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The Weekly Snapshot
Your source for the latest tips, information, and current campus safety resources from the NCCPS.
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Campus Safety Mobile Apps
In recent years, we have seen a rise in the creation of mobile apps designed for safety and security. In combination with the technical abilities of smartphones, the creation and demand for safety apps is growing out of security concerns across the nation in the wake of campus shootings and other safety incidents. According to the
Pearson Student Mobile Device Survey 2015, conducted by Harris Poll, eight in ten (86%) college students regularly use a smartphone, up slightly from 83% in 2014. "Technology-wise, we've learned that if we're going to communicate well with this age group on campus, we've got to be able to use the mechanisms they're addicted to and that they love, and when we do that, we're more successful in getting the message out about safety," said
Anne P. Glavin, chief of police at California State University, Northridge Police Department and past president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
Many colleges and universities are deciding to implement safety and security apps on their campuses for students, and in some cases for faculty and staff as well. Generally, the institution pays a subscription or license fee and the apps are accessible to users as a free download. A majority of the personal safety apps available can be downloaded and used, sometimes at a limited functionality, for free by individuals. If institutions subscribe to certain services additional functionality is available to both the user and the institution. For example, some apps offer a direct connection to campus public safety offices, tip reporting, live GPS location monitoring, or real-time video and audio recording. This information is often saved on a secure server and available, if needed, for criminal investigations.
This emerging mobile technology can be part of a campus's toolbox of responses. There are advantages and disadvantages to using blue light emergency phones, mobile safety apps, and other security technologies. One of the advantages of mobile apps is that students may feel more comfortable with texting or communicating with campus safety and law enforcement officials through the apps instead of calling, which may be an intimidating task.
This comprehensive list of
mobile safety apps includes app descriptions, cost information, supporting devices, and links to more information that may assist individuals and institutions considering the use of mobile safety app technology.
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National Crime Victims' Rights Week
April 10-16, 2016 is
National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW). This important observance creates an opportunity for communities to learn ways for improving victim assistance. The theme for NCVRW 2016 - Serving Victims. Building Trust. Restoring Hope - "underscores the importance of early intervention and victim services in establishing trust with victims, which in turn begins to restore their hope for healing and recovery."
The U.S. Department of Justice,
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is dedicated to a constant improvement in the national response to crime victims by identifying emerging needs and gaps in existing services; enhancing the skill sets of service providers to better meet these needs; and promoting greater public awareness of the issues that crime victims face. Each year, the OVC offers a resource guide containing educational and campaign materials that campuses can use in their outreach efforts. This year's guide highlights how serving victims and building trust restores hope and strengthens communities.
Institutions and organizations may explore the
2016 Resource Guide and use the educational content, campaign materials, and artwork to help inspire communities, raise awareness of victims' rights and issues, and address unmet needs. The guide is also available in
Spanish.
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How Do Foreign Terrorist Attacks Impact Campus Event Planning?
It's been just over two weeks since the terror attacks at the Brussels Airport claimed 32 lives and left more than 300 people injured. Concerns about additional terror attacks are not isolated to Western Europe. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is just one of many federal departments that continues to monitor the global threat level and current ISIS trends and capabilities.
Across the United States, we are moving into spring, which is marked by hundreds of large-scale events such as graduation and championship sport competitions, all of which are possibly seen as soft targets. DHS stresses the importance of campus safety and law enforcement officials, as well as others involved in large-event planning on college and university campuses, being trained on the following:
- Maintaining situational awareness
- Learning suspicious behaviors/indicators of violent extremism
- Identifying explosive device making (what to look for, signs of boiling/distilling, etc.)
- Using appropriate response tactics and options, and being aware of secondary detonations if a violent attack occurs
Overall, DHS recommends increasing security measures for large-scale events and critical infrastructure, which includes a large security presence. Campus public safety officials are advised to reach out and coordinate with special events management coordinators at their
local FBI field office
. Additional assistance can be found by contacting
local fusion centers
and alerting campus community members about the "
If You See Something, Say Something
™"
campaign from DHS. Members of the community, including students, faculty, and local citizens, can learn how to be better prepared for emergencies and disasters of all kinds by joining
Citizen Corps
. Citizen Corps was created after the September 11
th
terror attacks to help coordinate volunteer efforts and increase citizen opportunities to become more involved in supporting local first responders and to help keep their communities safer. Training opportunities are available and can be found on the
Citizen Corps training page
.
A recent research project published by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and administered by Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), provided 14 recommendations for local police agencies on how to more effectively use community policing strategies to prevent violent extremism. The entire report,
The Challenge and Promise of Using Community Policing Strategies to Prevent Violent Extremism
(PDF), is available in our library.
Additional resources available for public safety officials to consider in their event-planning phases include:
- IAVM: The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) represents public assembly venues from around the globe and its members include managers and senior executives from auditoriums, arenas, convention centers, exhibit halls, stadiums, performing arts centers, university complexes, and amphitheaters. After 9/11, IAVM established a training program, the Academy for Venue Safety and Security Academy for Venue Safety and Security. This two-year training is open to members and non-members, and takes place over one week each year for two years. Applications and fees apply. IAVM also produces an annual safety and security report, available for purchase by both members and non-members.
- Infragard: A partnership between the FBI and the private sector that functions as an association of persons who represent businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the U.S.
- NCAA: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) supports efforts to ensure safety at all major college sporting events. The NCAA conducts 90 national championships in 23 sports across Divisions I, II, and III, with 45 championships administered for women and 42 for men. More than 54,000 student-athletes participate in NCAA championships each year. The NCAA published the guide, Best Practices For NCAA Championships Competition Venue Safety and Security (PDF).
- NCS4: The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) supports the advancement of sport safety and security through training, professional development, academic programs, and research. It is a critical resource for sport venue managers, event managers, first responders, and other key stakeholders. NCS4 has a Certified Sport Venue Staff (CSVS) certification available. This two-part credential was designed by industry leading experts for both organizations who have front line staff critical to the safety and security of sport & special events, and for individuals seeking CSVS certification prior to employment.
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| Access our online calendar of events. |
Professional Development Opportunities
Title:
Containing Hazing in Organizations and Team Sports
Hosted by:
NASPA and the VTV Family Outreach Foundation
Date:
April 13, 2016 at 3:00pm Eastern
Location:
Online
Fee:
Registration Fee
Title:
The Koshka Foundation's Run 3.2 for 32
Hosted by:
The Koshka Foundation
Date:
April 16, 2016 at 7:30am Eastern
Location:
Alexandria, VA
Fee:
Registration Fee
Title:
Certified Sport Venue Staff (CSVS) Certification Program Live Demo
Hosted by:
NCS4 and eVerifile
Date:
April 21, 2016 at 10:30am Central
Location:
Online
Fee:
Free
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