View Item 

Show simple item record

The Selective Shield of Due Process: Analysis of the U.S. Department of Education’s 2020 Title IX Regulations on Live Cross‐Examination
dc.contributor.authorHolland, Kathryn J.
dc.contributor.authorBedera, Nicole
dc.contributor.authorWebermann, Aliya R.
dc.date.accessioned2021-01-05T18:48:01Z
dc.date.availableWITHHELD_12_MONTHS
dc.date.available2021-01-05T18:48:01Z
dc.date.issued2020-12
dc.identifier.citationHolland, Kathryn J.; Bedera, Nicole; Webermann, Aliya R. (2020). "The Selective Shield of Due Process: Analysis of the U.S. Department of Education’s 2020 Title IX Regulations on Live Cross‐Examination." Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy 20(1): 584-612.
dc.identifier.issn1529-7489
dc.identifier.issn1530-2415
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/163921
dc.description.abstractThe U.S. Department of Education (DoE) released new Title IX regulations in May 2020, including the requirement that postsecondary institutions conduct live hearings with direct cross‐examination for sexual misconduct reports. The 2,033‐page document included a summary of public comments and the DoE’s discussion of those comments. We analyzed this publicly available document to answer two questions. (1) What are the primary concerns of the cross‐examination requirement for victims within the Department’s summary of public comments? (2) How did the Department respond to these victim concerns? We conducted a content analysis, with a specific focus on the DoE’s summary of survivor‐focused comments regarding cross‐examination and the DoE’s discussion of and changes made in response to those comments. We identified four overarching survivor‐focused concerns and four categories of DoE responses. Our findings suggest that the DoE did not meaningfully address survivor‐focused concerns, but instead, selectively wielded “due process” as a shield to deflect critiques and legitimize the myth that sexual misconduct allegations inherently lack “credibility.” The lack of protections for victims is a significant departure from legal norms in other settings. Our findings identify the importance of legislators working with survivor‐activists, practitioners, and researchers to ensure complainants receive adequate procedural protections.
dc.publisherUniversity of Chicago Press
dc.publisherWiley Periodicals, Inc.
dc.titleThe Selective Shield of Due Process: Analysis of the U.S. Department of Education’s 2020 Title IX Regulations on Live Cross‐Examination
dc.typeArticle
dc.rights.robotsIndexNoFollow
dc.subject.hlbsecondlevelPsychology
dc.subject.hlbtoplevelSocial Sciences
dc.description.peerreviewedPeer Reviewed
dc.description.bitstreamurlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163921/1/asap12216_am.pdf
dc.description.bitstreamurlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163921/2/asap12216.pdf
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/asap.12216
dc.identifier.sourceAnalyses of Social Issues and Public Policy
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSmith, C. P. & Freyd, J. J. ( 2014 ). Institutional betrayal. American Psychologist, 69, 575 – 587. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037564
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSmith, O., & Skinner, T. ( 2017 ). How rape myths are used and challenged in rape and sexual assault trials. Social & Legal Studies, 26 ( 4 ), 441 – 466. https://doi.org/10.1177/0964663916680130.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSpry, T. ( 1995 ). In the absence of word and body: Hegemonic implications of “victim” and “survivor” in women’s narratives of sexual violence. Women and Language, 18 ( 2 ), 27 – 40.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceTriplett, M. R. ( 2012 ). Sexual assault on college campuses: Seeking the appropriate balance between due process and victim protection. Duke Law Journal, 62 ( 2 ), 487 – 527.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceU.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights ( 1997 ). Sexual harassment guidance: Harassment of students by school employees, other students, or third parties. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1997-03-13/pdf/97-6373.pdf.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceU.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights ( 2001 ). Revised sexual harassment guidance: Harassment of students by school employees, other students, or third parties. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/shguide.pdf.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceU.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights ( 2011 ). Dear colleague letter: Sexual violence. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201104.pdf.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceU.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights ( 2014 ). Questions and answers on Title IX and sexual violence. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/qa-201404-title-ix.pdf.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceU.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights ( 2017 ). Dear colleague letter. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-title-ix-201709.pdf.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceU.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights ( 2018 ). Nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance: Proposed rules. Federal Register, 83, 61462 – 61499.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceU.S. Department of Education ( 2020 ). Title IX regulations addressing sexual harassment. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/titleix-regs-unofficial.pdf.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceU.S. Department of Justice ( 2015 ). Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. https://www.justice.gov/crt/title-ix-education-amendments-1972.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceValentine, T., & Maras, K. ( 2011 ). The effect of cross‐examination on the accuracy of adult eyewitness testimony. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 25 ( 4 ), 554 – 561.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceVictim Rights Clarification Act of 1997, 18 U.S.C. 3593, Chapter 223, § 3510.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceWeber, R. P. ( 1990 ). Basic content analysis ( 2nd ed. ). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceWheatcroft, J. M., & Ellison, L. E. ( 2012 ). Evidence in court: Witness preparation and cross‐examination style effects on adult witness accuracy. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 30 ( 6 ), 821 – 840.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceYoffe, E. ( 2017 ). The uncomfortable truth about campus rape policy. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/09/the-uncomfortable-truth-about-campus-rape-policy/538974.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceZajac, R., & Cannan, P. ( 2009 ). Cross‐examination of sexual assault complainants: A developmental comparison. Psychiatry Psychology and Law, 16 ( SUPP ), S36 ‐ S54.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceZydervelt, S., Zajac, R., Kaladelfos, A., & Westera, N. ( 2017 ). Lawyers’ strategies for cross‐examining rape complainants: Have we moved beyond the 1950s? British Journal of Criminology, 57 ( 3 ), 551 – 569. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azw023
dc.identifier.citedreferenceAlexander v. Yale, 459 F. Supp. 1, aff’d 631 F.2d 178 (2 nd Cir. 1980 ).
dc.identifier.citedreferenceAmerican Civil Liberties Union (ACLU, 2020, May 14). ACLU sues Betsy DeVos for allowing schools to ignore sexual harassment and violence. https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-sues-betsy-devos-allowing-schools-ignore-sexual-harassment-and-assault.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceAnderson, G. ( 2020 ), May 7. U.S. publishes new regulations on campus sexual assault. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/05/07/education-department-releases-final-title-ix-regulations
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBaker, M. R., Frazier, P. A., Greer, C., Paulsen, J.A., Howard, K., Meredith, L. M., Anders, S. L., & Shallcross, S. L. ( 2016. ) Sexual victimization history predicts academic performance in college women. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63 ( 6 ), 685 – 692. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000146
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBarthélemy, H. ( 2020 ). How men’s rights groups helped rewrite regulations on campus rape. The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/betsy-devos-title-ix-mens-rights/
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBartholet, E., Gertner, N., Halley, J.E., & Gensen, J.S. ( 2017 ). Fairness for all students under Title IX. https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/33789434
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBennett, M. W. ( 2014 ). Unspringing the witness memory and demeanor trap: What every judge and juror needs to know about cognitive psychology and witness credibility. American University Law Review, 64 ( 6 ), 1331 – 1376.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBehre, K. A. ( 2019 ). Deconstructing the disciplined student narrative and its impact on campus sexual assault policy. Arizona Law Review, 61, 885 – 994.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCampbell, R. ( 2008 ). The psychological impact of rape victims. American Psychologist, 63 ( 8 ), 702. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.63.8.702.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCampbell, R., Dworkin, E., & Cabral, G. ( 2009 ). An ecological model of the impact of sexual assault on women’s mental health. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 10 ( 3 ), 225 – 246. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838009334456
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCampbell, B. A., Menaker, T. A., & King, W. R. ( 2015 ). The determination of victim credibility by adult and juvenile sexual assault investigators. Journal of Criminal Justice, 43 ( 1 ), 29 – 39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2014.12.001.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCampbell, R., & Raja, S. ( 1999 ). Secondary victimization of rape victims: Insights from mental health professionals who treat survivors of violence. Violence and Victims, 14 ( 3 ), 261 – 275. https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.14.3.261
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCantalupo, N. C. ( 2019 ). Dog whistles and beachheads: The Trump administration, sexual violence & student discipline in education. Wake Forest Law Review, 54 ( 2 ), 303 – 362.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCantor, D., Fisher, B., Chibnall, S., Townsend, R., Lee, H., Bruce, C., & Thomas, G. ( 2017 ). Report on the AAU campus climate on sexual assault and sexual misconduct. American Association of Universities. https://www.aau.edu/sites/default/files/AAU-Files/Key-Issues/Campus-Safety/AAU-Campus-Climate-Survey-FINAL-10-20-17.pdf.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceChan, J. C., Manley, K. D., & Lang, K. ( 2017 ). Retrieval‐enhanced suggestibility: A retrospective and a new investigation. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 6 ( 3 ), 213 – 229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmac.2017.07.003
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCohen, J. ( 1960 ). A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 20, 37 – 46. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316446002000104
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCommonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Devos, 1:20‐cv‐01468 (D.D.C. filed June 4, 2020 ).
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCoulter, R. W., Mair, C., Miller, E., Blosnich, J. R., Matthews, D. D., & McCauley, H. L. ( 2017 ). Prevalence of past‐year sexual assault victimization among undergraduate students: Exploring differences by and intersections of gender identity, sexual identity, and race/ethnicity. Prevention Science, 18 ( 6 ), 726 – 736. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-017-0762-8.9iy7.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceDavis v. Monroe County Board of Education, No. 97–843 (11th Cir. 1999 ).
dc.identifier.citedreferenceDesmarais, S. L., Reeves, K. A., Nichollls, T. L., Telford, R. P., & Fiebert, M. S. ( 2012 ). Prevalence of physical violence in intimate relationships, part 1: Rates of male and female victimization. Partner Abuse, 3 ( 2 ), 140 – 169. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.3.2.140.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceDoe v. Allee, 30 Cal. App. 5th 1036 (Cal. Ct. App. 2019 ).
dc.identifier.citedreferenceDoe v. Baum, 903 F.3d 575 (6th Cir. 2018 ).
dc.identifier.citedreferenceDoe v. University of Cincinnati, 872 F.3d 393 (6th Cir. 2017 ).
dc.identifier.citedreferenceDworkin, E. R., Brill, C. D., & Ullman, S. E. ( 2019 ). Social reactions to disclosure of interpersonal violence and psychopathology: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 72, 101750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101750.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceDworkin, E.R., Menon, S.V., Bystrynski, J., & Allen, N.E. ( 2017 ). Sexual assault victimization and psychopathology: A review and meta‐analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 56, 65 – 81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2017.06.002.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceEdelman, L. B. ( 1992 ). Legal ambiguity and symbolic structures: Organizational mediation of civil rights law. American Journal of Sociology, 97 ( 6 ), 1531 – 1576. https://doi.org/10.1086/229939.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceEdelman, L. ( 2016 ). Working law: Courts, corporations, and symbolic civil rights. University of Chicago Press.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceEdelman, L. B., Uggen, C., & Erlanger, H. S. ( 1999 ). The endogeneity of legal regulation: Grievance procedures as rational myth. American Journal of Sociology, 105 ( 2 ), 406 – 454. https://doi.org/10.1086/210316.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceEllison, L. ( 2000 ). Rape and the adversarial culture of the courtroom. In M. Childs & L. Ellison (Eds.), Feminist perspectives on evidence, (pp. 39 – 57 ). London, United Kingdom: Cavendish Publishing.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceFedina, L., Holmes, J. L., & Backes, B. L. ( 2016 ). Campus sexual assault: A systematic review of prevalence research from 2000 to 2015. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 19 ( 1 ), 76 – 93. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838016631129.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceFisher, B., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G. ( 2000 ). The sexual victimization of college women. Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Institute of Justice. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceFranklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools, 503 U.S. 60 ( 1992 )
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGebser v. Lago Vista Independent School Dist., 524 U.S. 274 ( 1998 ).
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGersen, J. S. ( 2020, May 16). How concerning are the Trump administration’s new Title IX regulations? The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/how-concerning-are-the-trump-administrations-new-title-ix-regulations.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGraham, L. M., Treves‐Kagan, S., Magee, E. P., DeLong, S. M., Ashley, O. S., Macy, R. J., … Bowling, J. M. ( 2017 ). Sexual assault policies and consent definitions: A nationally representative investigation of US colleges and universities. Journal of School Violence, 16 ( 3 ), 243 – 258. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2017.1318572
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGreen, E. L. ( 2018 ). Sex assault rules under DeVos bolster defendants’ rights and ease college Liability. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/16/us/politics/betsy-devos-title-ix.html.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGoss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 ( 1975 )
dc.identifier.citedreferenceHaidak v. University of Massachusetts‐Amherst, No. 18–1248 (1st Cir. 2019 ).
dc.identifier.citedreferenceHockett, J. M., & Saucier, D. A. ( 2015 ). A systematic literature review of “rape victims” versus “rape survivors”: Implications for theory, research, and practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 25 ( Part A ), 1 – 14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2015.07.003.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceJordan, C. E., Combs, J. L., & Smith, G. T. ( 2014 ). An exploration of sexual victimization and academic performance among college women. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 15 ( 3 ), 191 – 200. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838014520637
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKebbell, M., Deprez, S., & Wagstaff, G. ( 2003 ). The direct and cross‐examination of complainants and defendants in rape trials: A quantitative analysis of question type. Psychology, Crime and Law, 9 ( 1 ), 49 – 59. https://doi.org/10.1080/10683160308139
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKelly v. Yale University, No. 3:01‐CV‐1591 (JCH) (D. Conn. 2003 ).
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKipnis, L. ( 2017 ). Unwanted advances: Sexual paranoia comes to campus. New York, NY: Harper.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKonradi, A. ( 2007 ). Taking the stand: Rape survivors and the prosecution of rapists. Westport, CT: Praeger.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKonradi, A. ( 2017 ). Can justice be served on campus? An examination of due process and victim protection policies in the campus adjudication of sexual assault in Maryland. Humanity & Society, 41 ( 3 ), 373 – 404. https://doi.org/10.1177/0160597616651657
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKreighbaum, A. ( 2018 ) New uncertainty on Title IX. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/11/20/title-ix-rules-cross-examination-would-make-colleges-act-courts-lawyers-say.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKruth, S. ( 2018 ) New proposed Title IX regulations feature essential safeguards for free speech and due process on campus. FIRE.org. https://www.thefire.org/new-proposed-title-ix-regulations-feature-essential-safeguards-for-free-speech-and-due-process-on-campus/.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceMathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319 ( 1976 )
dc.identifier.citedreferenceMigler, W. J. ( 2017 ). An accused student’s right to cross‐examination in university sexual assault adjudicatory proceedings. Chapman Law Review, 20 ( 2 ), 357.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceMohammadian, L. ( 2012 ). Sexual assault victims v. pro se defendants: Does Washington’s proposed legislation sufficiently protect both sides. Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, 22 ( 2 ), 491 – 514.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceNorth, A. ( 2020, May 6). Trump administration releases new campus sexual assault rules in the midst of the pandemic: Advocates say the rules will hurt survivors. Vox. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/2020/5/6/21203255/new-title-ix-rules-campus-sexual-assault-betsy-devos
dc.identifier.citedreferenceO’Neal, E. N. ( 2019 ). “Victim is not credible”: The influence of rape culture on police perceptions of sexual assault complainants. Justice Quarterly, 36 ( 1 ), 127 – 160. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2017.1406977
dc.identifier.citedreferenceOrenstein, A. A. ( 2007 ). Special issues raised by rape trials. Fordham Law Review, 76, 1585 – 1608.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceO’Toole, S. ( 2017 ). Campus sexual assault adjudication, student due process, and a bar on direct cross‐examination. University of Pittsburgh Law Review, 79, 511 – 542.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceParsons, J., & Bergin, T. ( 2010 ). The impact of criminal justice involvement on victims’ mental health. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23 ( 2 ), 182 – 188. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20505
dc.identifier.citedreferenceRichards, T. N. ( 2019 ). An updated review of institutions of higher education’s responses to sexual assault: Results from a nationally representative sample. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34 ( 10 ), 1983 – 2012. https://doi.org/10.1177/088626051665 8757.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSabina, C., Verdiglione, N., & Zadnik, E. ( 2017 ). Campus responses to dating violence and sexual assault: Information from university representatives. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 26 ( 1 ), 88 – 102. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2016.1225143
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSantaularia, J., Hart, L., Haskett, L., Welsh, E., & Faseru, B. ( 2014 ). Relationships between sexual violence and chronic disease: A cross‐sectional study. BMC Public Health, 14, 1286. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1286.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSegovia, D. A., Strange, D., & Takarangi, M. K. ( 2017 ). Trauma memories on trial: Is cross‐examination a safeguard against distorted analogue traumatic memories? Memory, 25 ( 1 ), 95 – 106. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2015.1126608
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSleath, E., & Bull, R. ( 2017 ). Police perceptions of rape victims and the impact on case decision making: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 34, 102 – 112.
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSmith, O., & Skinner, T. ( 2012 ). Observing court responses to victims of rape and sexual assault. Feminist Criminology, 7 ( 4 ), 298 – 326. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557085112437875
dc.owningcollnameInterdisciplinary and Peer-Reviewed


Files in this item

Name:
asap12216_am.pdf
Size:
1.074MB
Format:
PDF
View/Open
Name:
asap12216.pdf
Size:
180.4KB
Format:
PDF
View/Open

Show simple item record

Remediation of Harmful Language

The University of Michigan Library aims to describe its collections in a way that respects the people and communities who create, use, and are represented in them. We encourage you to Contact Us anonymously if you encounter harmful or problematic language in catalog records or finding aids. More information about our policies and practices is available at Remediation of Harmful Language.

Accessibility

If you are unable to use this file in its current format, please select the Contact Us link and we can modify it to make it more accessible to you.