Campus Sexual Assault Responses (CSAR): Informing Trauma-Informed Policies, Protocols, and Training

Sexual violence is a significant criminal justice problem with long-term effects for its victims. In particular, sexual assault on or related to college campuses across the United States presents a growing public health and economic burden, starting with significant impacts on academic outcomes. The long-term goal of this study is to support the development of policies, protocols, training, and interventions to strengthen responses to campus sexual assault (CSA) by campus public safety agencies in partnership with campus health and wellness centers, as well as with local law enforcement agencies and health and victim service providers. Based on results from the nationally representative CSAR study conducted from December 2020 to August 2021, the research team sought to ascertain the state of campus preparedness for trauma-informed CSA responses and, in the process, identify promising approaches and service gaps.