The Campus Security Act & Crime Reporting

 

The Campus Security Act

The Campus Security Act, known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires that each college document and report criminal offenses which occur on campus. Western New England College is in full compliance with this act. Crimes that occur on the Western New England College campus and which constitute a threat to the members of the College community are reported in a timely fashion to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by utilizing the Uniform Crime Reporting System. The reports are made in a manner that will aid in the prevention of similar occurrences.

The Department of Public Safety also monitors criminal activities at off-campus locations that students frequent, as well as reporting to the College community a list of arrests for on-campus violations for liquor, drug, and firearms possession.

2008 Annual Campus Safety Report: Full Report | Summary (Adobe PDF)

 

Campus Crime Reporting

Campus Security Authorities (CSA)

To further encourage the timely reporting of crimes on campus, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act identifies and defines Campus Security Authorities (CSA) as College faculty and staff members with “significant responsibility” for students and campus activities. They are campus officials who manage or otherwise oversee student and campus activities. Some examples of CSA’s include Campus Police staff, Deans, Director of Athletics, Athletic Coaches, Student Group Advisors and Activities Coordinators, Peer Advisors, Residential Life Area Coordinators, Resident Managers, Resident Assistants, Student Center Officials, and Judicial Affairs Officials. Crimes reported to CSA’s may not have been reported to the Campus Police. This is often the case in incidents of sexual assault.  A licensed or certified counselor, who is functioning within that scope at the time a crime is reported, is not considered a CSA and not required to report crimes but is encouraged to review crime reporting options with reporting parties.

The CSA crime report form and definitions sheet and are available below.  On a timely basis, CSA’s are required to forward completed CSA crime report forms to the attention of Chief Adam Woodrow, Director of Public Safety, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA. Timely notification of crimes and/or other emergencies by community members to Campus Police and/or a CSA will allow Western New England College personnel the opportunity to review whether or not Crime/Security Alert should be issued and will assist Western New England College in maintaining accurate crime data.

Anonymous Reporting

Western New England College permits victims or witnesses to report crimes to CSA’s on a voluntary, anonymous basis (and includes such anonymous reports in reported crime totals) but encourages individuals who report crime to provide identifying information. The purpose of this type of report is to comply with the reporting party’s wish to keep the matter anonymous, while taking steps to contribute to future campus safety. With such data, the College can maintain accurate records of the number of incidents and determine if there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method, or offender, and as appropriate alert the community to potential danger.  The Campus Police Department, unless otherwise prescribed by law, does not take anonymous police reports.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

CSA Deans, Directors and Department Heads are annually notified of the availability of the CSA Crime Report Form and Definitions Guide.  These individuals are directed to advise persons in their area of responsibility, who they believe have “significant responsibility for student and campus activities“, of the availability of these materials.  

If someone tells a CSA about a Clery Act qualifying crime or an incident that may be a crime, the CSA must record the information and submit a crime report in a timely manner to Campus Police.  Crimes can be reported confidentially, if desired by the reporting party, to a designated CSA.

When in doubt a report should be completed!  Completed CSA report forms are sent to the attention of Chief Adam Woodrow, Director of Public Safety, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA.