What Can I Do?

An individual who wants to file a report and an individual accused of sexual misconduct have many options for reporting, resources, and care and support services.  You can choose one or more options at any time.

  1. Call RPI Public Safety: (518) 276-6611

    1. Public Safety can assist you with: filing an incident report with Rensseleaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI); seeking advice from an advisor; getting help with obtaining medical assistance; contacting local law enforcement to file a criminal complaint; initiating legal proceedings in Family Court; applying for or understanding an Order of Protection; or getting information about other campus or community services.

    2. Please note, filing an incident report with RPI Public Safety does not require the filing of criminal charges AND IT DOES NOT constitute the filing of criminal charges.

  2. Call Local Law Enforcement: 911

    1. To file a criminal complaint, call local law enforcement.

  3. Call State of New York Sexual Assault 24-Hour Hotline: (844) 845-7269

    1. Individuals who want to report a Complaint of sexual assault on a New York college campus to the New York State Police, may call the dedicated 24-hour hotline at (844) 845-7269.

  4. File an Anonymous Report
    1. You can file an anonymous report with RPI by going to the “Report It!” tab on this web site.  Filing an anonymous report does not prevent you from obtaining other care and support services.

  5. Seek Medical Assistance

    1. You can go to the St. Peter's Health Partners' Samaritan Hospital Emergency Department, located at 2215 Burdett Avenue, Troy, NY, 12180; or call Samaritan at (518) 271-3424; or go to the nearest Hospital Emergency Room.  Medical and Counseling professionals are required to maintain total confidentiality and cannot share your information without your consent unless there is an imminent threat to self or others.
    2. Victims of sexual assault should also know of their option to obtain a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam.  These exams are performed by skilled clinicians at local hospitals.  The exam includes assessment for and treatment of injury, addressing concerns of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and collection of evidence.  The St. Peter's Health Partner' Samaritan Hospital will perform a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam free of charge, and without billing the victim or victim's health insurance plan.
  6. Confidentially Talk to a Counselor or Medical Professional
    • RPI Student Health Center (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm)
    • To speak to a counselor after regular business hours, call Public Safety and ask to be connected to the counselor on call.
    • The Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Assistance Program, Rensselaer County Sexual Assault 24/7 Hotline: (518) 271-3257.
    • Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center, Albany County, Sexual Assault 24/7 Hotline: (518) 447-7716.
  7. Evidence Collection
    1. Collecting evidence does not obligate an individual to any particular course of action but can assist the authorities should the individual decide to pursue criminal charges now or in the future.
    2. Physical evidence of a Sexual Assault must be collected from the victim’s person within hours of the incident, although it may be possible to obtain evidence from towels, sheets, clothes, etc. for much longer periods of time.  An individual who believes they have been sexually assaulted should go to an emergency room, before washing their body or changing clothing.
    3. Hospitals have personnel (sexual assault nurse examiner) who are specially trained to collect evidence in cases of alleged Sexual Assault; they will properly collect and preserve any evidence as well as document any injuries.  It is best not to change clothes. However, if clothes have been changed, the clothes worn at the time of the incident should be brought to the emergency room in a clean, sanitary container such as a paper grocery bag or wrapped in a clean sheet (plastic containers do not breathe, and may render evidence useless).  Bring a change of clothing to the hospital as the clothes worn at the time of the incident will likely be kept as evidence.
    4. The Student Health Center can provide after-incident and follow-up medical care, however, it is not equipped to collect forensic evidence.
  8. Contact a Title IX Portfolio Liaison
  9. For Employees Receiving a Disclosure of Sexual Misconduct
    1. Please inform the reporting person:
    • "You have the right to make a report to university police or campus security, local law enforcement, and/or state police or choose not to report;
    • to report the incident to your institution;
    • to be protected by the institution from retaliation for reporting an incident; and
    • to receive assistance and resources from your institution."
    1.