The Obama administration has been trying to crack down on campus sexual assaults by lowering the standard of evidence needed by university and college panels to convict suspects, but the policy change has provoked a backlash as accused students fight back with lawsuits.
Instead of “beyond a reasonable doubt,” as practiced in criminal courts, the new standard is “preponderance of evidence,” meaning it’s more likely than not that an assault occurred.
The policy change has resulted in more convictions and is starting to get expensive.
Really expensive.
While only four such lawsuits were filed against universities from 2008 to 2010, between 2012 and 2014 there were 18 cases, representing a four-fold increase, according to a report by Stop Abusive and Violent Environments that is touted as the “most comprehensive listing of campus sex lawsuits ever.”
“Nearly all charge the university failed to comply with fundamental due process requirements in adjudicating the claim,” the organization said.
And the financial tab?
At least $36 million.
The surge came immediately after the 2011 change in the Department of Education’s sexual assault policy to the “preponderance of evidence” standard.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/campus-assault-crackdown-provoking-expensive-backlash/
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