NCJ Number
83369
Journal
Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: (May-June 1982) Pages: 17-31
Date Published
1982
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The role of the administration of campus law enforcement services in the overall administration of an institution of higher education is defined.
Abstract
Since the 1960's, the setting of campus law enforcement has changed from one in which the institution exercised a parental role to one in which well-educated, professionally-trained personnel are expected to provide services around the clock. The purpose of the campus law enforcement administrator is to provide, within the structure of higher educational administration, one organization with the responsibility of protecting lives and property in the campus community. The functional goals are to complement the institution's educational mission by providing exemplary responses to situations involving lives and property. Some institutions provide their own law enforcement services, while others contract for such services. The most important factor in a successful program is good professional leadership. The top administrator in any campus security department should have direct access to the president of the institution. Public safety should be regarded as mainly a human function. It should also be recognized that in some emergencies and special cases, the normal hierarchical structure of the organization should be abandoned to form a project organization to resolve the problem. Guidelines on organizing the campus security function and on developing policies and procedures are provided. Tables present the results of a survey of 944 institutions, to which 543 responded. Statements of five institutions' operating philosophies are also included.