File an Incident Report
Incident Reporting Form
All reports are strictly confidential and will only be reviewed by the APEX Judicial Team.
APEX is a volunteer-run organization and is not equipped for emergency response.
If you need immediate help, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE (4673) from anywhere in the US, or call 202.544.3064 to reach the RAINN business office.
ℹ️ Review Policy: Incident Reporting and Response Procedures
1. The “Scope of Authority” Clause
The Arizona Power Exchange (APEX) is a social and educational organization, not a judicial body or a relationship counseling service.
- APEX Jurisdiction: Our authority is strictly limited to conduct that occurs within APEX facilities, at official APEX events, or on official APEX digital platforms.
- Private Relationships: APEX does not police private interpersonal relationships, breakups, or household disputes. Conduct occurring outside of APEX jurisdiction will only be considered if it presents an immediate, verifiable threat to the physical safety of the community (e.g., criminal conviction for violence, credible threats of harm).
- No “He Said/She Said” Arbitration: APEX will not adjudicate conflicts based solely on conflicting personal narratives regarding private interactions outside our space.
- No Double Jeopardy: Once the Incident Response Team (IRT) has completed its investigation and the Board/EC has issued a Final Decision, the case is considered closed and resolved. APEX will not reopen or re-adjudicate a closed case based on the same set of facts or evidence previously considered. A closed case may only be reopened if new, material evidence is introduced that is likely to alter the final outcome.
To ensure impartiality and reduce Board burnout, investigations are conducted by a dedicated Incident Response Team (IRT), not the Board of Directors.
- Composition & Anonymity: The IRT consists of 3-5 vetted members appointed by the Board. To protect our volunteers from retaliation and ensure impartial proceedings, the identities of IRT members are strictly confidential and will remain entirely anonymous. These members must have no current disciplinary marks and must sign strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
- Function: The IRT serves as the fact-finding body. They investigate reports, interview relevant parties, and present a Recommendation of Action to the Board/EC.
- Recusal: Any IRT member with a personal relationship to the reporter or the accused must recuse themselves from that specific case.
Step 1: Submission
Incidents can be reported via: Digital Form (this page) or Verbally in-person to a DM or Board Member.
Step 2: Triage (goal 24-48 Hours)
The IRT Lead reviews the report to determine if it is an immediate safety emergency or if it is within APEX jurisdiction.
Step 3: Investigation (goal 7-14 Days)
The IRT conducts a fact-finding process by interviewing the Reporter, the Respondent, and material witnesses. Character witnesses are not utilized.
Step 4: Recommendation
The IRT submits a report to the Board/EC containing facts, violations, and a recommended action.
Step 5: Ratification
The Board/EC reviews the recommendation. They do not re-investigate but vote to Ratify, Modify, or Reject the recommendation.
APEX favors education and restorative justice over punishment when safety is not compromised.
| Action Level | Description | Typical Offense |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1: No Action | Insufficient evidence or outside jurisdiction. | Interpersonal breakup; non-verifiable external claim. |
| Level 2: Educational Notice | A formal reminder of rules; no loss of privileges. | Minor photo policy violation; unintentional etiquette breach. |
| Level 3: Formal Warning | Documented strike. Recurrence leads to suspension. | Repeated etiquette breaches; minor consent boundary slip (acknowledged). |
| Level 4: Probation/Suspension | Temporary removal (1-6 months) + mandatory education/mentorship. | Safety negligence; belligerence; repeated rule violations. |
| Level 5: Expulsion | Permanent revocation of membership. | Assault; predation; non-consensual sexual acts; theft; patterns of harassment. |
To build trust without compromising privacy, the IRT will publish a Quarterly Safety Report to the membership. This report contains only anonymized, high-level data regarding types of incidents and actions taken.
- Strict Need-to-Know: Details of an investigation are shared ONLY with the IRT and the sitting Board/EC.
- Data Retention: All investigation notes are stored in a secure, encrypted digital vault. Once a case is closed, notes are archived. Only the Final Decision is kept in the member’s permanent file.
- Duty to Inform: If an incident report presents a potential risk to the community (e.g., immediate credible threat of harm to self or others, legally reportable offense), the IRT Lead has a Duty to Inform. This may include notifying external law enforcement.
- Automatic Interim Suspension: If an incident under APEX review is escalated to a formal legal matter, APEX will immediately place all members directly involved on an Interim Suspension Without Prejudice.
- Nature of Suspension: This interim suspension is a neutral administrative step and does not imply a finding of guilt or innocence. It is enacted to prevent potential interference with an external legal or law enforcement process.
- Duration and Resolution: The suspension will remain in effect until the external investigation or legal process is completed and resolved.
- Data Sharing: APEX will cooperate fully with law enforcement and court orders.
