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ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

September 1, 1998

 

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte provides its own law enforcement and security services.  The lead agency within the campus organizational structure for both law enforcement and security is the Department of Police and Public Safety.  Other departments within the campus community provide services related to security.  A highly visible security provider for resident students is the Housing and Residence Life Hall Residence Hall Security Guards.  Other campus organizations and agencies provide managers for their own facilities. Part of this management includes supervision of the facility for security purposes.  The University's parking enforcement, housing, library, athletics, food service, vending, and physical plant staffs each have their own two-way radio networks and provide additional eyes and ears for reporting suspicious persons and circumstances to the UNCC Emergency Dispatch Center.

 

All members of the University community are encouraged to report any crime, accident, or suspicious circumstance to the Police and Public Safety Department.  University employees, being employed by the State of North Carolina, are required by North Carolina General Statute 114-15.1 to report certain types of crimes to the Police.

 

All crimes, accidents, and emergencies should be reported to the Department of Police and Public Safety immediately upon their discovery.  UNCC Police can be summoned from any of over 150 campus emergency phones, by dialing 911 from any telephone on the campus, or by calling 704-547-2200. Members of the campus community should know that all campus extensions will be immediately answered by the UNC Charlotte Emergency Dispatch Center.  Individual residence hall room telephones and some pay stations are provided by the University. Southern Bell Telephone Company may provide additional telephones on the campus.  A 911 call from Southern Bell telephones will be routed through the City of Charlotte Enhanced 911 System.  The call can then be transferred back to the UNC Charlotte Emergency Dispatch Center.  The direct dial number for the UNCC Emergency Dispatch Center is 704-547-2200.  The UNCC Emergency Dispatch Center is staffed by Police Telecommunicators who are regular employees of the Department.  The Police Telecommunicators are authorized to dispatch police, fire, or emergency medical services immediately upon receiving a call for help.  A Campus Police Officer will always be sent to the scene of an emergency as the first responder even before Fire or EMS personnel arrive.

 

The Police and Public Safety Department is located in Suite 113 of the King Administration Building.  The UNCC Emergency Dispatch Center is in Suite 100 of the King Administration Building and is open twenty-four hours a day.

 

The Police and Public Safety Department publish a Daily Police Summary each business day.  The purpose of this document is to summarize incident reports created by the Department of Police and Public Safety.  The Daily Police Summary is distributed daily to selected senior campus administrators and to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.  A copy is available for inspection during routine business hours in Room 113, King Building.  In preceding years, the University Times, a student newspaper, have published excerpts from the Daily Police Summary during its regular editions.

 

In the event a serious crime has occurred and the suspect has not been arrested and there is a belief that the campus community could be targeted again, specific messages called CRIME ALERTS are published on an emergency basis. CRIME ALERTS are sent to those members of the University Community likely to be targeted by this particular criminal.  A CRIME ALERT might be distributed to the residents of a particular hall or group of halls or to specific academic offices.  CRIME ALERTS are published through the University's printing services and delivered in Campus Mail. Campus Mail is delivered twice each business day to offices and once each business day to residence halls.  In the event a particular residence hall needed to receive a CRIME ALERT on an immediate basis, posters and the printed message would be posted and hand delivered to each room. In addition, CRIME ALERTS may be broadcast campus wide via voicemail.

 

The Director of Police and Public Safety and the Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs serve as a committee to decide when such a CRIME ALERT is warranted.  Either can order the creation of a CRIME ALERT.   In addition to CRIME ALERTS, the University's Public Information Office can issue a press release and encourage local media attention to a crime story on the campus.  This is done only for the most serious of crimes and when the suspect has not been taken into custody.

 

The UNC Charlotte campus is generally open to the public.  During routine business hours, academic and administrative building exterior doors are unlocked.  Attempts are made to lock these exterior doors after the last scheduled activity.  Police officers are expected to patrol academic and administrative areas.  These foot patrols are irregular; however, officers are available to respond to specific calls for service.  Users of academic and administrative buildings after hours are strongly encouraged to take special personal caution in locking the office doors where they are working.  The person working after hours should be careful when using bathroom and break areas. Escorts out of buildings after hours are available.  Those working late are also encouraged to notify the UNC Charlotte Emergency Dispatch Center of their presence. 

 

Use of facilities is generally restricted to current students, faculty, and staff.  Specific facilities, such as the Library, are also open to community users. Community involvement in arts and athletics is encouraged. 

 

Security in the residence halls is different from the academic and administrative areas of the campus as these are considered living spaces.  Residence Halls with common entrances typically have card access control readers that allow only the residents of the particular building to gain access. The card access system is activated at 8:00 PM each day.  Student Desk Receptionists are scheduled to work in the main lobbies of these buildings during the evening hours.  The lobbies are then staffed by uniformed security guards from 11:00 PM until 7:00 am most of the time.  On occasion, additional guards patrol apartment areas. The Residence Life staff consisting of Student Personnel Professionals,  student resident assistants, maintenance and housekeeping staffs are in and around the halls during business hours.  A Student Personnel Professional is always on call to respond to any crisis that might arise.  Residents of apartment style housing with separate entrances do not have a card access for their doors.  Residence Hall key control policies require that lock cylinder cores be changed immediately upon the report of a lost key.  The type of key used by UNC Charlotte Housing and Residence Life facilities is not readily duplicated in the Charlotte area.  Specific information on each type of residence hall is available from the Housing and Residence Life Office.

 

The Department of Police and Public Safety is a Campus Law Enforcement Agency as defined by North Carolina General Statute 116-40.5.  The Department appoints and employs Campus Police Officers.  These officers have all of the powers of law enforcement officers (this includes the authority to arrest individuals and to carry firearms).  The territorial jurisdiction of a UNC Charlotte Campus Police Officer includes all property owned by or leased to UNC Charlotte and that portion of any public road or highway passing through UNC Charlotte property and immediately adjoining it, wherever located.  A Campus Police Officer may also arrest a person outside his territorial jurisdiction when the person arrested has committed a criminal offense within that territory, and the arrest is made during such person's immediate and continuous flight from that territory.  In addition, UNC Charlotte has the statutory authority to enter into Mutual Aid Agreements with other municipal, county, and campus law enforcement agencies.

 

UNC Charlotte Campus Police Officers meet or exceed all selection, training, and certification requirements for law enforcement officers in North Carolina.

 

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and the UNC Charlotte Department of Police and Public Safety have agreed that the UNC Charlotte Department of Police and Public Safety shall be the lead law enforcement agency for all crimes that occur on the Campus.  The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has agreed to provide support and assistance to UNC Charlotte.  UNC Charlotte will seek assistance for the investigation of any death occurring on the campus.  In addition, UNC Charlotte will seek assistance in investigating crimes that "happen to occur on the campus" meaning that no participant was related to the campus community including the victim of the crime. 

 

The Department of Police and Public Safety operates on a twenty-four hour basis.  Officers are assigned to patrol the campus in cars, on bicycles, and on foot at various times. The number of officers on-duty varies from time to time.  Several police officers will always be scheduled for patrol.  Officers carry pagers and can return to the campus to assist in an emergency.  Departmental policy requires officers to remain on-duty until relieved so the minimum number of officers can be maintained in the event of officer illness.

 

The University Policy Manual has several policy statements related to emergency operations that include what is expected of faculty, staff, students, and the Department of Police and Public Safety.  Among these policies are:

 

                #13          "Campus Operation in Hazardous Weather or During Other Unusual Conditions"

                #17          "Interruption of Classes"

                #21          "Use of University Facilities"

                #24          "The Flags"

                #25          "Violation of University Policy"

                #32          "Weapons on Campus"

                #38          "The Safety and Environmental Health Policy Statement"

                #43          "Animals on Campus"

                #57          "Policy on Alcoholic Beverages"

                #58          "Interference with University Operations"

                #69          "The Privacy of Educational Records"

                #79          "Control of University-owned Equipment"

                #80          "University Response to a Student Death"

                #83          "Hazing Policy"

                #84          "Outdoor, On-campus Activities Policy"

                #85          "Use of "Utility Carts" on Campus"

                #87          "Program to Prevent Use of Illegal Drugs and Alcohol Abuse"

                #91          "Medical Services Policy"

                #96          "Policy on Conduct at Speech Events"

 

Resident students are provided with a Residence Life Handbook and Personal Organizer each year.  In addition to the Housing Contract, this Handbook contains valuable information on security and emergency procedures. The Handbook contains either excerpts or the actual policy statement on many safety and security issues.

 

All students, faculty, and staff members who purchase decals are provided with a brochure on traffic and parking regulations.  In addition, appropriate warning signs are placed in parking and walking areas.

 

All persons are discouraged from walking alone during hours of darkness by both signs and in various crime prevention programs.

 

New students and staff employees are expected to attend orientation programs.  For staff employees, a part of the Orientation Program includes a speaker from the Department of Police and Public Safety and the University Safety Office.  This program is repeated several times each year when the number of new employees justifies the program. 

 

New students of the University may participate in two major orientation programs. S.O.A.R. (Student Orientation Advising and Registration) is a summer program. Trained orientation counselors discuss safety and security issues with incoming students.  A senior representative of the Department of Police and Public Safety addresses parents of incoming students.  Uniformed police officers participate in a Resource Fair for both students and parents.  The frequency of this summer program is dependent on the number of incoming students.  In recent years there have been six summer SOAR programs each year.

 

The other orientation program is called COLLEGE LIFE.  This program coincides with the beginning of the fall semester.  Police and Public Safety officials conduct seminars and participate in the Resource Fair.

 

New resident students are asked to attend a beginning of semester meeting with their Resident Assistant.  Residence Hall policies and general security related issues are among the items scheduled for discussion during this meeting.  The Resident Assistants receive information on a variety of safety and security related issues as part of their training.  Resident Assistants are expected to provide additional programming during the year on a variety of topics.  Safety and Security issues are included in these programming efforts from time to time.  Speakers from both within and outside of the University are often invited to participate.

 

A wide variety of crime prevention materials are available at the Department of Police and Public Safety.  Informative speakers can be arranged for either individual or group discussions about campus crime related issues.

 

The major theme of all UNC Charlotte campus crime prevention programs is that crimes do occur on the UNC Charlotte Campus.  Security on the Campus is a series of perimeters. The UNC Charlotte Police are but one layer of this security perimeter system.  Each individual has the responsibility to take care of himself.  When crimes and accidents occur, the University is prepared to respond through trained and qualified individuals. Relationships with off campus resources are in place to assure that the emergency can be handled in an appropriate manner.

 

UNC Charlotte has participated in the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting System since 1978.  Crimes reported to the UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety Department for the previous four calendar years includes:

 

                                                                        1997        1996        1995        1994

           Murder                                                       0              0              0              0

           Rape/Sexual Offense                                  2              2              0              3

               Forcible                                               (0)           (2)           (0)           (3)

               Non-forcible                                        (2)           (0)           (0)           (0)

           Robbery                                                     1              7              3              3

           Aggravated Assault                                    6              6              2              1

           Burglary                                                   72            63            60            75

           Larceny                                                  287          359          288          327

           Motor Vehicle Theft                                11            11            11              7

           Arson                                                         9              3              1              2

 

There were two reported rapes or sex offenses during 1997.  Both reporting persons were students who lived on campus. In both instances, the victim and the subject knew each other, and the alleged assaults took place in the victim's residence.  In the first case, the District Attorney ruled there was insufficient evidence to successfully prosecute.  In the other case the suspect was the ex-boyfriend of the victim and the victim did not wish to prosecute.  The case was referred to Student Court and the suspect was found responsible at an Administrative Hearing.

 

Not included in the statistics above, were 6 cases of misdemeanor sexual activities. There were 5 cases of Indecent Exposure.  Indecent Exposure may be reported as a sexual offense under some crime reporting definitions.  The other sexual offense was for secretly peeping or "peeping tom".

 

During the calendar year 1997, there were no reports concerning the criminal reports of murder, forcible rape, and aggravated assault, that manifested evidence of prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, as prescribed by the Hate Crimes Statistics Act.

 

 

 

Among the arrests made by the UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety Department were those for the following types of crimes for the years indicated:

 

                                                        1997        1996         1995         1994

           Liquor Laws                        6(25)      2 (16)       0 (10)               3

           Drug Abuse                       20(54)      9 (34)       3 (30)               6

           Weapons Possession         22(36)      4 (14)       8 (20)               8

 

NOTE:   The figures in parenthesis indicate the total number of these types of crime reported to us in 1995, 1996.and 1997. 

 

UNC Charlotte does not attempt to monitor the off campus conduct or behavior of students.  The Code of Student Behavior applies to all University property and at University sponsored activities.  Policies on Hazing and Drug Trafficking are enforced through the Code of Student Life, regardless of the location of the violation.  The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs may also authorize specific prosecution under the Code of Student Life for student behavior at other places if the student conduct has affected or will affect the safety and well being of members of the campus community.  UNC Charlotte students not living on the campus will be served by their local law enforcement agency.  In both Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties, the proper law enforcement agency may be contacted by dialing 911.

 

UNC Charlotte Policy Statement #57 concerns itself with the University's Policy on Alcohol.  The University's policy complies with all aspects of state law.  Alcohol sales on the campus are prohibited.  Only persons 21 years of age and older may possess or consume alcohol on the campus.  A permit system for the use of beer and wine outside of one's individual residence hall room is covered within Policy Statement #57.

 

UNC Charlotte Policy Statement #87 concerns itself with the University's Policy on Illegal Drugs.  The University's policy complies with all aspects of state law.  A series of offenses and sanctions is discussed within the Policy Statement #87.

 

UNC Charlotte maintains a drug and alcohol education program through the Brocker Health Center.  Descriptions of the program and more information are available through the Brocker Health Center.

 

The material below is the narrative portion of the University's brochure on sexual assault prevention and reporting.  The information is considered to be University Policy with regards to this subject.

 

 

 

                                                                SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND REPORTING

 

                                                                                        BASIC PREVENTION TIPS

 

In Your Residence:

 1.       When someone is at your door, ask who is there before you open it, and don't let strangers in.

 2.       Keep doors and windows locked.

 3.       If laundry facilities are secluded, do your laundry with a friend.

 4.       Use your first and middle initial on the mailbox or in the phone book -- avoid the use of Miss, Mrs. or  Ms.

 5.       If you receive an obscene or harassing phone call, hang up.  If repeated, blow a loud whistle into the phone.

 6.       Don't give your name, address or phone number to a stranger on the phone.

 7.       Report any suspicious activities (obscene phone calls, peepers, exhibitionists, threats, attacks, attempted attacks, etc.) to the police.

 8.       Insist on immediate replacement when light bulbs burn out in dark walkways, parking lots and hallways.

 9.       Always keep your residence secure.

10.      Never prop open exterior doors. 

11.      Call the UNC Charlotte Police for escort information.

 

Around the Campus:

 1.       Familiarize yourself with the security services available to you - the escort service provided and the availability of blue light emergency phones.

 2.       Avoid shortcuts through deserted places.

 3.       Don't walk alone at night.

 4.       Don't accept rides from strangers.

 5.       Walk with a friend leaving night class, going down the halls, walking through parking lots, or walking around campus at night.

 6.       Be careful giving your address, phone number or name to someone you don't know or to friends in public places where you might be overheard.

 7.       Use your intuition.  If you sense something suspicious, take appropriate precautions.

 8.       Report any suspicious people or activities you might encounter to campus police or residence hall guards.

 9.       Take self-defense courses that stress physical resistance tactics -- kicking and blocking.

10.      When driving, park in well-lit, well-traveled areas.  Have your keys ready so that you can enter your car quickly.  Ask for an escort to your car if you feel at risk.

11.      Look into your back seat before entering your car; lock the door after you enter.

 

THE AFTERMATH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted (including acquaintance rape, non-forcible rape) you should:

 1.       Go to a safe place.

 2.       Do not wash, douche, brush your teeth, change clothes or even comb your hair.  Do not disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred.  This evidence is extremely important if you decide to prosecute.

 3.       Report the crime to the UNC Charlotte Campus Police or other appropriate law enforcement agency.  Reporting the assault does not mean that you have to prosecute.  You may decide to file an anonymous report, or you may wish to file a confidential report to a counselor or other health professional in the Counseling Center or the Health Center. 

 4.       Campus Police are available 24 hours a day to arrange the following important services:

           a.  Emotional support through the Rape Crises Center, a friend or family member.

           b.  Immediate medical attention and evidence collection at the nearest hospital emergency room.  [If the assault is reported within 72 hours, Rape Victim Assistance will assist with the medical bill.*  You may have injuries you don't know about. They can provide you with information and treatment for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.  A rape victim advocate can be present with you during your examination.] 

           c.  Follow up counseling through the Counseling Center and the Rape Crisis Center.  All cases are handled confidentially. 

 

CAMPUS DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES IN CASES OF ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT

1.        Alleged cases of sexual assault by a student should be reported to the Dean of Students at 217 King Building.  The victim should bring a detailed written statement.

2.        The Assistant Dean of Students for Judicial Programs meets with the victim to decide what course of action needs to follow.  Victims are given several options on how and whether to proceed with the judicial process.

           Those options include:

           a.  The victim requests that charges be filed and an investigation is completed.  If evidence is sufficient, charges are filed against the accused student.  The victim participates as a witness in the judicial hearing.  The victim may also choose to pursue the case criminally as well, and thus, report it to the police;

           b.  The victim files a report and requests that a discussion takes place with the accused student and the Assistant Dean for Judicial Programs.  Information identifying the victim will not be released during this discussion.  No disciplinary charges are filed; or

           c.  The victim files a report and statements are obtained to preserve the evidence in the event that the victim wishes to pursue action in the future.

3.        The accused student is to meet with the Assistant Dean of Students for Judicial Programs and is granted the opportunity to provide a detailed written statements well.  At this time, the accused student may choose to have the incident resolved through an out of court hearing mutual settlement in which the student assumes responsibility for the violations(s) of The Code of Student Responsibility and the appropriate sanction(s); or the student may choose to have a hearing before Student Court or an Administrative Hearing Panel.

4.        Victims of sexual assault, as well as accused students, are given certain assurances within the UNC Charlotte community to ensure the creation of a sensitive environment to ensure the procedural due process rights, respectively.  These assurances include:

           a.  The sharing of the status of the case as it progresses through the judicial process;

           b.  The ability to remain present throughout all portions of the judicial hearing;

           c.  The presence of a person of their choice to serve in supportive role throughout any or all of the steps of the judicial process;

           d.  The sharing of the outcome of the hearing; and

           e.  Information concerning the availability of counseling and medical services.

 

           In addition, the victim is assured exclusion of previous, unrelated sexual behavior from the hearing, freedom from harassment and intimidation on campus, and accommodations within the hearing process to meet the needs of the victim without infringing upon the rights of the accused student.  The accused student is assured information describing both the criminal and campus judicial process and all basic due process rights guaranteed to all accused students.

5.        The Dean of Students will provide assistance in cases of alleged sexual assault if the victim desires changes in academic and living situations.

6.        Possible sanctions for a responsible finding of sexual assault include expulsion or suspension from the University, disciplinary probation, educational sanctions, restitution for loss, and any combination of these.

 

 

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

           1.  Freshman students participate in a Sexual Assault Awareness Workshop during the CollEdgeLife! orientation program prior to the beginning of the Fall Semester.

           2.  Sexual assault awareness and prevention programs are offered in all residence areas and resource personnel and materials are available through the Housing and Residence Life Office, Police and Public Safety Department, the Brocker Health Center, the Counseling Center, and the Dean of Students Office.

 

 For more information about Rape Victim Assistance and Victim Compensation, please contact:

               N.C. Crime Victim's Compensation Commission

               Division of Victim and Justice Services

               N.C. Depart. of Crime Control and Public Safety

 

               P. O. Box 27687

               Raleigh, NC  27611

               1-800-826-6200 or 1-919-733-7974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                             IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

UNC Charlotte Police                                                911,547-2200, (or nearest blue light emergency phone)

Rape Hotline                                                              375-9900      (24 hours)

Victim Assistance                                                      336-2190      (8:30a.m.-5p.m. Monday-Friday)

Counseling Center                                                      547-2105      (8a.m.-5p.m. Monday-Friday)

Dean of Students Office                                             547-2375      (8a.m.-5p.m. Monday-Friday)

Brocker Health Center                                               547-4617      (8a.m.-5p.m. Monday-Friday)

                                                                                                         (1p.m.-5p.m. Saturday-Sunday)

Housing and Residence Life Office                            547-2585      (8a.m.-5p.m. Monday-Friday)

 

 

The following individuals may be contacted for further information concerning security at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte: