The Duke University Police Department treats all crime victims with dignity, compassion and respect. We work to make sure all crime victims get the assistance and information they need, and we are committed to doing our best to help you.
Contact Duke Police at (919) 684-2444 for help, information about your options and referrals to local services. For additional resources and contact information, please see the Duke Police Victim Booklet.
What to Expect
As a victim of crime, you are likely to experience feelings of shock, fear, anger, helplessness, and confusion. These reactions are a normal response to crime, whether it is a personal injury or a property crime.
At the time, when your emotions are most intense, you may find yourself having to deal with an overwhelming number of people and procedures. Without any previous experience or exposure to these types of situations, and the agencies involved in handling your case, you may find it all too confusing, frightening, or even frustrating.
Victims of crime have the right to be treated fairly, with compassion and respect; to be informed of the progress and outcome of their case, and that the damages done to them be considered by the court as their case is decided upon. To assist in the arrest and prosecution of your case, please:
- Report a crime as soon as possible to Duke police by calling 9-1-1 or (919) 684-2444.
- Cooperate with Duke police and other agencies through all stages of investigation, prosecution and sentencing.
- Testify as a witness at a criminal trial, if you are asked to do so.
North Carolina Victims Services
Victims Compensation Services reimburses citizens who suffer medical expenses and lost wages as a result of being an innocent victim of a crime committed in North Carolina. Additional resources are available through the NC Victim Assistance Network.
Harassment
Duke takes reports of harassment seriously and each report will be investigated fully. There are several types of harassment, including:
- Annoying telephone calls
- Criminal harassment
- Stalking
Harassment can take the form of personal contact, mail, telephone calls, e-mail, facsimiles and internet communication. The specific action taken in any particular case depends on the nature and gravity of the conduct reported, and may include intervention, mediation, and the initiation of disciplinary processes or criminal prosecution, when appropriate.
If you feel that you are being harassed or threatened, it is important that you call Duke police immediately at (919) 684-2444.
Office for Institutional Equity
Duke’s Office for Institutional Equity provides institutional leadership in sustaining a respectful and inclusive environment.
All instances of stalking and harassment should be taken extremely seriously. Below are tips to assist in cases of stalking and the prevention of stalking.
- All threats, direct and indirect, should be treated legitimately and law enforcement should be informed immediately.
- Change your routines frequently, including routes to work, school, and other places.
- Limit time spent alone.
- Get a new, unlisted phone number. Leave the old number active and connected to an answering machine or voicemail. Have a friend, advocate, or law enforcement screen calls, and save any messages from the stalker. These messages, particularly those explicitly abusive or threatening, can be critical evidence for law enforcement to build a stalking case.
- If possible, do not interact with the person stalking or harassing you. Responding may reinforce their behavior.
- Consider obtaining a protective order. More information can be found by calling the Gender Violence Intervention Coordinator, your local Clerk of Court, or Duke University Police.
- Trust your instincts.
- If in imminent danger, locate a safe place and call the police.
- Consider putting together a “stalking sack” that includes a log of the offender’s contacts and actions, a camera, information about the offender, and other information that may be helpful
- Report the stalking to Duke Police, your supervisor and/or Human Resources (employees), the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (students), and/or the Office for Institutional Equity.
- Speak confidentially with the Gender Violence Intervention Coordinator about stalking.
- Inform Duke Police about any protective orders you have been granted. Keep a copy of the protective order at work/ school and/or about your person.
Sexual Assault Support Services
Duke Police officers support victims of sexual assault. If you have experienced sexual or relationship violence, you have the right to report an incident to us, or to the Duke Women's Center.
Duke Women's Center
The Duke Women's Center is a resource dedicated to preventing sexual and relationship violence on campus and to supporting survivors in the community.
Not all sexual assault is preventable; however, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk and increase the possibility of becoming a survivor.
- Watch out for others who may be in trouble and intervene if you can do so safely.
- Have a clear understanding of the definition of consent under University policy, including the possible impact of alcohol or drugs on an individual’s ability to consent.
- Be aware that both illegal and prescription drugs may be used to facilitate rape.
- Never leave your drink unattended.
- Only drink from containers that are unopened or from drinks you have observed being made, poured, and served.
- Avoid group drinks like punch bowls.
- Cover your drink. Perpetrators can easily slip a small pill into a drink, even while you are holding your drink. Hold cups with the palm of your hand covering the top, or choose bottled drinks and keep your thumb over the nozzle.
- If you feel extremely tired or drunk suddenly or for no apparent reason, you may have been drugged. Find your friends or someone you trust and ask to leave together as soon as possible.
- If you suspect drugging, go to a hospital and ask to be tested.
- Keep track of how many drinks you ingest.
- Try to attend and exit with one or more people you trust.
- Avoid giving out your personal information (phone number, where you live, etc.). If asked for your number, ask for theirs rather than giving your own.
Intimate Partner Violence
No survivor is EVER to blame for being assaulted or abused.
Below are some tips to help reduce your risk, recognize warning signs of abusive behavior, and avoid potential attacks.
- Fear of your partner
- Monitoring yourself to avoid “blow ups”
- Feelings of low self-worth and helplessness regarding yourself and your relationship.
- Feelings of isolation from family and friends due to your relationship.
- Covering up or hiding visible marks left on your body by your partner.
- Prevention from daily activities such as working, studying, going home, and/or using technology (including your mobile phone).
- Your partner monitoring you at work, home, or school.
- Being forced or pressured into anything you don’t want to do.
- Get help by seeking confidential information and support services from the Gender Violence Intervention Coordinator (for students) or Personal Assistance Services (for employees).
- Learn how to look for “red flags” in relationships and learn to avoid some of those characteristics in future partners.
- Consider making a report with Duke University Police, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and/or the Office for Institutional Equity.
- Ask for a No Contact Directive from the University to prevent future contact.
- Consider getting a protective order or a No Contact Directive from the local court. For more information, call the Gender Violence Intervention Coordinator, your local Clerk of Court or Duke University Police.
- Learn more about what behaviors constitute intimate partner violence.
- Understand it's not your fault
- Communicate with friends and family you trust in regard to support and assistance.
- Trust your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right in a relationship, it probably isn’t. Speak up or end it. You do not need to explain to yourself or others, just trust yourself.
Recovering from a Crime
If you are or have been a victim of sexual violence (including sexual assault), domestic violence, or dating violence, you should consider seeking medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you do not think you are injured, you may have unseen injuries as a result of sexual violence. Seeking medical attention immediately also allows for more options for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
For Immediate and Urgent Medical Concerns
Go directly to the Emergency Department (ED) of Duke University Hospital (off Erwin Road near Trent Hall). You can call the Duke University Police Department (919-684-2444) for transportation without having to make a report.
For Less Immediate Medical Concerns
Schedule an appointment at Student Health (919-681-WELL)
Employee Occupational Health and Wellness (919-684-3136, option #2)
Visit your primary care physician.
- When arriving at the hospital, inform the nurse examiner if you do not wish to file a police report.
- It is important that victims of sexual assault not bathe, douche, smoke, change clothing or clean the bed/linen/area where they were assaulted if the offense occurred within the last 120 hours, so evidence may be preserved.
- In circumstances of sexual assault, if victims do not opt for forensic evidence collection, healthcare providers can still treat injuries and take steps to address concerns of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
- Victims of sexual violence, relationship violence (i.e., domestic violence and dating violence), and stalking are also encouraged to preserve evidence by saving text messages, email messages, instant messages, social networking pages, videos, and other communications, and keeping pictures, logs, or other documents that would be useful to University hearing boards/investigators or police.
ALL employees and graduate students, with teaching or supervisory authority, are REQUIRED by the University to promptly consult with the Office for Institutional Equity when they become aware of suspected sexual misconduct.
All non-supervisory employees and students are encouraged to do the same.
The University also strongly encourages all members of the community to report any incident of sexual or related misconduct to law enforcement; however, affected individuals have the choice as to whether or not to make such a report. They have the right to decline all involvement with the police. A report made to the Office for Institutional Equity and/ or to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will not automatically result in an investigation by the university or involve police.
- Staff in aforementioned offices can help the affected individuals make a police report if they choose.
- They may also have a confidential conversation with the Gender Violence Intervention Coordinator at Counseling and Psychological Services to get more information about their reporting options.
How Will the Duke University Police Assist?
- Notifying local police if the incident occurred off campus
- Assist affected individuals in obtaining a protection order from the local court in Durham and surrounding counties
Students can also request a No Contact Directive from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and employees can request one from the Office for Institutional Equity.
- Blind reporting, i.e. filing a report without your name attached to it.
Regardless of whether affected individuals pursue a criminal complaint; if they have provided the University with their name and other information about the incident(s), the University will contact them in regarding support or assistance and to determine how to proceed including:
- Whether there should be an investigation
- What steps to take to prevent the recurrence of a hostile environment
- Addressing the effects of sexual misconduct with the affected individual
Privacy:
Personally identifiable information about affected individuals will ONLY be shared with persons who are delivering resources or support services. This is to assist these resources with investigating or adjudicating a complaint. The University does not publish the name of victims or any identifiable information regarding victims in the Duke University Police Department’s daily crime log.
Who do I report incidents of sexual misconduct to?
Campus Contacts
Duke University Police Department:
919-684-2444
Misconduct of any kind on Duke’s campus
Office for Institutional Equity:
919-684-8222
Sexual misconduct by students, employees, contractors, visitors
Office of Student Conduct:
919-684-6938
Sexual misconduct by graduate, professional or undergraduate students
Local Contacts:
Durham City Police Department:
919-560-4322
Durham County Sheriff’s Office:
919-560-0897
A variety of support resources are available on campus and in the community to assist students and employees in dealing with sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, whether it happened recently or in the past. Following is a list of helpful resources.
Student Resources
Gender Violence Intervention Coordinator
(GVIC)
Located in the Counseling and Psychological
Services Center providing:
- Education
- Advocacy
- Support
For all Duke students, including graduate, professional and undergraduate, as well as their friends and families, who are victims or survivors of all forms of sexual or gender violence or misconduct such as sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking and sexual harassment.
GVIC services include:
- Extensive information on reporting options
- Accompaniment and support
- Referrals for mental and physical health support
- Advocacy for both academic and residential areas
- Safety planning
- Empowerment skill building
- Consultation with survivors/victims, family, friends, staff and faculty.
- Referrals to community and campus-based resources.
- 24/7 Crisis Line Support
GVIC Contact Information
Phone: 989-569-0592
Email: gvicoordinator@duke.edu
Website: https://students.duke.edu/wellness/gender-violence-education-and-outreach/get-support/
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Ongoing counseling services to students. All services are confidential and do not require making a formal report to the police.
Student Walk-in Hours
Monday 9-6
Tuesday 9-6
Wednesday 9-4
Thursday 9-4
Friday 9-4
CAPS Contact Information
Phone: 919-660-1000
Website: https://students.duke.edu/wellness/caps
Student Health Services:
Provides general medical care for students who have been sexually assaulted or subjected to other sexual or related violence.
Student Health Services Offers
- Testing for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV
- Prescriptions for STIs
- Antibiotics
- Treatment for injuries
- Referrals to campus support services.
Student Health Services Contact Information
Phone: 919-681-9355, Option 2; After Hours: 919-966-3820
Website: https://students.duke.edu/wellness/studenthealth
Office of the Ombuds:
Offers a neutral, safe, and confidential environment
to talk about student concerns and assists students in resolving problems.
Office of the Ombuds Contact Information
Website: https://ombuds.duke.edu/about-the-university-ombuds
Employee Resources
Personal Assistance Service (PAS):
- Assessment
- Short-term counseling
- Referrals to help resolve a range of personal, work, and family problems
PAS services are available free of charge to Duke faculty and staff, and their immediate family members.
PAS Contact Information
Phone: 919-416-1PAS (919-416-1727)
Website: https://hr.duke.edu/wellness/pas/
Community Resources
Durham Crisis Response Center:
- 24-hour, confidential crisis line for victims/ survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
- Short-term emergency shelter, hospital and court accompaniment
- Legal clinics with local attorneys,
- Support groups
- Counseling
- Referrals for job training
- Housing
- Childcare
- Other community services
All direct services offered to the community are free of charge.
DCRC Contact Information
Phone: 919-403-6562
Website: durhamcrisisresponse.org