Sexual offense complaints normally handled by Cornell University Police will be referred immediately to New York State Police for criminal investigation under a new agreement announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul. The referral will apply unless the individual reporting the complaint requests otherwise.
Hochul said State Police signed the agreement with Cornell at her direction. In a statement, she said people reporting sexual assault deserve to be heard, treated with compassion and have their allegations investigated by officers trained to support survivors.
The governor also referred to an account by a person identified as Jane Doe, calling what she described horrifying. The statement did not give details of that account, and the agreement's announcement does not establish a finding in an individual case.
Hochul said survivors should be able to trust the institutions responsible for protecting them and pledged to pursue dignity, accountability and justice. The announced change concerns complaints that would otherwise fall within Cornell University Police's jurisdiction.
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