Oregon Bill Would Shield Sexual Assault Complainants from Underage Drinking Citations
On Tuesday April 25, 2017, the Oregon Senate unanimously passed Oregon Senate Bill 762 A. The bill would shield sexual assault complainants who are under the age of 21 from being cited for underage alcohol possession when they come forward to report a sexual assault. The bill would also shield minors who report a sexual assault to law enforcement on behalf of someone else.
Universities Beef Up Their Sexual Misconduct Investigations
A recent study by the Association of American Universities catalogued the strong response of universities and colleges to a study two years ago that showed high incidents of sexual assault or misconduct on college campuses. According to the new study, universities and colleges across the country have funneled resources and personnel into their misconduct investigations, and developed coordination and data sharing across campus offices. Universities have also improved coordination with local law enforcement. The study can be found here.
Both developments foreshadow an increase in sexual assault complaints and investigations at both the state and university level in the near future, and, correspondingly, an increase in the need for experienced criminal defense attorneys to defend the accused in the complex university and criminal justice systems.