Bill would restrict colleges’ response to sexual assault reports

Article here. Excerpt:

'A key state lawmaker wants to limit the ability of Georgia’s public colleges to investigate and discipline alleged campus rapists.

A bill introduced this week from state Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, would prevent schools from investigating campus sex abuse claims unless police were also involved.

It highlights a central question in such cases: should they be handled by colleges or law enforcement?

Currently, schools handle many of the cases through a secretive campus judicial process. Such involvement is mandated by federal Title IX law, although the details are largely left up to individual schools.

Many sexual assault allegations never make it to law enforcement because victims are reluctant to come forward. Campus tribunals provide a measure of accountability and require a lower burden of proof. But critics — including some students who have been kicked out of school after facing allegations of sexual assault — say the proceedings are deeply flawed and lack adequate protections for the accused.'