NCJ Number
47310
Journal
JOURNAL OF SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AND PRIVATE POLICE Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 30-36
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CAMPUS POLICE FORCES ARE DESCRIBED, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS FOR THESE OFFICERS ARE ASSESSED.
Abstract
THE CAMPUS SECURITY LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELD IS NOT CLEARLY DEFINED. SOME OFFICERS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE SPECIAL STATE OR MUNICIPAL POLICE, WHILE OTHERS ARE DEFINED AS SPECIAL DEPUTY SHERIFFS, AND STILL OTHERS ARE CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY OR CONTRACT IN NATURE. THREE-FOURTHS OF ALL CAMPUS SECURITY FORCES HAVE FULL POLICE POWERS; THE REST HAVE PARTIAL POWERS OR NONE AT ALL. THEIR DUTIES ARE THE SAME AS THOSE OF REGULAR POLICE FORCES AND PRIVATE SECURITY FORCES. SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT CAMPUS SECURITY FORCES SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME ON PROPERTY PROTECTION, KEY CONTROL, SAFETY, AND TRAFFIC REGULATION AND CONTROL; VERY FEW FORCES HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES. THEREFORE, CAMPUS SECURITY FORCES ARE ORIENTED MORE TOWARD SECURITY THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THESE OFFICERS ARE TRAINED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMIES, SO THEY RECEIVE LITTLE OR NO INSTRUCTION IN SPECIAL PROBLEMS RELATING TO CAMPUS CRIMES AND SECURITY. THE ONLY TYPE OF TRAINING RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO CAMPUS SECURITY IS USUALLY AN ON-THE-JOB PROGRAM PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE DUTIES OF THE CAMPUS POLICE, AND THEY RATE THE POLICE PRESTIGE LOWER THAN THAT OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. LARGER COLLEGES REQUIRE MORE EDUCATION FOR THEIR POLICE THAN SMALLER COLLEGES. MOST OF THE COLLEGE-EDUCATED CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS HAVE DEGREES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE, A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE HIGH TURNOVER RATE. AFTER RECEIVING A DEGREE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE CAMPUS POLICE OFFICER FEELS READY TO JOIN A 'REAL' POLICE FORCE, OR ELSE IS UNSATISFIED WITH THE SECURITY IMAGE. SECURITY EDUCATION IN COLLEGES MIGHT ELIMINATE THIS STEREOTYPE AND PROMOTE AN IMAGE OF A SECURITY PROFESSIONAL. WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECURITY DEGREE PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITIES, CAMPUS SECURITY OFFICERS COULD ENROLL IN BOTH SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CLASSES. THE SECURITY CURRICULUMS SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE COURSES IN CAMPUS SECURITY AND TRAINING WORKSHOPS. (BAC)