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The Weekly Snapshot
Your source for the latest tips, information, and current campus safety resources from the National Center.
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Integrating Crime Victims' Issues Into College and University Curricula
When it comes to the care and support of victims, everyone has a role to play. Campus law enforcement working cooperatively with other university departments and community providers can have significant impact on the appropriate response to victimization. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), funded the University of Massachusetts Lowell, along with other university partners, to develop innovative, multidisciplinary education models that address victimization issues and responses to crime victims. The resulting Integrating Crime Victims' Issues Into College and University Curricula is designed to "broaden college and university students' awareness of crime victims' issues and knowledge of appropriate responses, and to increase the number and diversity of students exposed to and educated in crime victims' issues." Campus public safety officials may find particular interest in the course module on the relationship between law enforcement and victims in the crime reporting process.
With this integrated curricula approach, OVC intends to increase the role of educators and educational institutions in addressing the issues that crime victims face by adding a victim issues component to existing courses and programs, developing new victim-oriented courses and programs, and increasing the availability of victim-oriented field placements. The curricula material was developed by educators from the criminal justice and medical fields, pilot tested with college students, and peer reviewed by education leaders in criminal justice.
The materials may be customized and include the following components:
- Curriculum Kits/Teaching Materials: Nine course modules with class exercises, sample assignments, reading lists, slides and other electronic and media presentations.
- Faculty Involvement: Information on creating a supportive learning environment for students, handling disclosures, and providing appropriate support and referrals.
- Promoting Student Involvement: Materials for increasing student placements in victim services.
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Women in Policing
March is National Women's History Month. The role of women in our campus police and city, state and local law enforcement is a critical one, but research shows women continue to be underrepresented. According to the recently released Campus Law Enforcement Survey findings from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, during the 2011-2012 school year, about one in six sworn campus police officers were women (16.9% in 2004-05 and 17.5% in 2011-12). This number is higher than typical city, county, and state law enforcement numbers. According to the FBI's 2003 Uniform Crime Report (UCR) out of 14,000 agencies surveyed, only 11.4%, or 76,000, police officers employed were female.
While progress has been made in the addition of women to campus police and city, state, and county law enforcement, more needs to be done. In 1998, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) created an ad hoc committee on women in policing and a survey of 800 IACP members "revealedor confirmed critical information regarding the status and future of women in policing."
The IACP survey results confirmed findings that were similar to a survey conducted in 2001 by the National Center for Women and Policing, including that policewomen are underused and undervalued. While more women are achieving higher ranks than ever before, obstacles still remain. These obstacles include the following:
- There are few women in policing, compared to their male counterparts.
- Female officers still face bias from male officers.
- Female officers may face gender discrimination and a so-called "brass ceiling" that inhibits promotion.
- Sexual harassment still occurs in many departments.
- There are few mentoring programs for female officers.
There is also a question of whether or not female police officers would be better equipped to deal with cases of sexual violence, particularly in cases that involve women. "Studies have shown that female police officers believed more strongly (than male officers) in the need to show sympathy and understanding to successfully handle domestic disputes."
Ultimately, women are a vital part of policing, both on campuses and in city, state, and county levels. We should celebrate their contributions and encourage more of their involvement.
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Professional Development Opportunities
Title: Sports and Special Events Incident Management (MGT-404)
Host: Santa Clara Fire Department
Supported by: The University of Southern Mississippi's National Center for Spectator Sports Security and Safety (USM/NCS4) and the Texas Engineering Extension Service's National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC)
Dates: March 24 - 25, 2015
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Fee:
Free
Information and Trainings
Title: Intelligence Writing and Briefing
Host: National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C)
Dates: March 24-26, 2015
Location:
Indianapolis, IN
Fee:
Free
Information and Registration
Title: National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives Conference 20th Anniversary Conference
Host:
University of Connecticut Police Department
Dates: August 5-9, 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Fee:
Registration Fee
Information and Registration
Victim Assistance Training Online (VAT Online) - VAT Online is a web-based basic victim advocacy training program that offers 28 modules to victim service providers and allied professionals in four sections: Basics, Core Competencies and Skills, Crimes, and Special Populations.
Responding to Crime Victims with Disabilities - The National Center for Victims of Crime hosted two national conferences to build the skills of professionals in victim services, disability services, and law enforcement and to strengthen community collaboration to serve victims with disabilities. Materials from the 2011 and 2009 conferences are available in plain text and PDF format. The National Center for Victims of Crime will continue their work in this area at the 2015 National Training Institute.
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This project was supported by Grant No. 2013-MU-BX-K011 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the US Department of Justice.
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