Violent Crimes Awareness

Rogers State University strives to maintain a safe environment for all students and employees. However, violent crimes such as dating violence, date rape, domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking can happen.

Report crimes as soon as possible to:

  • Dial 911 in an emergency
  • Claremore campus police at 918-343-7624
  • Bartlesville campus police at 918-338-8020
  • Pryor campus police at 918-825-6034

Resources for location of registered sex offenders:

Dating Violence

What is dating violence? Dating violence is abusive and violent behavior in a dating type relationship. It can be a long term or short term affiliation. It reflects the perpetrator’s desire to control and dominate the victim. It can happen in both heterosexual and homosexual connection. It covers a wide range of behavior that includes verbal, emotional, sexual, and physical violence and abuse.

Incidence of University Dating Violence:

  • 32% of university students report dating violence by a previous partner and 21% report violence by their current partner.
  • In 39%-54% of dating violence cases victims remain in the physically abusive relationships.
  • 60% of acquaintance rapes on university campuses occur in casual or steady dating relationships.
  • An estimated 5% of university women experience a completed or attempted rape in a giver year.
  • In one year, more than 13% of college women indicated they had been stalked (42% by a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend).
  • 51% of university males admit perpetrating one or more sexual assault incidents while attending a university.

Influence of Alcohol and Drugs:

  • 75% of men and 55% of women involved in acquaintance rape had been drinking or taking drugs prior to the incident.

Reporting Victimization:

  • 50% of dating violence victims will report the violence to someone else: of these, 88% report the violence to a friend and 20% to law enforcement.
  • 44% of victims raped by a steady boyfriend or spouse report the assault compared to 77% of victims raped by a stranger.
  • The beliefs that dating violence is a private matter or not important enough and fear of reprisal are most reasons given for not reporting the violence.

Source: http://www.ncvc.org

Examples of verbal or emotional abuse: name-calling, threats, screaming, yelling, ridiculing, criticizing,emotional blackmailing, stalking

Examples of sexual abuse: verbal sexual abuse such as sexual slurs or attacks on the victim’s gender or sexual orientation, unwanted sexual touching and kissing, intimidation to force the victim to engage in any kind of sexual activity, rape

Examples of physical abuse: shoving, punching, slapping, pinching, hitting, kicking, hair pulling, choking, use of a weapon, any other acts causing physical harm

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault takes many forms including attacks such as rape or attempted rape, as well as any unwanted sexual contract or threats. Usually a sexual assault occurs when someone touches any part of another person’s body in a sexual way, even through clothes, without that person’s consent.

Types of sexual acts which fall under the category of sexual assault include: forced sexual intercourse (rape), sodomy (oral or anal sexual acts), child molestation, incest, fondling, attempted rape

Sexual assault in any form is often a devastating crime. Assailants can be strangers, acquaintances, friends, or family members. Assailants commit sexual assault by way of violence, threats, coercion, manipulation, pressure or tricks. Whatever the circumstances, no one asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted.

What to do if you are sexually assaulted:

  • If you are sexually assaulted on any RSU Campuses contact the RSU Police Department at 918-343-7624.
  • If the assault happens off campus contact the local law enforcement agencies.
  • Reporting the crime as a victim is not required by law, but it is highly recommended to prevent future attacks by the perpetrator.
  • Remember to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In Northeastern Oklahoma all rape exams are administrated at the Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa. The medical treatment is free of charge. Do not shower, eat, or smoke as these actions can destroy evidence of the attack.
  • Safeline is an organization which provides a 24 hour hotline to victims of domestic abuse, rape, or forcible sodomy.  As a victim you have certain rights. There number is 800-522-7233. Their hotline is staffed with trained crisis counselors that can help.

Identity Crime

A growing global problem, identity crime is the illegal use of another’s personal information, such as credit card numbers, Social Security number, or driver’s license number, to commit fraud or other crimes. This crime can devastate the victim’s credit for years. Identity crime knows no boundaries; victims and criminals can be on opposite sides of the world, making it difficult for local law enforcement agencies to investigate the crime, catch the perpetrator, or help the victim.

 

Your Rights

As a victim of violent crime, you have certain rights: 

  1. To be notified that a court proceeding to which a victim or witness has been subpoenaed will or will not go on as scheduled, in order to save the person an unnecessary trip to court.
  2. To receive protection from harm and threats of harm arising out of the cooperation of the person with law enforcement and prosecution efforts, and to be provided with information as to the level of protection available and how to access protection.
  3. To be informed of financial assistance and other social services available as a result of being a witness or a crime victim, including information on how to apply.
  4. To be informed of procedure to be followed in order to apply for and receive any witness fee to which the victim or witness is entitled.
  5. To be informed of the procedure to be followed in order to apply for and receive any restitution to which the victim is entitled.
  6. To be provided, whenever possible, a secure waiting area during court proceedings.
  7. To have any stolen or other personal property expeditiously returned by law enforcement agencies when no longer needed as evidence.
  8. To be provided with appropriate employer intercession services to ensure that employers of the victims and witnesses will cooperate with the criminal justice process in order to minimize the loss and other benefits of the employee resulting from court appearances.
  9. To have all family members of all homicide victims afforded the services under this section, whether or not the person is to be a witness to any criminal proceedings.
  10. To be informed of any plea bargaining negotiations.
  11. To have victim impact statements filed with the judgment and sentences.
  12. To be informed it a sentence is overturned, remanded for a new trial or otherwise modified by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.
  13. To be informed in writing of all statutory rights.
  14. To be informed when any family member is required to be a witness by subpoena from the defense, there must be a showing that the witness can provided relevant testimony as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant before the witness may be excluded from the proceeding by invoking the rule to remove potential witnesses.
  15. To be notified by the Pardon and Parole Board of Pardon and Parole actions if you request notification.
  16. To be informed of felony cases involving violent crime or sex offenses when pre-trial proceedings may substantially delay prosecutions.
  17. To protect the identity of the victim in sexual assault cases.
  18. To request that the offender be tested for sexually transmitted diseases in sexually assault cases as ordered by the court.
  19. To be informed that any sentence, including Life Without Parole, may be commuted.
  20. To receive written notification of how to access victim rights information from the interviewing officer or investigating detective.
  21. To a speedy disposition of the charges free from unwarranted delay caused by or at the behest of the defendant or minor.

This includes rape, acquaintance rape, domestic abuse, and sexual harassment. Prompt reporting will ensure preservation of evidence and appropriate medical treatment. Please visit www.ok.gov/dac for more information about your rights or RSUPD has pamphlets available from the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council.

For additional information about sexual assaults, victims can contact Safeline for Toll-free information at 1-800-522-7233.

Rogers County District Attorney’s Office
219 S. Missouri
Claremore, OK  74017
918-341-3164