessness, mental health concerns, substance use disorder, etc.
For incidents where the IUPD victim advocate/social worker is not called to the scene, or is otherwise not available to respond, but it is determined an individual would benefit from the services provided by the IUPD victim advocate/social worker, the shift supervisor will communicate with the IUPD victim advocate/social worker informing them of the incident. The IUPD victim advocate/social worker will review the information and determine appropriate follow-up.
Providing information to the victim/witness about available services provided by the institution (13.3.1 b)
Indiana University offers a variety of resources and services to assist the campus community. The IUPD will provide victims or witnesses who are affiliated with the university information on the resources and services that are available to them as appropriate.
Indiana University’s Sexual Misconduct: Rights, Options, and Resource Guides contain information about resources within the campus and local community. Officers will provide this document to any victim of sexual assault, relationship violence or stalking. Officers may provide this document to victims of other crimes as appropriate. Officers will include documentation in their narrative of the case report when they provide this document to victims.
Making information about victim/witness referral services available 24 hours per day (13.3.1 c)
The IUPD is available twenty-four hours per day to provide information about victim/witness referral services. For campuses that do not have a physical IUPD presence twenty-four hours per day, the campus community can call the IUPD dispatch phone number and the public safety dispatcher will connect the person with an on duty IUPD officer, who may be physically at another campus. Information is also available within the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report available on IUPD’s website.
Officers who are in contact with victims and/or witnesses will provide referral information regarding services offered in the local community for victims and witnesses as appropriate. These services may include, but are not limited to, medical, counseling, shelter, or emergency financial assistance.
Providing the victim/witness with a number to call if they have further information or questions (13.3.1 d)
Upon initial contact, the IUPD will provide contact information for the IUPD and encourage victims and witnesses to contact the IUPD if they have further information or any questions.
Related Information
Indiana Code
- 35-40-5 Victim Rights
- 35-40.5 Rights of Sexual Assault Victims
- 35-42-3.5-4 Rights of Alleged Victims
Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
- https://www.in.gov/cji/victim-services/
- Know Your Rights Brochure
- Acknowledgement of Receipt of Rights of Victims of Sexual Assault Information
Indiana University
- Sexual Misconduct: Rights, Options and Resource Guides
- Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports - https://protect.iu.edu/iu-police-department/campus-security-reports/annual-security-reports/index.html
Office of the Indiana Attorney General