CRIME PREVENTION IN UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE HALLS

• NCJ Number: 68162
• Journal: Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (MAY/JUNE 1980) Pages: 24-28
• Author(s): J R HANDLEY
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOCUSING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY'S CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS IN FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES EFFORTS WHICH EMPHASIZE THE COOPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY.

Abstract

BECAUSE OF INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE HALLS, EXPANDED SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BECOME NECESSARY. TWO CATEGORIES OF CRIME HAVE RECEIVED THE MOST POLICE ATTENTION AT FLORIDA STATE: CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN, ESPECIALLY RAPE; AND CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY, IN PARTICULAR THEFTS FROM UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE HALL ROOMS. SEVERAL SECURITY PROGRAMS ARE EXPLAINED. OPERATION IDENTIFICATION INVOLVES ENGRAVING THE STUDENT'S VALUABLES WITH HIS INDIVIDUALIZED UNIVERSITY STUDENT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. IN THE BICYCLE IDENTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION PROGRAM, THE STUDENT'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS ENGRAVED IN THREE PLACES ON THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. UNDER THE PHYSICAL SECURITY ANALYSIS PROGRAM, A CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER VISITS THE RESIDENCE HALLS AND REVIEWS EXISTING INTERNAL RESIDENCE SAFETY AND SECURITY NEEDS. THE WOMEN'S SAFETY PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PERSONAL PROTECTION, ESPECIALLY OF WOMEN, WITH LESSER EMPHASIS ON THE PROTECTION OF PROPERTY. A RESIDENCE HALL SECURITY TASK FORCE DIRECTLY INVOLVES THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY IN CRIME PREVENTION: TWO STUDENTS FROM EACH RESIDENCE HALL ARE APPOINTED TO SERVE ON THE TASK FORCE; IN ADDITION, A MEMBER OF THE CRIME PREVENTION SECTION SERVES AS LIAISON OFFICER. COMPLEMENTING THE CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS OF THE UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE RESIDENCE HALL SECURITY GUARD, A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE ASSIGNED TO EACH RESIDENCE HALL. HE IS CHARGED WITH CHECKING SECURITY MEASURES, ENFORCING RESIDENCE HALL POLICIES, AND GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT SECURITY TO REPORT TO THE RESIDENCE COUNSELOR. IN THE PERIOD FROM 1974 TO 1978, RESIDENCE HALL CRIME AGAINST PROPERTY HAS FALLEN FROM 72 OFFENSES TO 34 OFFENSES. THE REDUCTION IN CRIME IS ATTRIBUTED TO THESE PROGRAMS.