NAESV and Know Your IX conducted an internet survey in March 2015. Almost 90% of survivors responded “yes,” they should retain the choice whether and to whom to report. When asked their concerns if reporting to police were mandatory, 79% said, “this could have a chilling effect on reporting,” while 72% were concerned that “survivors would be forced to participate in the criminal justice system/go to trial.”

One survivor summed up many recurring themes in the open responses, saying:

“When I reported to campus officials, I was not ready to press charges and if I had been forced to report to the police I wouldn’t have been able to do it. I wouldn’t have told anyone because I would have felt like I had even less control of myself. Having the decision be my own and on my own time made it a lot safer and healthier.”