While anyone can be a victim of sexual violence, college-aged females between the ages of 18 and 21 are more likely to be victimized than any other group. Sexual violence continues to be a barrier to education, and colleges/universities make it challenging for students to report on campus. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors,…

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Education published revised guidelines for emergency response planning for colleges and universities in the United States. These guidelines reflect the collective work of numerous government intelligence, law enforcement, and preparedness agencies that have taken into account the past successes and failures of…

The question of whether guns should be permitted on college and university campuses in the United States reflects the tension between two competing perspectives. America has both a robust gun culture and an equally robust (if less well known) gun-control culture. The gun culture is as American as apple pie: There may be as many as 300 million…

Everyone at some point has asked the question "Why do bad things happen to good people? Even while asking it, most know that finding an answer to this question is not likely in their future. People's best responsible action, then, is to manage their risks to prevent future bad things from occurring, to the greatest extent possible. Risk…

Objective: The author introduces a template, the Model Policy for the Prevention and Response to Sexual Assault, to assist institutions of higher education to benchmark campus policy compliance with federal laws directed at sexual assault. The author presents a detailed review of policy criteria recommended by the National Institute of Justice.…

Examines techniques for keeping college fitness centers secure while maintaining an inviting atmosphere. Building access control, preventing locker room theft, and suppressing causes for physical violence are discussed. (GR)

Discusses how the problem of racially motivated violence continues to be of pressing concern for racial minorities who attend predominately White colleges. Presents an analysis of some of the factors that contribute to the racial violence on college campuses. Makes recommendations for programs and training to help alleviate this problem. (JS)

This report is in response to a Virginia state legislature mandate of a study of security on the campuses of Virginia public institutions of higher education. The study scope included institutional characteristics, security department characteristics, personnel and training, information about relations on and off campus, needs and concerns of the…

In 1999, the American College Health Association (ACHA) Executive Committee issued a position statement for the Association that addresses acts of violence, bias, and other violations of human rights that have been occurring all too often within or adjacent to college communities. The statement called for all campus health professionals to become…

This booklet is designed for those who want to make the college campus a safer environment for women. Specifically, it provides information to help make public and semi-public places safer and more comfortable for women, focusing on preventing sexual harassment and assault. The booklet introduces the safety audit and explains what the audit is…

A study of campus crime trends from 1974 to 1990 examines the relationships between campus crime and college characteristics. The research drew on merged national databases containing federal crime statistics, community demographic data, and campus characteristics. The results show that campus rates of both violent crime and property crime are…

This report summarizes results of two 1996 surveys of campus safety at public four-year institutions of higher education. Major findings included: (1) liquor law violations and burglary were the most common crimes, averaging 2.5 to 2.8 per 1,000 enrolled students; the incidence of violent crimes was much lower (.1 to .4 per 1,000 students); (2) 58…

A study of campus characteristics and crime rates used an economic theory of criminal choice to develop an explanatory model of campus crime. The model considered combinations of opportunities, incentives, and costs found on college campuses that may affect criminal choice. The components included location, accessibility, deterrents and wealth of…

This book links research on two topics--sexual assault on North American college and university campuses and the role played by male peer support in such assaults. Disputing the notion that college campuses are safe havens from crime, the first chapter defines sexual assault, notes the incidence and prevalence of campus sexual assault, and…