Here is the process we'll follow after receiving a report. The report is cross referenced with past data by a GRAS Officer to see if there are other reports that include the people in the report (whether they are the reporter or the person reported). If there are multiple incidents regarding the reported individual, then the complaint is immediately escalated to a Tier 2 or higher incident. If the incident requires a panel all reports regarding the reported person are made available to the three GRAS committee members who are assigned the incident. 

Depending on how the reporter responds to the questions in the Incident Report we start with the following actions: 

If the answers to “What sort of response would you like?” are as follows:

• I just want you to know about this incident, no follow up is needed.

  • A GRAS Officer will file the confidential data, and confirm receipt of report if contact info is provided.

• • I'd like to talk to a mediator about this incident, but I don't necessarily need anyone to talk with the person I'm reporting.

    • A GRAS Officer will reach out to either offer support or if you requested a non-GRAS mediator to help connect you to one.

    • The person(s) reported will not be notified of the report without your consent.

    • A summary report will be kept alongside the initial report.

• • I want assistance with mediation or a clearing conversation with the person.

    • A GRAS Officer will reach out to help or if you requested a non-GRAS mediator to help connect you to one. 

    • The mediator will reach out to all involved parties to facilitate mediation.

    • A summary of the mediation conclusion will be submitted alongside the initial report.

  • I want you to look into this on my behalf and follow up with the involved parties.

    • A GRAS Officer will reach out to the involved parties.

    • Your report and name will not be brought up in the initial contact. We will make every appropriate effort to protect anonymity of all witnesses involved during the investigation process. We acknowledge that it may not always be possible to prevent someone from guessing or assuming the identity of a reporter.

    • A summary report of the process will be submitted alongside your original one.

Any incident report could trigger a temporary ban of the involved parties while GRAS evaluates the report and what steps to take next given the reporter's requests as answered above. When a GRAS Officer establishes contact they can choose to require the reported individual to meet with them in person to begin the reconciliation/investigation process.

A rough timeline of the response for a report that requires a panel looks like this: 

Initial Response: 24 hours

Initial Investigation: 1 week

Follow up to Investigation: 1 week

Conclusion: 1 week

If the reported individual is unavailable for whatever reason the process can be tabled until they are available. While it is tabled the reported individual remains temporarily banned until they complete the process. If you are interacting with a mediator or a GRAS Officer (as a reporter, subject of a report, or witness), you can help keep our process moving by responding to messages from the committee within 1-2 days, and you are welcome to check in with the team at any time regarding the status of a report. 

Tier 1 Incident

Tier 1 could include:

1. Non-sexual touch without consent

2. Minor consent accidents

3. Behaving out of accordance with our society rules

4. Minor negligent harms

5. Poor cultural awareness regarding race, gender, age, sexual orientation, etc

Tier 2 Incident 

Tier 2 could include:

1. Repeated Tier 1 incidents

2. Consent accidents 

3. Over-intoxication - This could include making yourself a nuisance, belligerence, vomiting, stumbling, etc

4. Pressuring or badgering someone to play when that pressure did not lead to sexual contact or play

5. Certain negligent harms.

Tier 3 Incident

Tier 3 could include:

1. More than one Tier 2 transgression

2. Unwanted sexual touch

3. Pressuring someone to play when that pressure did lead to sexual contact

4. Lying about STI or testing status

5. Sexual assault

6. Rape

7. Threatening or abusive behavior in person or online, including blackmail

8. Litigious harassment

9. An ongoing pattern of behavior inconsistent with community values and expectations

10. Extreme intoxication - any intoxication that requires medical attention

11. Willfully taking and/or sharing non-consensual photos at an event

12. Deliberate false incident reports

13. Certain willful harms or egregious harms that result out of severe negligence

Corrective Intervention

Results could include: 

1. Conversation, apologize and follow up with changed behavior. 

2. Reporter/victim agrees that the situation is resolved. 

3. GRAS committee steps up if the reporter/victim does not want to be part of the process. 

Moderate Intervention

Results could include: 

1. Warning

2. Temporary ban

3. Conversation (handled by Tzar of Alfheim and/or a GRAS Officer)

4. An accountability process (ie, revisit of a temp ban which would be unique to each situation, based on the complexity of the complaint.)

5. The person who invited you will be notified that there’s been a Moderate Intervention.

6. Membership would be informed of the resulting action of a Moderate Intervention (but not the circumstances).

Major Intervention 

Results could include: 

1. Temporary ban

2. Mediation (handled by an available mediator of your choice and/or GRAS Officer)

3. An accountability process (ie, revisit of a temp ban which would be unique to each situation, based on the complexity of the complaint.)

4. Permanent ban from events

5. Sharing information about alleged behavior with organizers of other sexual and/or kink community spaces.

6. The person who invited you may no longer be able to invite new people for up to a year.

7. Membership would be informed of the resulting action of a Major Intervention (but not the circumstances).

Nothing/File Data

We thank the reporter for their input if follow up contact info is given and move on.

Conversation or Warning

Facilitated by a Mediator.

Temporary Restriction

Limitation on the activities a person can engage in for a length or time, and/or until a process is completed.

Removal From Guest List

If you are removed from the Guest List you are allowed at public parties, but for private parties you may be invited and accompanied by someone who is on the Guest List.

Temporary Ban

Could be resolved by them completing a process. (ie, willingness to do the work, a member willing to hold them to it. (accountability))

Permanent Ban

This is a last resort, used for extreme safety and wellbeing concerns, and/or repeat offenders. This ban is indefinite.

A GRAS Officer assigns 3 GRAS members to investigate the report. Those panelists are given access to the initial report and any evidence as shared from involved parties. Generally the roles within a panel are this:

1. One Panelist investigates and gathers information from the reporter, and their witnesses.

2. One Panelist investigates and gathers information from the reported individual and their witnesses.

3. One Panelist collates the data uncovered by the two other members and is the person in direct communication with the involved parties.

 If one of the three panel members becomes unavailable to continue the investigation an alternate will be assigned. Once all the data is gathered the three GRAS members will evaluate it and present the Tzar of Alfheim or a GRAS Officer with their suggestion. 

Three questions the Panel will keep in mind are:

1. What will satisfy both parties' sense of well-being?

2. What will prevent this situation from happening in the future?

3. What is fair and just in this situation?

Possible Panel Outcomes 

Some of the resolutions are listed below, but the outcomes are not limited by the list below and will be arrived at by considering the above 3 questions. A reported person may choose to be banned instead of other proposed solutions if they do not want the results of the Panel process released to the Alfheim Society.

1. Ban with prejudice

2. Ban

3. Temp ban or probation - pending reconciliation process

4. Removal from guestlist

Tzar of Alfheim or GRAS Officer notifies parties of the result of the panel. Depending on the outcome membership may also be notified of the results.