New York State Police granted authority to investigate sexual assault complaints at Cornell University

Agreement on choosing an agency

Governor of New York State Kathy Hochul announced an agreement allowing the state police to investigate sexual assault complaints at Cornell University. The document was signed by the university and the state police on Thursday; according to the university, it took effect immediately and will remain in force throughout an independent review of the institution's practices.

What changes for victims

The main practical change: survivors who decide to pursue criminal prosecution can now choose for themselves who will conduct the investigation — the state police or Cornell's university police. According to the university, they may also ask that the case be handled by the Ithaca police or the Tompkins County sheriff. Hochul said that every student deserves to feel safe on campus, and that anyone reporting an assault should know their report «will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated» by trained professionals.

Context: the Jane Doe case

The agreement came amid a new wave of criticism of Cornell's response to a lawsuit by a former student, identified in the civil case as Jane Doe. She alleges that in October 2024 she was drugged and raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity. The woman reported the incident to the university police; the local district attorney initially declined to bring charges, but in September 2026 resumed the criminal investigation. Lawyers for some of the accused reject the allegations; the claims themselves have not yet been established in court.

Two parallel measures

In addition to the agreement, the governor appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to oversee the criminal investigation. Separately, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates is leading an independent review of how the university handled complaints of sexual misconduct.