Open Forum MeetingsFebruary 2009
April 2007 – Gunman kills 32 at Virginia Tech University
February 2008 – 5 students killed at Northern Illinois University
Campus Security Commission
April 2007 – Governor Carcieri orders review of campus safety/security procedures
May 2007 – Security officials from RI’s 11 public and private institutions begin meeting to share information and ideas
Summer/Fall 2007 – Several RI institutions upgrade existing emergency alert and notification systems
Campus Security Commission
RI General Assembly introduces legislation that would mandate the arming of campus police at URI, RIC and CCRI
RIBGHE testifies against legislation, asks for time to study the issue
Legislation does not pass out of committee
Campus Security Commission
Campus Security Commission formed and has been meeting since August
Members from URI, RIC, CCRI, State Police, Attorney General’s Office
Recommendation to RIBGHE later this Spring
Campus Security Commission
What circumstances, if any, have changed since the RIBGHE last studied this issue in 2000?
Are any changes substantive enough to recommend that the RIBGHE consider arming campus police at URI, RIC and/or CCRI?
Campus Security Commission
Scope and type of training needed – initial and ongoing
Training costs Cost for purchase & proper storage of
equipment Insurance, legal & human resources issues Certification or accreditation Are non-lethal weapons an option? Faculty, staff & student rights and/or
privacy issues
Campus Security Commission
Feb. 4th - Rhode Island College
Feb. 12th – CCRI/Warwick (interactive teleconference w/other
campuses)
Feb. 17th – URI/Providence
Feb. 25th – URI/Kingston
Campus Security Commission
Brown University has the only armed security force among RI colleges and universities
Brown armed in January 2006; study began in 2002
Campus Security Commission
2000 – Last RIBGHE study re: arming campus police
2002 – URI conducts study re: arming campus police
“Arming University police officers is not prudent at this time; future events may warrant such action.”
Campus Security Commission
Ten-year study 1994-2004
62 violent crimes per 100,000 college students
462 violent crimes per 100,000 Americans overall
Clery Act data indicates that violent crime on campuses has not increased since 2004
Campus Security Commission
Average of 4 student homicides/year 2000-2005
Doubled to 8 homicides in 2006
Rose to 12 in 2007 (not counting 32 killed at VA Tech)
Through 11/08, at least 13 students were killed on their campuses
Campus Security Commission
2004-2005
86% of 4-yr. public institutions had armed campus police officers
91% of institutions with enrollments of 15,000 or more had armed campus police officers
Campus Security Commission
Utah has passed legislation that allows any citizen w/a concealed weapon permit to carry their weapon on campus
Seventeen (17) other states now considering similar legislation (none in New England)
American Association of Colleges & Universities
Campus Security Commission
Between 2001-2005, the 184 colleges in New England made 278 arrests on campus for illegal possession of weapons
Less than 25% of the schools have armed campus police
Office of Postsecondary Education, 2007
Campus Security Commission
CRIME CATEGORY REPORTED 2005
REPORTED 2006
REPORTED 2007
REPORTED
2008
FORCIBLE SEX OFFENCES 4 5 4 5
ROBBERY 0 0 1 2
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT 1 2 2 0
SIMPLE ASSAULT 15 23 15 19
BURGLARY 23 36 22 30
THEFT FROM BUILDING 97 44 61 53
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE 27 45 46 44
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 3 8 7 8
VANDALISM 103 143 116 135
WEAPONS VIOLATION 2 6 3 1
NARCOTICS VIOLATION 62 31 17 6
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION 16 4 1 4
TRESPASSING 11 5 1 4
Campus Security Commission
Individuals wishing to speak must sign up and indicate whether they are “pro” or “con” on the question or arming campus police
We intend to alternate between “pro” and “con” speakers to allow both sides to be heard
Campus Security Commission
Speakers limited to 5 minutes in order to give everyone who wishes to speak time to be heard
Members of the Commission are here to receive input. They will not dialogue or engage in Q&A with speakers
Campus Security Commission
The Commission will not make a decision on this matter today. They will make a recommendation to the Board of Governors later this spring
Additional comments can be directed to the Board of Governors website at www.ribghe.org
Campus Security Commission