Campus Security Authority Resources

Campus Security Authority

• The function of a Campus Security Authority is to forward all criminal offense information to the official or office designated by the institution  to collect crime report information. The Department of Public Safety, is responsible for collecting all criminal offense reports and allegations of Clery Act offenses that CSA’s conclude were made in good faith.
• Reportable offenses should be reported to the public safety department, when you become aware of a crime.
• A campus security authority’s key responsibility is to encourage crime victims and witnesses to report crimes to the Department of Public Safety.

 

When in doubt, provide the information to public safety!

Why am I considered a CSA?

1.  A campus police department or a campus security department of an institution.
   • What does this mean? If you have a police or security department, it is obvious that the department meets this requirement. However, have all employees in the department been trained about the fact that they are CSAs? This includes: officers, front line supervisors, and administrators, such as a Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, Victim Services Coordinator, etc. Basically, all of the employees in the department, except office support staff, are campus security authorities. Keep in mind that this includes student employees (other than office staff) who handle tasks like patrolling, monitoring access, providing a driving or walking safety escort, etc.
2. Any individual or organization specified in an institution’s statement of campus security policy as an individual or organization to which students and employees should report criminal offenses. 
   • What does this mean? Your institution must publish a policy statement that tells the campus community who they should report a crime to on the campus. For many institutions, this will be the campus security, public safety or police agency. However, some colleges and universities don’t have a campus police/public safety agency, and those institutions need to notify the campus community about the individual or organization to which crimes should be reported. This may include directing them to report crimes to the local law enforcement agency. The institution may also want to consider whether or not an individual or organization on the campus should be identified for students and employees to report the crime directly to a representative of the institution. (Receiving crime information quickly and directly will be important for assessing whether or not a timely warning notice should be distributed).
3. Any individual or organization specified in an institution’s statement of campus security policy as an individual or organization to which students and employees should report criminal offenses. 
   • What does this mean? Your institution must publish a policy statement that tells the campus community who they should report a crime to on the campus. For many institutions, this will be the campus security, public safety or police agency. However, some colleges and universities don’t have a campus police/public safety agency, and those institutions need to notify the campus community about the individual or organization to which crimes should be reported. This may include directing them to report crimes to the local law enforcement agency. The institution may also want to consider whether or not an individual or organization on the campus should be identified for students and employees to report the crime directly to a representative of the institution. (Receiving crime information quickly and directly will be important for assessing whether or not a timely warning notice should be distributed).
4.  An official of an institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings. An official is defined as any person who has the authority and the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution.
   • What does this mean? This is the most challenging area because the concept of “significant responsibility for student and campus activities” is quite broad. Official responsibilities and job titles vary significantly at each campus, which is why ED says they don’t provide an all inclusive list of specific titles in the regulations. The handbook states, “To determine specifically which individuals or organizations are campus security authorities for your institution, consider the function of that individual or office. Look for officials (i.e., not support staff) whose functions involve relationships with students. If someone has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, he or she is a campus security authority.”

So, I’m now a CSA. What next?

• As a CSA it is imperative that you take a few minutes to understand the responsibility of this designation.
• If someone reports a criminal offense to you, you need to report the offense to public safety.

Timing and location is critical.

Be sure to document:

• When the crime or incident occurred.
• When it was reported to you.
• Where the reported offense occurred.

A crime must be reported if it occurred:

• On campus (See Clery Geography here)
• In an on-campus student residence hall
• On public property adjacent to campus (e.g.. roads, sidewalks)
• On certain non-campus property such as Ridley Athletic Center or the Retreat Center in Flintstone, Maryland.

If a crime occurs in a location not listed above it may not be reportable under Clery. i.e. a student reports being sexually assaulted while at home or during spring break.(See Reportable Offenses here)

If you are not sure, contact the Director of Public Safety for assistance. More contact information here.

Just the facts please…..

Just get the information the person is willing to tell you.

You don’t have to prove what happened or who was at fault.

• What happened
• Where offense occurred
• When offense occurred
• When it was reported to you

Loyola’s Campus Security Authorities (CSA) Reporting Form