Schools adjust sexual assault policies for new federal guidelines

Article here. Excerpt:

'Schools across the country have revamped their sexual assault response policies in the wake of new federal guidelines issued earlier this year.

The rules put a greater burden on schools and colleges to investigate possible sexual assaults by placing them in the same category as sexual harassment under Title IX, which deals with sex discrimination.
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The changes have some arguing that the federal government has overstepped its bounds.

UNCW criminology and sociology professor Mike Adams said he believes the rules could result in more false reports of sexual assault.

Adams said he also worried about justice since victims now also can appeal a campus disciplinary decision if they disagree with its severity or new evidence comes to light.

"That's incredible given our understanding of the importance of the concept of double jeopardy," Adams said, referring to the criminal justice system's rules that a person can't be charged with the same crime twice.

Schools also are required to use a "preponderance of evidence" standard that is easier to prove than the reasonable doubt standard of the criminal system.'