The Office of Victims Assistance has expanded their services to provides direct services to survivors of major crimes including, but not limited to sexual assault, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, bullying, and bias crime as well as campus-wide educational programming to prevent these crimes from occurring. The office is staffed with a full-time Victim Services Coordinator and a full-time licensed counselor who provide on-going support to the survivor, male or female, from the time of initial reporting. The staff provides counseling services and assists with obtaining sexual assault forensic exams, STI testing/treatment, pregnancy prevention, housing options, legal prosecution, and access to other support services. Each case is handled individually, and the client is allowed to select which services he or she wishes to pursue.
In the case of an after-hours emergency, please call Campus Police at 803/323-3333
or the local rape crisis center, Safe Passage, at 803/329-2800.
The Office of Victims Assistance is committed to providing direct services
to survivors of sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking,
and victims of crimes or discrimination based on bias.
We support and provide campus-wide educational programming and education
directed at eradicating sexual violence both on campus and in the community.
Below you will find important information about our office:
Confidentiality:
Students reporting incidents of sexual assault are often concerned for their privacy
and have questions about confidentiality. At Winthrop University, there is a difference
between privileged reporting and limited confidential reporting.
Anonymous Reporting:
SC law guarantees that a victim may receive services while choosing not to report
to law enforcement. The information that is acquired through the medical examination
performed by the SANE nurse is provided anonymously to law enforcement and given a
number rather than a name. The evidence will be retained for up to one year, should
a victim decide to press charges. If law enforcement is notified, the report is no
longer anonymous. If the person committing the sexual assault is a legal spouse, the
evidence will be retained for 30 days.
Limited Confidential Reporting:
Limited confidential reporting relates to all other individuals who may be a part
of the response team. It simply means that they will not disseminate information shared
without the consent of the victim except on a need-to-know basis to enlist services
needed for the student.
Examples of Designated Limited Confidential Reporting Resources:
Faculty or staff
Residence Life and Greek Life staff
Student Affairs and Dean of Students Office
Victim Services Coordinator
Parental/Legal Guardian/Partner Notification:
When and if parents and/or legal guardians are contacted is a decision the victim
should make, unless there are extenuating circumstances. A member of the sexual violence
response team such as the Dean or Assistant Dean of Students can assist a student
with notification. In some instances, when there is a significant health or safety
concern, the university may need to notify the parents, guardian, or partner of the
individual involved in the sexual assault. In making this determination, the university
will consider the wishes of those involved, their personal safety, and the safety
of the campus community.
Privileged Reporting:
Privileged reporting consists of those communications that legally cannot be disclosed
without the reporter's consent to any other person, except under very limited circumstances
(e.g., imminent threat of danger to self or others).
Resources:
Campus Ministry (ordained minister, priest, or rabbi)
Counseling staff (including the Office of Victims Assistance Staff Counselor, psychiatrists,
psychologists, counselors, or social workers)
Health service staff (nurses or nurse practitioners)
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