Campus Security

• Introduction
• Campus Security Roles
• Staffing
• Interagency Cooperation
• Federal Reporting Regulations
• Crime Prevention
• Campus Safety Issues
• Fire Protection
• Campus Law Enforcement Professionalism
• Summary
• Notes
• Additional Resource

Introduction

NOTE: Loras Jaeger of Iowa State University originally wrote this chapter in 1994 and Christopher Blake, CAE, associate director of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators updated it in 2009.

The role of campus security has changed dramatically in the past several decades. Security and law enforcement departments that were once self-sufficient and went relatively unnoticed have emerged as highly visible and integral participants in the campus community. As the issue of recruitment and retention continues to become more entwined with student safety, the role of campus security departments will become more critical.

The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the major elements of campus security in today's higher education environment. The chapter will focus on eight major topics: campus security role, staffing, interagency cooperation, federal reporting regulations, campus safety issues, crime prevention, fire protection, and professionalism.

The chapter will begin by describing the various roles of campus security personnel on a continuum from security guard to university police officer. The chapter will also focus on staffing requirements and the important role that students play in providing safety services. It will examine interagency cooperation with other law enforcement entities, including contracting for policing services and the establishment of mutual aid agreements.

Another focus of this chapter will be the federal reporting regulations currently required of all colleges and universities, covering such areas as crime statistics, how to report crimes, policies on sexual assault investigations, and open-campus law enforcement logs.

Campus safety issues will be reviewed, including a discussion regarding contemporary crime prevention programs, modern equipment, and safe campus physical design criteria. The chapter will also include a section on fire protection as it relates to campus security personnel and will conclude with the evolution of campus security departments toward a higher level of professionalism.