Va. Considers Law to Ramp Up Campus Sex Assault Policing

The Virginia State Crime Commission seems set to embrace legislation to bolster cooperation by campus and local police departments.

The commission on Wednesday directed its staff to draft a measure that would require the departments to adopt mutual aid agreements governing investigations of deaths and sexual assaults on Virginia campuses. The commission will decide whether to make the measure part of its legislative package next month.

Del. Paula Miller originally proposed legislation that would require campus police to hand off responsibility for death and sexual assault investigations to local police. Campus and local police alike opposed the bill, saying it would weaken college police departments.

In response to the sex-abuse scandal at Penn State, the commission also directed staff to draft legislation requiring college employees to report suspected child abuse.