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RAND researchers created this tool to advance efforts to prevent and reduce intentional, interpersonal firearm violence and public mass attacks in the United States. The goal of this tool is to provide practical strategies and guidance on deterring, mitigating, and responding to mass attacks for a variety of audiences, including public safety experts, practitioners, policymakers, community groups… (read more)

Recognized as CSHEMA's 2023 Marketing Single Media Award for a Small School, this video outlines the "Avoid, Deny, Defend" survival method, a national model that SMU has adopted to educate our campus. The tactics shown in this video are the result of in-depth, after-action lessons learned through partnerships with law enforcement agencies, individuals and institutions who have been involved in… (read more)

As follow-up to some of its forums, the National Center for Campus Public Safety (NCCPS) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Law Enforcement Executives and Administrators (HBCU-LEEAs) partnered to examine whether and how HBCU campuses have implemented the recommendations in three reports. On July 16, 2019, a group of campus safety leaders gathered in Atlanta, Georgia to provide… (read more)

As follow-up to some of its forums, the National Center for Campus Public Safety (NCCPS) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Law Enforcement Executives and Administrators (HBCU-LEEAs) partnered to examine whether and how HBCU campuses have implemented the recommendations in three reports. On July 16, 2019, a group of campus safety leaders gathered in Atlanta, Georgia to provide… (read more)

This report aims to describe what police chiefs and other experts are currently identifying as best approaches to addressing cybercrime. On September 10, 2013, PERF held an executive-level Summit for law enforcement practitioners on the local police response to cybercrime. Participants in the PERF Summit described the evolving nature of the cybercrime threat, including how nearly every type of… (read more)

Firefighters respond to an average of 3,810 fires in college residence halls and Greek housing each year. Since 2000, campus fires have resulted in 122 fatalities and millions of dollars in property damage. According to FEMA, the vast majority of these fires could have been prevented through awareness and education. If a college student's most recent fire prevention training was learning to stop… (read more)

In 2011, the United States adopted the Strategy for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States (Strategy) and a corresponding Strategic Implementation Plan. The overall goal of the Strategy is to prevent violent extremists and their supporters from inspiring, radicalizing, financing, or recruiting individuals or groups in the United States to commit acts of… (read more)

This free, online, and interactive guide raises awareness about unique nightlife challenges faced by college communities. It provides additional background and a collection of case studies and promising practices.

SchoolShooters.info is a compendium of documents relating to a wide range of active shooter incidents in educational settings. The purpose of this site is to help prevent school shootings and to provide insight into the perpetrators of large-scale school violence. The information and materials on this site are relevant for professionals in education, mental health, and law enforcement, as well as… (read more)

This guide is based upon a decade of research and collection of common practices among police departments throughout the world. It summarizes the results of several interviews with police and civilian practitioners involved in nightlife public safety and policing; a survey of participants from the Responsible Hospitality Institute's (RHI) Leadership Summits to identify operational tactics and… (read more)

This white paper is intended to offer high-level guidance to law enforcement agencies on how to assess unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations within their jurisdictions and suggest actions to interdict and mitigate unauthorized, illegal or risky operations. This publication also presents an overview of, and addresses concerns about, the proliferation of small UAS throughout U.S. communities.

This book documents Virginia Tech's experience in developing and implementing a behavioral threat assessment process in the time following the campus shootings on April 16, 2007. In the course of building its behavioral threat assessment capacity, Virginia Tech created considerable documentation to support its Threat Assessment Team and related efforts. This documentation, which appears in… (read more)

SAFECOM helps the public safety community and local, tribal, state, and federal policy makers address critical elements for success as they plan and implement interoperability solutions. SAFECOM developed the Interoperability Continuum that visually depicts the core facets of interoperability according to the stated needs and challenges of the public safety community and aids the efforts of… (read more)

This document presents general information about the role, structure, and operations of governing bodies charged with improving communications interoperability at the local, regional, tribal, or state level. Material and information presented in this document should be viewed as general guidance that individual communities should consider in establishing interoperability-related governance that… (read more)

In 2014, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) released the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) with the emphasis on enhancing decision-making, coordination, and planning for emergency communications through strong governance structures. The Emergency Communications Governance Guide for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Officials (… (read more)

The Governance Guide serves as a comprehensive tool that provides recommendations and best practices for emergency communications officials at all levels of government to establish, assess, and update governance structures that represent all emergency communications capabilities (Land Mobile Radio [LMR], broadband, 911/Next Generation 911 [NG911], alerts and warnings). Developed with direct input… (read more)

Each day, schools and school districts are responsible for providing a safe and healthy learning environment for students. Understanding how to design and maintain school buildings is an important part of supporting that environment. Mitigation, or the capabilities necessary to eliminate or reduce the loss of life and property damage by lessening the impact of an emergency, is just one way… (read more)

This searchable document provides access to articles from the National Center for Campus Public Safety's electronic bulletin, the Weekly Snapshot. The directory contains article dates, titles, and summaries as well as links to the full content. First released in July 2014, the Weekly Snapshot is regularly published each Wednesday. With… (read more)

In July 2018 a group of campus safety leaders, with support from the National Center for Campus Public Safety (NCCPS), gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, to discuss campus safety's role and strategies for preventing violence in college and university communities. Key discussion topics centered around identifying what campus safety departments can do to prevent violence among their students,… (read more)

In July 2018 a group of campus safety leaders, with support from the National Center for Campus Public Safety (NCCPS), gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, to discuss campus safety's role and strategies for preventing violence in college and university communities. Key discussion topics centered around identifying what campus safety departments can do to prevent violence among their students,… (read more)

In this webinar, Monte McKee, Phil Ramer, and Jennifer Skinner, senior research associates at the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR), present on the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative (NSI) and the importance of recognizing and reporting suspicious activity to prevent violence targeting educational facilities. The NSI is a joint collaborative effort by the U.S.… (read more)

This webinar explores the role and impact of social media on campus safety and security. Specifically, Dr. Margolis discusses how the proliferation of social media has changed the way students, faculty and staff communicate and the unique challenges this creates for those charged with the safety and security of college campuses including police, campus public safety, counseling services,… (read more)

The number of institutions of higher education (IHEs) that operate in states where marijuana use is now legal or decriminalized is expanding, and those changes are creating new challenges for campus safety officials at IHEs across the United States. In particular, IHEs in many states, regardless of marijuana's legal status there, are finding it necessary to change how they detect and manage drug… (read more)

The number of institutions of higher education (IHEs) that operate in states where marijuana use is now legal or decriminalized is expanding, and those changes are creating new challenges for campus safety officials at IHEs across the United States. In particular, IHEs in many states, regardless of marijuana's legal status there, are finding it necessary to change how they detect and manage drug… (read more)

In this presentation, Dr. Gary J. Margolis founder and CEO of Social Sentinel, Inc., co-founder and director of Margolis Healy, and former University of Vermont police chief – discusses alerts to threats shared socially and bringing the digital conversation into your campus safety operations. In October 2016, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) raised concerns with the largest social media… (read more)

From the Civil Rights movement of the 50s and 60s to today's Black Lives Matter movement, students and faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have been at the vanguard of social reforms that change America. This powerful and enduring legacy was on the minds of the HBCU participants attending a national forum, and it prompted the following question: Are protests and… (read more)

From the Civil Rights movement of the 50s and 60s to today's Black Lives Matter movement, students and faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have been at the vanguard of social reforms that change America. This powerful and enduring legacy was on the minds of the HBCU participants attending a national forum, and it prompted the following question: Are protests and… (read more)

Learn from Louisiana State Police Investigator Amy Juneau and Lieutenant Angela Banta from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office about the world's fastest growing crime, human trafficking. This webinar presentation provides participants with an understanding of what human trafficking is and what indicators to look for in their area, signs to look for to identify possible victims of human… (read more)

Learn from Louisiana State Police Investigator Amy Juneau and Lieutenant Angela Banta from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office about the world's fastest growing crime, human trafficking. This webinar presentation provides participants with an understanding of what human trafficking is and what indicators to look for in their area, signs to look for to identify possible victims of human… (read more)

The challenge for many is understanding what social media is and how it impacts safety in an educational setting. This guide intends to help those interested in the safety and security of a school district, college, or university with insight into the use and impact of social media. The guide provides information on social media and its uses in an educational setting, as well as the benefits and… (read more)

The National Center for Campus Public Safety convened a daylong forum to facilitate thoughtful conversations about preventing criminal victimization of international students attending U.S. institutions of higher education. Participants represented campuses across the country and included university and college chiefs of police and international student administrators. Representatives from the… (read more)

The National Center for Campus Public Safety convened a daylong forum to facilitate thoughtful conversations about preventing criminal victimization of international students attending U.S. institutions of higher education. Participants represented campuses across the country and included university and college chiefs of police and international student administrators. Representatives from the… (read more)

Ongoing communication between public safety and other officials is paramount to help address the challenges and increasing need for supportive and effective mental health services for college and university students with differing mental health needs. Partnerships with off-campus providers can augment campus-based services that may help provide a larger mental health network that will benefit… (read more)

Following the tragic shooting at Umpqua Community College in 2015, the Oregon Campus Safety Work Group (OCSWG) was formed to identify resource needs and potential state policies that enable a coordinated strategy across the higher education system for public and private institutions; as well as analyze promising practices and protocols that can be shared across all post-secondary education… (read more)

The goal of this report is to reveal the factors that are leading to the unnecessary fire deaths of college students. This study provides comprehensive information about campus fire fatalities to college and university fire and safety officials along with the local fire and emergency service organizations that serve these institutions so they can better plan to reduce and prevent injuries and… (read more)

This document is a tool to aid colleges and universities in developing awareness of various issues and concerns relating to students in institutions of higher education and in developing or revising policies, protocols and procedures suitable to your unique environment. Making decisions about students who may be distressed, suicidal, or threatening to others can be difficult on many levels. An… (read more)

Over the course of several months in 2016, the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the Police Foundation jointly examined federal law enforcement's role in addressing violent crime in major cities. The examination included input from local law enforcement executives; a review of agency documentation and research literature on effective violence reduction approaches; and an analysis of federal… (read more)

The Police Foundation and Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police have developed this guide to illustrate the challenges for law enforcement in Colorado. This guide is designed to summarize the numerous challenges faced by law enforcement when enforcing the laws surrounding legalization, to document solutions that have been proposed and put into effect, and outline problems that still need… (read more)

This National Consensus Policy on Use of Force is a collaborative effort among 11 law enforcement leadership and labor organizations in the United States (see back panel for list). The purpose of this policy is to provide law enforcement officers with guidelines for the use of less-lethal and deadly force. This document is intended to serve as a template for law enforcement agencies to compare… (read more)

The Strangulation Toolkit provides detailed guidance on assessment techniques, documentation, and evidence collection for this patient population. This toolkit also provides documents such as discharge instructions and sample policies that can be adjusted to best suit your institution and your forensic practice. While this Strangulation Toolkit was developed for use by forensic nurses and health… (read more)

This analysis cutting tool, provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) of the U.S. Department of Education, was designed to provide rapid customized reports for public inquiries relating to campus crime and fire data. The data are drawn from the OPE Campus Safety and Security Statistics website database to which crime statistics and fire statistics (as of the 2010 data collection)… (read more)

This analysis cutting tool, provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) of the U.S. Department of Education, was designed to provide rapid customized reports for public inquiries relating to campus crime and fire data. The data are drawn from the OPE Campus Safety and Security Statistics website database to which crime statistics and fire statistics (as of the 2010 data collection)… (read more)

This fact sheet provides information on understanding school violence, why it's a public health problem, how it affects health, who is at risk, and how to prevent it. There are also school violence resources included.

According to 2016 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, most Americans live in urban areas, with approximately one in five people living in rural areas. Urban areas are also home to 68% of the nation's 7,000+ institutions of higher education (IHEs). Denser populations, space constraints, infrastructure issues, and other characteristics common in urban areas are all factors affecting safety and… (read more)

According to 2016 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, most Americans live in urban areas, with approximately one in five people living in rural areas. Urban areas are also home to 68% of the nation's 7,000+ institutions of higher education (IHEs). Denser populations, space constraints, infrastructure issues, and other characteristics common in urban areas are all factors affecting safety and… (read more)

Given the increasing number and consistency of active shooter incidents, thousands of first responders, including police/law enforcement, campus public safety officials, and security officers, have undertaken active shooter or active threat trainings. These trainings evolve as best practices are updated to reflect new information that emerges from incidents. Anecdotal evidence suggests that… (read more)

"In July 2016, President Obama held a town hall meeting to discuss race and policing in the U.S. The meeting recognized that the national climate surrounding police shootings involving people of color and the retaliation against law enforcement had escalated to a point where leadership was needed. Many police chiefs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) also recognized that… (read more)

"In July 2016, President Obama held a town hall meeting to discuss race and policing in the U.S. The meeting recognized that the national climate surrounding police shootings involving people of color and the retaliation against law enforcement had escalated to a point where leadership was needed. Many police chiefs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) also recognized that… (read more)

In this webinar Ryan Snow, M.Ed., a police officer for the University of Illinois Police Department and founder and lead instructor of Prevention Leaders, Inc., discusses the legalization of marijuana and the current challenges facing institutions of higher education. This presentation explores the changing landscape of college and university campuses as a result of the legalization of cannabis,… (read more)