https://www.necc.mass.edu/about/disclosures/consumer-information/clery-report/campus-security-authorities/ Mar 29 2024 06:52:33

Campus Security Authorities

Campus Security Authorities (CSAs)

Although every college wants its campus community to report criminal incidents to its campus police department, we know that this doesn’t always happen. For example, a victim of a sexual offense may turn to their coach for assistance, or a student whose car was stolen may report the theft to the Dean of Students. For this reason, the Clery Act requires all institutions to collect crime reports from a variety of individuals and organizations that are considered to be “campus security authorities” (CSAs) under the law.

A CSA is an individual, who by virtue of their college responsibilities, is designated to receive and report a criminal incident to the campus police department so that it may be included and published in the Annual Security Report. 

In order to be compliant with the federal regulations, all CSAs must go through annual training to familiarize themselves with what the Clery Act is, why it is important, who and what a CSA is, and why they are an important piece to Clery and campus safety. This page satisfies that requirement. On this page you’ll find:


Why is this Important? 


Campus Security Authority Training Video

The following video is the Clery Center Campus Security Authority Training Video. It is about 15 minutes long and explains who and what the Campus Security Authority is and does on the college campus. Please take a few minutes to watch the video to familiarize yourself with Jeanne Clery and the role of a CSA.

Once you complete the video, please take a moment to take the brief CSA Quiz, located below the video, to review what you have learned. Then please scroll through and read the remainder of the information, which is specific to Northern Essex Community College CSAs.  

password: csatraining


Campus Security Authority Quiz

Now that you have watched the video, please take this brief quiz. Once you have successfully completed the quiz, click the link to download your certificate. Please type your NAME and DATE of completion in the fields provided. Then email the certificate to ttrask@necc.mass.edu 

Campus Security Authority Quiz

Campus Security Authority Quiz

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Who They Are

The Clery Act defines a CSA as any of the following categories:

CSAs at NECC include, but are not limited to: 


What They Do

CSAs are responsible for reporting allegations of Clery Act crimes that are reported to them in their capacity as a CSA. 

If a CSA is notified of a crime in progress or an ongoing threat to the Northern Essex Community College Campus Community, they will contact the NECC Public Safety Department for assistance. It is important for any crime in progress or ongoing threat to be reported to as soon as possible as a Timely Warning or Emergency Notification may be necessary. More information about both can be found further down on the page.

Confidential Crime Reporting through CSAs

A Campus Security Authority is not required to disclose confidential information concerning an incident, such as information that would identify a victim of a crime who wishes to remain anonymous. However, CSAs are required to inform the Department of Public Safety of the existence of all known incidents, including confidential incidents. This is to ensure the capture of proper statistics to be included in the College’s Annual Security Report (ASR).

If a reporting party does not consent to the disclosure to the Department of Public Safety, CSAs are expected to inform the Department of Public Safety of the complainant’s wish for confidentiality and to report the incident for statistical purposes only. CSAs must report an incident without disclosing identifying information concerning the reporting party unless the reporting party consents to disclosure of his or her identity.

The College urges all community members to report any criminal incident to the Department of Public Safety. In the event an individual chooses not to report a crime, the College urges the person at least to disclose the occurrence of the incident to a CSA to be counted, as appropriate, in the College’s Annual Security Report.


Clery Act Reportable Crimes

The following crimes are designated as Clery Act Reportable Crimes:

Part 1 – Primary Crimes

Sex Offenses – The Clery Act has four defined sex offenses for which crime statistics must be collected on Clery geography. They are: rape, fondling, incest and statutory rape.

Part 2 – Alcohol, drug and weapon violations

The Clery Act requires institutions collect statistics for violations of state law and or ordinances for drug, alcohol and weapons violations.

Part 3 – Hate Crimes 

The Clery Act requires institutions collect crime statistics for hates crime associated with either the commission of a primary crime or the lesser offenses of larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation, destruction of or vandalism of a buildings or property.

Part 4: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Crimes


Clery Geography

The Clery Act requires NECC to report crimes based on where the crime occurs. NECC has three (3) campus locations: Haverhill, Lawrence, and The Heights at Haverhill (downtown Haverhill).

There are three types of locations subject to reporting in Clery geography: on-campus, non-campus building or property and public property. 

On-Campus Property

Any building or property owned or controlled by the campus within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area and used by the campus in direct support of, or in a manner related to, the campus’ educational purposes, including residence halls; and any building or property that is within or reasonably contiguous campus that is owned by the campus but controlled by another person, is frequently used by students, and supports campus purposes (e.g., a food or retail vendor).

Public Property

All public property, including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities, that is within the campus or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

Non-campus Property

Any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the campus, or any building or property owned or controlled by the campus that is used in direct support of, or in relation to, the campus’ educational purposes, is frequently used by students, and is not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the campus.

Examples of each are as follows:

On Campus Property

Non-Campus Property

Public Property


Timely Warning and Emergency Notification Information

One important aspect of the Clery Act is to provide notice if there is a potential emergency that threatens campus or the health and safety of students or employees. There are two types of required notifications – Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications.

What is a Timely Warning?

The Clery Act requires institutions to alert the campus community to certain crimes in a manner that is timely and will aid in the prevention of similar crimes. Although the Clery Act doesn’t define “timely,” the intent of a warning regarding a criminal incident(s) is to promote safety. This means that a warning will be issued as soon as pertinent information is available.

Timely Warnings are generally issued via email messages and text messages to students and employees.

The three criteria for determining the issuance of a Timely Warning are:

What is Timely?

The Clery Act doesn’t define timely. The intent of a warning regarding a criminal incident(s) is to enable people to take measures that promote their safety. Again, this means that a warning will be issued as soon as pertinent information is available. Generally, there is no allowance for taking time to review video footage, interviewing involved parties beyond the initial report, or completing an investigation, etc. Even if all of the facts surrounding a Clery Act criminal incident that represents a serious and continuing threat to students and employees are not available or known, a Timely Warning must be issued.

What is an Emergency Notification?

Notice of any significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on the campus involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees. This may be an approaching weather event such as a tornado, a hazardous material incident, a threat of violence, an armed person, or an outbreak of a serious contagious disease or illness. Emergency Notifications may also serve as a Timely Warning if the reported incident is also defined as a Clery crime.

Emergency Notifications may be delivered a number of different ways. These may include email messages, text messages, messages displayed on message boards on campus, messages through social media or any combination of these.


Submit Your Report Online

Campus Security Authorities are able to submit reports directly to Public Safety by filling out the Campus Security Authority Crime Report below.  If you have any questions or need assistance with the form, please contact the NECC Clery Coordinator at 978-556-3694 or email ttrask@necc.mass.edu.

 

Campus Security Authority Crime Report

Campus Security Authority Crime Report

Fill out my online form.

 

 

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