Federal oversight and sexual violence reporting

• In Event: Cycles of Impact: From Reporting to Response in Violence & Justice

Abstract

Background: On average, 13.0 percent of US college students experience sexual violence while enrolled with significantly higher rates among undergraduate women (25.9\%) and gender minority (e.g., trans, non-binary) undergraduates (22.8\%) compared to men and professional or graduate students. The prevalence of sexual violence in higher education has remained largely unchanged since the 1980s, and it is associated with both poor educational attainment and reduced labor force participation for survivors as well as substantial mental and physical health consequences. Federal policy and oversight are among the few strategies used to guarantee compliance with Title IX provisions. 
Purpose: This paper examines the effect of federal investigations of higher education institutions conducted on sexual violence (SV) reporting under Title IX. We also assess the impact of these investigations on changes in SV prevalence among students, student mental health, and educational attainment or achievement. 

Methods: To estimate the effects of federal investigations on our outcomes of interest, we employed an event-study and difference-in-differences (DD) framework using data across the United States collected by the Department of Education along with investigation dates. We exploit the variation in timing of Title IX investigations levied against a college or university in different years over the study period. This econometric approach compares the outcomes of colleges under investigation to those that were not investigated. As possible mechanisms, we examine whether investigations lead to changes in institutional resources for SV reporting. 
Findings: Using an event-study framework, we find an increase in SV reporting following investigations, with larger increases after these investigations are disclosed to the public. We also find increases in reporting of other forms of gender-based violence. We do not find strong evidence of changes in reporting of other types of crime. We find suggestive evidence that institutions adopt important SV policies and invest monetary resources after investigations. These changes include improved organizational structures and procedures essential for effective SV response and prevention. Our results are supported by several internal validity assessments suggesting they are not driven by general shifts in crime or SV, changes in police behavior, nor locality effects. Lastly, we consider the effect of these investigations on self-reported SV victimization as well as measures of behavioral health. 
Implications: Our findings suggest that prior federal  investigations conducted by the Department of Education have led to resourced and shifts in structures that respond to SV at colleges and universities. Without this federal oversight structure, institutions have little incentive to align structures in a way that supports students.

Authors

• Alice M Ellyson, University of Washington
  Presenting Author

• Alberto Ortega, Indiana University
  Non-Presenting Co-Author