The Department of Campus Safety 2002 Annual Report

Table of Contents

     The Department of Campus Safety
          Safety and Security at Trinity College

     Mission and Vision Statement
           Read about our Mission, Vision, and Values

     Reporting Crimes or Emergencies
          How to get in touch with Campus Safety
          Important phones numbers
          Emergency call boxes
          Emergency Call Box Locations

     Uniform Campus Crime Report
          View campus crime statistics

     Annual Crime Statistics
          Trinity three year disclosure of crimes
          Hartford Police Department three year disclosure of crimes
   
     crime definitions and codes from the
     uniform crime reporting handbook
          Definitions and explanations of common crimes

     sex offense definitions and codes from the
     uniform crime reporting handbook
          Definitions and explanations of Sexual Offenses

     Crime Awareness and Prevention Programs
          Learn how to prevent crime

     Identity Theft
          Learn how to protect yourself against Identity Theft

     Computing and Network Guidelines
          Computing and Network Ethics 
          User Responsibilities 
          Codes of Conduct
          Software, Music, and other Media Files
  
     Understanding Hate Crimes
          Find out the differences and how to report a hate crime

     Sexual Assault and Harassment Policies
          Find out how to report a sexual assault, and learn about Trinity's
          sexual assault awareness, education and resources for victims
          Reporting a Sexual Assault and the Institution’s Response
          Sexual Assault Awareness and Education
          Resources for Victims of Sexual Assault

     Residential Security
          Residential Security

     Buildings and Grounds Security
          Buildings and Grounds Security

     Possession of Use of Alcohol and Controlled
     Substances
          Information regarding the possession and use of alcohol and
          controlled substances

The Department of Campus Safety

Trinity's Department of Campus Safety coordinates the College's efforts to provide a safe and well-ordered campus. Campus Safety Officers, dispatchers and administrative personnel staff this service-oriented department; their work is supplemented by security personnel at the Ferris Athletic Center. Campus Safety Officers have received formal security or police training, and are also trained in first aid and CPR. They have no formal arrest powers and may carry only defensive equipment, including handcuffs and a pepper-based spray. However, the Campus Safety Department has a close working relationship with the Hartford Police Department and calls for assistance whenever necessary.  A police sub-station, with round the clock staffing, is located two blocks from campus.

The Campus Safety Department also coordinates shuttle and escort services when school is in session. The shuttle service operates on a scheduled campus route and within designated off-campus areas between dusk and 2:00 a.m. on weeknights, and until 3:00 a.m. on weekend nights. Campus Safety Officers provide security escorts during hours of darkness when the shuttle service is not available. Shuttle drivers are equipped with radios and have direct communication with the Campus Safety office.

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Mission and Vision Statement

Mission Statement

The mission of the Campus Safety Department is to provide effectively a safe, secure environment where members of the Trinity community live, study, and work. Campus Safety, through its efforts to solve problems that impact the community’s safety, also seeks to bridge the gaps and establish harmonious relations between the campus and our neighbors.

Vision Statement

The Campus Safety Department is committed to providing professional protection services to our college community. These services will be characterized by fairness, compassion, respect, and inclusiveness, and a commitment to protect the dignity of every person with whom we come in contact.

The Department will be known for its community service orientation and will strive to prevent crime through community involvement. Our efforts will foster a safe living, learning and working environment supportive of the College's goal to foster educational excellence.

We will strive for professionalism and integrity by maintaining high ethical and performance standards. We will encourage technological advances, training, and professional skill development to enhance our effectiveness, to generate respect and to provide the maximum safety for our staff. 

Our Values:

• Respect: We believe in treating others as we would like to be treated, honoring individual dignity, and acknowledging and accepting community diversity.
    
• Integrity: We subscribe to the highest moral and ethical standards of conduct. By being responsible and accountable for our actions we will insure that our behavior builds credibility and respect.
    
• Trust: We believe that in order to provide effective service we must develop and maintain an atmosphere of mutual trust with our community.
    
• Dedication: We believe in committing to our goal of providing a safe living, working, and learning environment to the community of Trinity College.
   
• Professionalism: We believe in delivering a level of service that will reflect the pride that we have in our department and our community.
   
• Education: We believe in educating our students, faculty, and staff about how to take responsibility for their own safety.

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Reporting Crimes or Emergencies

Important Phone Numbers

The Campus Safety Department, located in the basement of 76 Vernon Street, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. From College telephones, including those in the residence halls, the number for both emergency and non-emergency calls is extension 2222. Outside callers must dial 297-2222. Information regarding shuttle and escort services is available by calling extension 3333, or 297-3333 from non-College telephones. Activating any of the 55 yellow emergency call boxes located across campus also makes emergency contact with the Campus Safety Department.

A dispatcher who has radio contact with the Campus Safety Officers receives all calls. The dispatcher is trained to take action appropriate to the circumstances, including sending Campus Safety Officers or other emergency personnel to the location of the complaint or incident.

The 9-1-1 emergency system is also available, but must be preceded by a "9" when dialed from a College phone. Calling 9-1-1 will connect the caller with the Hartford emergency services dispatcher, not the Campus Safety Department. For police non-emergencies, callers are given the Hartford Police's 527-6300 non-emergency number.

All incidents reported to Campus Safety, including those that occur at off-campus locations occupied by recognized student organizations, are documented and recorded in accordance with state and federal requirements. Campus Safety encourages all complainants to report crimes perpetrated against them to the Hartford Police and/or any other appropriate city, state, or federal law enforcement agency. The College coordinates its disclosure and reporting of crime statistics with the Hartford Police Department.

Emergency Call Boxes

Emergency call boxes are located at numerous areas throughout the campus and may be activated by pushing a button. The activated call box will automatically identify the location to the Campus Police and a blue light on top of the call station will flash, indicating an activated alarm. The caller should give the necessary emergency information to the officer and, if possible, remain at the call box until an officer arrives.

Emergency Call Box Locations

Uniform Campus Crime Report

The following information, which covers the 2000, 2001, and 2002 calendar years, conforms in significant part with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting system and is provided in accordance with Connecticut General Statues 10a-55a and United States Public Law 101-542, the "Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990." In 2002, the last calendar year for which complete statistics are available, Trinity College had 753 full-time equivalent employees and 2,053 full-time equivalent students. There were 1,914 students and employees residing in College housing during the year. The table follows guidelines for reporting crimes. The incidents recorded took place on property owned or under the control of the College, or off- campus properties, and in the immediate area surrounding the campus.

See also: Reporting Sexual Assault

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Annual Crime Statistics

The purpose of publishing the Annual Statistics is to educate students, staff, and faculty of the crime risks both on and off the campus.  Most of the incidents with which we are regularly confronted can be classified as crimes of opportunity.  These cases remind us that it is important to secure our personal property and to remain vigilant to our own personal safety. 

This report also includes information about substance abuse on campus.  The abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs plagues colleges and universities across the nation, and Trinity is no exception.  Yet, most Trinity students do not abuse substances and they overwhelmingly reject living in an environment disturbed by those who do.  In accordance with federal and state law and consistent with Trinity's serious academic mission, Trinity strictly enforces the law; this proactive and aggressive stance is reflected in the number of offenses recorded on the next page. 

Please see the charts on the next page for our annual statistics.

Trinity College Three-Year Disclosure of Crimes Reported to Campus Safety and Other Administrative Entities on Campus