St. Helena Hospital Emergency Room
10 Woodland Rd, St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-6425

Queen of the Valley Emergency Room
Napa County's designated facility for performing sexual assault forensic exams (rape kits). Go to the ER and inform the front desk that you need to meet with SART (Sexual Assault Response Team).
1000 Trancas St, Napa, CA 94558
(707) 257-4038

Kaiser Permanente Emergency Room
401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa, CA  95403
(707) 393-4044

Report an Incident

The decision to report sexual misconduct and how to report is very personal.  You have options.  Reporting to the College's Title IX Office (administrative process) and reporting to the police (criminal process) are two different reporting processes you can take.  You can choose to utilize one, both, or neither option.   This choice is yours.  As you consider whether you want to report or not, on-campus and off-campus confidential resources (see section I Want to Talk) can help you evaluate what, if any, option will work for you.

Reporting to the Title IX Office

If you choose to report to the Title IX Office, you can use the report button above to submit a report online, or you may:

• Report directly to the Title IX Office, (707) 965-6226
• Report on the LiveSafe App under Title IX
• Report to any faculty, staff, or residential life employee – all employees not designated as a confidential resource are trained in appropriate reporting processes and will provide assistance
• Report to Campus Security, (707) 965-6551.

Reporting to the Police

If you choose to report to the police and press criminal charges, the PUC Title IX Office and Campus Security Office will assist you.  If you choose to report directly, you can:

• Call 911;
• Go directly to the Napa County Sheriff's department;

Important Reporting Option Differences

When contemplating reporting options, it is important to consider the significant differences in processes and outcomes.

Reasons to Consider Reporting

How and when to report, or even if to report, is different for each person.  The following benefits to reporting may be helpful as you consider your options.

• An investigation is not an automatic response to a report, and if an investigation is initiated, you can decide how much you will participate in that investigation.
• The Title IX Office may be able to provide you with interim support measures such as counseling referrals; implementing contact limitations; academic accommodations including modifications to class schedules, alternate learning arrangements, and course completion options; work schedule and location accommodations; living arrangement adjustments; transportation accommodations; safety planning.
• The Title IX Office has an amnesty policy.  Individuals who make good faith reports will not be subject to disciplinary action by the College for personal use of alcohol or drugs at or near the time of the incident as long as that personal use did not place the health or safety of any other person at risk. The Title IX Office is always willing to answer questions regarding the amnesty policy.
• Reporting is a key component for preventing and responding to sexual or gender-based discrimination and harassment and sexual misconduct.
• Retaliation against someone for reporting or cooperating with a report is prohibited. The College will take measures to protect against and respond to retaliation, no matter the outcome of the report. 
• Reporting has been a way for some people to reassert control over their life and engage with the healing process.
• Taking care of oneself should be a top priority; however, some have found reporting to be an important step in supporting the larger community as individuals who harm others often do so repeatedly.
• The College does not have a time limit for reporting. You can decide to report at any time. 

Remember, on-campus and off-campus confidential resources (see section I Want to Talk) are available to you whether decide to report or not. 

Preserving Evidence

Many sexual misconduct offenses are also crimes in the state or locality in which the incident occurred. For that reason, if you have experienced sexual misconduct may have several legal options that you can pursue. These options are available solely at your discretion, and you may change your mind about pursuing the options at any time. For example, you may:

• seek a protective order from a court against the Respondent(s);
• pursue a civil action against the Respondent(s);
• and/or participate in a law enforcement investigation and criminal prosecution of the Respondent(s).

Regardless of whether an incident of sexual misconduct is reported to the police or the College, you may want to consider preserving evidence as this will best maintain all legal options for you in the future. Consider speaking with law enforcement to preserve evidence in the event that you change your mind at a later date. If you do involve the police, they can obtain evidence from the scene, so it is best to leave things undisturbed until their arrival. They will gather bedding, linens or unlaundered clothing, and any other pertinent items that may be used for evidence. It is best to allow police to secure items in evidence containers, but if you are involved in transmission of items of evidence, such as to the hospital, secure them in a clean paper bag or clean bedsheet to avoid contamination. 
It is important to keep in mind that each suggestion may not apply in every situation.

• Do not alter, dispose of, or destroy any physical evidence.
• If there is suspicion that a drink may have been drugged, inform a medical assistance provider and/or law enforcement as soon as possible so they can attempt to collect possible evidence (e.g., from the drink, through urine or blood sample).
• Preserve evidence of electronic communications by saving them and/or by taking screenshots of text messages, instant messages, social networking pages, or other electronic communications, and by keeping pictures, logs, or copies of documents that relate to the incident and/or the Respondent.
• Take photographs or have photographs taken with a date stamp on the photo of any physical injuries. 
• Record the names of any witnesses and their contact information.  This information may be helpful as proof of a crime, to obtain an order of protection, or to offer proof of a campus policy violation.
• Try to memorize details (e.g., physical description, names, license plate number, car description, etc.), or even better, write notes to remind you of details, if you have time and the ability to do so.
• If you obtain external orders of protection (e.g., restraining orders, injunctions, protection from abuse), please notify Campus Security or the campus Title IX Coordinator so that those orders can be observed on campus.

Evidence Preservation Suggestions Specific to Sexual Assault

• Because some evidence, particularly evidence that may be located on the body, dissipates quickly (within 48-96 hours), individuals who have been sexually assaulted and wish to preserve evidence should go to Queen of the Valley Hospital, Napa County's designated facility for performing sexual assault forensic exams (rape kits). Go to the ER and inform the front desk that you need to meet with SART (Sexual Assault Response Team).
• A sexual assault forensic exam can be performed without cost as VAWA mandates that rape victims cannot be forced to pay for their own rape examination or for services of protective order.
• Do not shower, bathe, douche, smoke, brush teeth, eat, drink, or change clothes or bedding before going to the hospital or seeking medical attention.
• Individuals who have been sexually assaulted decide to change clothes or bedding, they should not wash the clothes worn or bedding used during the assault and should bring them to a hospital, medical facility or the police in a non-plastic bag (e.g., paper bag).

In California, individuals who have been sexually assaulted may allow the collection of evidence even if they choose not to make a report to law enforcement after the evidence is collected. A sexual assault evidence collection kit may not be released by a California hospital without written consent from the Complainant.

In Napa County, the police pay for and authorize sexual assault forensic exams.  It will be necessary to share enough information with the police for an exam to be authorized; however, individuals have the right to participate or not to participate in an investigation. 

On-Campus

Michelle Kendrick, Title IX Coordinator
Administration Suite #114
Ground Floor, Chan Shun Hall
(707) 965-6226
titleix@puc.edu

On-Campus Confidential Resources

Confidential Resources are designated offices that provide help and support for individual who are not sure they are ready to report to the College.  These offices provide a confidential space to provide support and discuss options. 

Counseling Services
(707) 965-6226
(707) 965-6789 (after hours)

View on map

Health Services
West Hall
(707) 965-6339
(707) 965-6789 (after hours)

View on map

Chaplain Arturo Lopez
Chaplain's Office
(707) 965-7190

View on map

Off Campus

Napa NEWS:  Napa County's free and confidential intimate partner violence and sexual abuse services. Services are available in English and Spanish.
(707) 255.NEWS (6397)
1141 Pear Tree Lane, Suite 220
Napa, CA  94558
www.NapaNEWS.org
           
Napa County District Attorney's Office Victim Services Division:  Free and confidential specially trained advocates are available to assess needs and wants, explain the criminal justice system and one's rights in the process, and provide advocacy.  Services are available in English and Spanish. 
(707) 299-1414
1127 First Street, Suite C
Napa, CA  94559
www.countyofnapa.org/da/victimservices