Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to identify Community Sexual Assault Policy in the Penn State community to be put in place. I will start by identifying the rational policy and the problems that are related to it and a solution to it.
The Exigence of the Policy and its Definite Course of Action
Sexual Harassment which is a suggested Policy and Procedures for handling complaints restates this moral concern and responsibility, stating that immoral acts and acts of harassment to a great extent violate the expected standards of community conduct. Additionally, the success of any policy calls for community leadership to grant proper ethical standards and coherent internal procedures to protect their adherence. Recently, national attention has turned to immoral acts particularly sexual violence and the threats and problems it poses to the community at large. Seemingly, threatened or actual sexual assault raises many issues for the societies which exceed those concerning sexual harassment (DeKeseredy 45).
Ostensibly, the management and prevention of incidences in sexual harassment are basically considered to lie within the purview of community policies and procedures, sexual assault and sexual violence which can comprise of required medical attention, criminal offenses and bring to light the coherent concerns on reporting, media attention, and record keeping as well as the involvement of police. Various groups of people opt to incorporate community sexual assault into policies that are in existence and that govern sexual harassment, professional ethics or campus violence. Drawing on primary sources and research findings, I will begin by outlining the extent and scope of the problem, management of sexual assault and their consequences. Next, we will make a summary of the federal law that pertains to sexual assault, incorporating the violent act as well as its reporting requirements for the Penn State community. In conclusion, I will emphasize the importance of consistent and coherent sexual assault policy throughout the community (Buse 114).
Scope of the Problem
Sexual assault in the community is quite a significant problem. Girls and women in the normal traditional age generally range for school girls precisely from twelve to twenty who are at great risk of this assault than women in other age groups. Precisely, between 20% to 24% of girls and women and 5% of college men are reported to have been sexually assaulted. The rate for lesbian, gay, queer students and transgender has been estimated to higher. Studies that have been done at Penn State show that a majority of attempted assaults and assaults are never reported, the few that are reported are not consistently counted as official.
Consequences of Sexual Assault
Consequences of sexual assault are potentially very severe. One immediate concern is injury: Physical Injury. In some cases, it could be extended enough to require hospitalization or medical treatment. Other additional concerns are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV and pregnancy. In addition to that, the emotional damage can be severe to an extent of requiring treatment. Sexual assault can affect students and citizens’ capacity to contribute to the community and hinder them from achieving much academically. Girls and women who have at one time survived sexual assault frequently miss classes, fail to go to work, and are sometimes unable to carry out normal tasks. Along with social withdrawal, decline in academic performance, long-term outcomes could include substance abuse, increased risk of depression, self harm, post-traumatic stress, eating disorders and in suicide at extreme levels.
Subsequently, beyond their disparaging effects on persons, sexual assault incidences could have depressing consequences for communal organizations and learning institutions and this may affect the victims of the future. First, they damage the mission of the society and education which determine the future by undermining the hospitable and safe environment necessary for teaching and learning. In addition to that, they instill doubt on stated commitments by administrative leaders to bring community violence to an end. Second, cases that are exposed in the national media could cause scandals to its leaders and the institutional, erode fundraising efforts and create distrust toward alumni and parents as well.
Management of Community Sexual Assault
Sound community procedures and policy aim to bring sexual assault to an end and also its demoralizing consequences. In regards to punishment of perpetrators and the results however are not better if handled by the criminal law justice system since the rate of convictions and arrests in these cases is quite low. These findings are very disappointing and despite all the progress made over recent decades in professional and public understanding of sexual violence and sexual assault, a recent research done by an NGO makes the influence and the clear persistence of a number of deep-rooted myths which suggest that such scenarios are the victim’s fault. Majority of rape and sexual assault allegations are false and are mostly motivated by revenge against men. In addition to that, the presence of alcohol and drugs makes it an uphill task to establish if in the first place the incidence took place.
As the requirements of the sexual assault act certainly alerted public officials about the extent of community sex crimes, there still remains confusion on a number of points. For instance, the 2011 Penn State scandal aftermath there was a lot that was revealed by statements of the press and media reports such as uncertainty about distinctions among terms such as sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape and sexual harassment. Certainly, confusion of terminologies mystifies meaningful communal comparisons and statistical estimates. Quite often, numerous cases of assaulted students that are reported by various agencies such as advocates are routinely omitted. This shows how legal organs such as the judiciary have failed in curbing this menace. It appears that better knowledge of what amounts to crime, closer collaboration with law enforces and community service providers can be of much assistance in addressing state and community sexual assaults.
Acknowledgement and Refutation of Possible Alternative Course of Action
While the ongoing proposals are by and large applicable to strategies of the community in managing sexual assault, the part played by members of the administrative council in protecting citizens’ rights and freedom is characteristic and adds more bases to further discussions. The reporting question is of paramount importance .The human rights act mandates that statistics in campus life be gathered from the community, local law enforcement, state security and other administrative officials who have a responsibility, authority and significant authority for citizens and communal activities including directors of judicial affairs. In view of this it is not appropriate for legal persons in the state to be trained investigators though they could provide coherent forms of assistance and support (Turvey 245).
Final Considerations
This paper has presented suggestions accrue from research, local and national women’s groups, media commentary and law enforcement models. Thus far, despite some progress and intense concern, Penn State community sexual assault remains unfinished business and an issue that has been fraught with controversy. I have mentioned majority of the issues in the state today that fuel dispute and controversy and in various ways loom the fair and just resolution of sexual assault incidences. As noted, the biggest number estimates that less than 5% of attempted and completed sexual assaults on Penn State citizens are known to the law enforcers or administrative authorities. In addition to that, a number of these incidences are thoroughly adjudicated and that’s the reason why it is an uphill task to report, count, sort and record majority of these cases. It is therefore less clear how to adjudicate, investigate and improve the final resolution (Fisher 189).
The fact remains that alleged attackers, rapists and molesters in many occasions go unpunished, while many sexual assault victims sorely believe that neither disciplinary processes nor reporting will yield justice. In an effort to resolve and improve this issue and the likelihood of bringing all perpetrators to justice, the sexual assault policy should be implemented. It will therefore be the duty of the office for civil rights to propose lower standards particularly of proof sexual assault disciplinary proceedings. Sexual assault support agencies and the women’s advocacy groups have favorably received this proposal. Policies and procedures that have been suggested here are a very promising direction. Approaches to the appalling problem of women sexual assault will evolve to greater levels. Careful attention to sexual assault policy illustrates the decision of the institution in reducing community sexual assault rates on sustainable and continuing rates. Knowledge is what will enable legal institutions to measure the procedures and effectiveness of this policy over time to curb this appalling sexual assault menace. \
Works Cited
Buse, Kent, Nicholas Mays, and Gillian Walt. Making Health Policy. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2012. Print.
DeKeseredy, Walter S, and Martin D. Schwartz. Male Peer Support and Violence against Women: The History and Verification of a Theory. , 2013. Print.
Fisher, Bonnie S, and John J. Sloan. Campus Crime: Legal, Social, and Policy Perspectives. Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD, 2007. Internet resource.
Turvey, Brent E, and Stan Crowder. Ethical Justice: Applied Issues for Criminal Justice Students and Professionals. Oxford: Elsevier Academic Press, 2013. Internet resource.
