The University of Texas at Austin :: Security Awareness and A Drug Free University

REPORTING CRIMINAL ACTIONS
Security Policies and Procedures : CRIMINAL ACTIONS

Policies, procedures and facilities for reporting criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on campus and the University's response to such reports:

a) Policies for preparing the annual disclosure of campus crime statistics: The University coordinates the collection and reporting of crime statistics as specified by federal law. Each year, an e-mail notification is made to all enrolled students that provides the web site to access this report. Faculty and staff receive similar notifications, either by e-mail or through campus mail. Copies of this report may also be obtained from the University of Texas Police Department or the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. All prospective employees may obtain a copy of this report from Human Resource Services. Copies of this report will be provided to others upon request. Agencies involved in the collection of these data include the University of Texas Police Department (UTPD), the Office of the Dean of Students, the Director of Housing and Food Service, designated residence hall and family housing staff, the Director of the University Counseling and Mental Health Center, University Health Services, Human Resource Services, and the Austin Police Department (APD). In addition, UTPD will follow up all reports of criminal activity in areas under its jurisdiction regardless of the source. Campus agencies involved in the collection of crime statistics are provided guidance annually regarding the requirements of federal law, including the categorization of criminal activities and tabulation of the locations involved in reported crimes and arrests. UTPD, through a cooperative arrangement with APD, obtains relevant crime statistics from the APD database, which provides appropriate crime codes, and the nature, dates, times, and the locations of crimes committed within the City of Austin. The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs requests data from the agencies involved in collecting criminal statistics so that the annual report may be updated and disseminated to the campus community, the general public, and the U.S. Secretary of Education. With the exception of certain alcohol-abuse violations that may be referred for handling by residence hall staff or the Dean of Students, campus agencies required to collect crime statistics report all crimes to UTPD.

b) Individuals may report alleged criminal actions (including sex offenses) or emergencies that occur on the campus of The University through any of the following means:

1. Call the University of Texas Police Department (UTPD) at 471-4441 or go to the UTPD station, at 2201 E. Campus Dr.
2. Use an emergency telephone, designated by a blue light on a yellow pole marked "Police Help" in locations throughout campus
3. Dial 911
4. Contact an officer in uniform on patrol or at one of the traffic control stations at any entrance to Inner Campus Dr.
5. Ask any UT supervisor or manager to assist with reporting a crime
6. Students may contact the Dean of Students, the Director of Housing and Food Service, the Director of the Counseling and Mental Health Center, or the Director of University Health Services
7. Employees may contact Human Resource Services

c) The University Police Department will review reports of alleged criminal activity it receives and either dispatch an officer immediately or refer the report for subsequent investigation, depending upon the nature and seriousness of the offense involved. Individuals reporting an alleged crime should attempt to preserve evidence that might prove the crime was committed. All criminal incidents are investigated by UTPD. UTPD responses include, but are not limited to:

1. Immediate response to emergencies through dispatch of one or more officers
2. Investigation of reports in accordance with UTPD procedures
3. Arrest and filing of charges, depending upon the circumstances of the incident
4. Referring alleged offenders to appropriate campus agencies, such as the Dean of Students
5. Issuing "timely warnings" of crimes that represent a threat to the campus community: In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the Chief of University Police, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus-wide “timely warning” will be issued. The warning will be issued through the University group e-mail system to students, faculty, staff and, if deemed appropriate by the Chief of University Police, on the University’s home page and at the UTPD web site at: http://www.utexas.edu/police/alerts/
Depending on the circumstances, other measures may be taken, including but not limited to, use of telephones, intranet Web sites, publications in print media, or broadcasts through commercial television and radio stations.

d) Victims or witnesses wishing to make voluntary reports of criminal activity in confidence may do so by requesting that the agency or person to whom a report is made maintain confidentiality with regard to the identity of the individual making the report. Reports of this nature will be honored to the extent permitted by state law, criminal investigatory requirements, and university judicial process. These confidential reports are counted and disclosed in the crime statistics for the University, but, as with all other crimes included in the annual crime report, no personally-identifiable information is included.