Police Department Manual (PDP)

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Effective: 11/1/1983

Revised: 3/1/2010

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PDP 203–03: Reporting Crimes against Persons

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Purpose

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To provide guidelines for reporting crimes against persons

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Sources

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Arizona Revised Statutes § 13–2809
University policy

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Policy

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Crimes against persons are generally regarded as violent crimes or those with the potential to escalate to violence. Among the most common types of crimes against persons are armed robbery, assault, and sexually-related offenses.

The ASU Police Department responds to calls concerning a crime against a person. If needed, medical assistance can be summoned by the ASU Police Department Dispatch Center.

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Procedure

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Evidence

All types of evidence are critical to a police investigation. To avoid tainting or destroying evidence, no one should disturb, touch, or tamper with anything at the scene of a crime. Victims should not remove, throw away, or wash any item of clothing before the police arrive if they believe they are the victim of a crime where evidence might be found on their clothes. Individuals who suspect they have been sexually assaulted should not shower, bathe, douche, or use the bathroom. Immediate medical attention will be provided at a hospital.

Note: Police will ask the victim of a crime to assist in apprehending the offender. The victim also will be asked to aid in the prosecution of an apprehended suspect. Assisting in prosecution requires identifying the suspect and, if necessary, going to trial and testifying against the suspect.

Additional information regarding sexual assault and acquaintance rape is available from the Crime Prevention Unit or from the department Web site under the “Campus Crime Statistics” heading.

D
Responsibility
Action
Victim
or
someone aiding the victim
  1. Call 911 (ASU Police Department emergency number) or use a call box for crimes in progress or crimes that just occurred. If dialing from a cell phone, immediately tell the call taker where you are calling from and the nature of the emergency. If needed, the call taker will transfer you to the appropriate police agency. Tell the call taker if medical attention is required.
  2. Provide all available information about the suspect: description, clothing, and direction and method of travel.
  3. Do not tamper with the crime scene. In the case of a sexual assault, the victim should be given an opportunity to have a sexual assault examination so they are asked to not shower, bathe, douche, or use the bathroom.
ASU Police Department (ASU PD) Communications Center
  1. Send officer(s) and medical assistance as needed.
ASU PD
  1. In case of injury or sexual assault, arrange transportation to the hospital for the victim. Offer counseling assistance information, and request counseling support if desired by the victim. Notify Residential Life as appropriate.
  2. Complete a crime report and conduct a preliminary investigation.
  3. Detectives will follow-up and complete more complex or lengthy investigations.

Cases that cannot be resolved by responding officers will be sent to the ASU Police Department Investigations Bureau for review and/or further investigation.

endtable

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Cross-References

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For information on reporting emergencies, see:

  1. PDP 101–01, “Reporting an Emergency”

    and

  2. PDP 101–02, “Emergency Call Boxes.”

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