NCJ Number
76352
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1981) Pages: 58-62
Date Published
1981
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The history of the development of security programs on college and university campuses is reviewed, and suggestions are made for improvements to security programs aimed at crisis intervention and crime prevention.
Abstract
Before the riots on campuses throughout the United States during the late 1960's, most colleges maintained little more than a low-level security force that developed from a watchman operation for buildings, grounds, or physical plants. After the student disruptions, campus security departments took on a more professional level of activities. Most campus security departments must now deal with the same types of crime which occur in the communities surrounding the campus. However, the departments must also deal effectively with an academic community that is sensitive to the protection of its individual rights. Furthermore, security needs vary from campus to campus. The frequency of criminal activities on campus have encouraged security departments to look to contemporary police forces for help in planning and implementing new programs and techniques to combat the rising crime rates. Changes in campus security programs have included appointment of departmental administrators with strong academic and work experience backgrounds, allocation of office space close to the core of the campus for easy accessibility to the academic community, and the inclusion of inservice training programs for new officers. Attempts to deal with the problems of campus security have included the use of student security cadets, establishment of escort services during night hours (especially at large urban universities), the development of an identification system for valuables, better lighting of buildings, and the development of a program of campus awareness. Campus security forces need to implement programs specifically aimed at crisis intervention and crime prevention. The management of incidents involving stress and conflict should be part of any campus police training program. Crime prevention programs should include public education projects, citizen surveillance, mechanical prevention programs, and environmental design. A bibliography listing 13 references is included.