Policy & Procedure

Timely Warnings

In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the Director of Public Safety, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide “timely warning” will be issued. The warning will be issued through the college e-mail system to students, faculty, staff, and the campus’ student newspaper, The Vanguard.

Depending on the particular circumstances of the crime, especially in all situations that could pose immediate threat to the community and individuals, the Public Safety Office may also post a notice on the campus-wide electronic Community Alert board on the Campus Public Safety Office website, providing the university community with more immediate notification. The Community Alert board is immediately accessible via computer by all faculty, staff, and students. Anyone with information warranting a timely warning should report the circumstances to the Public Safety Office, by phone 503-725-4407 or in person at the dispatch center within the Public Safety Office, 1939 SW Broadway.

The Annual Disclosure of Crime Statistics Policy

The Public Safety Office prepares this report to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. This report is prepared in cooperation with the local law enforcement agencies surrounding our main campus and alternate sites, Residential Life, the Judicial Affairs Officer, the Office of Business Affairs, and the Office of Student Affairs. Each entity provides updated information on their educational efforts and programs to comply with the Act.

Campus crime, arrest and referral statistics include those reported to the Campus Public Safety, Portland Police Bureau, designated University Officials (including but not limited to directors, deans, department heads, designated staff, judicial affairs, advisors to student/staff organizations, athletic coaches), and local law enforcement agencies. These statistics may also include crimes that have occurred in private residences or business and is not required by law.

Oregon law (ORS ) requires prompt, mandatory reporting to the local law enforcement agency by health care practitioners (such as those at Student Health and Counseling Services) when they provide medical services to a person they know or reasonably suspect is suffering from wounds inflicted by a firearm or is a result of assaultive or abusive conduct. The Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) staff informs their clients of the procedures to report crime to the Public Safety Office on a voluntary or confidential basis, should they feel it is in their best interest of the client. A procedure is in place to anonymously capture crime statistics disclosed confidentially during such a session.

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 notification with their paycheck. Copies of the report may also be obtained at the Public Safety Office located at 1939 SW Broadway or by calling 503-725-4407. All prospective employees may obtain a copy from the Human Resource Center at the University Service Building located at 617 SW Montgomery, RM 302 or call 503-725-4926

Reporting Criminal Offenses

To report a crime, contact the Public Safety Office at 503-725-4407 (non-emergency) or 503-725-4404 (emergency), or by using the Blue Light/Red phones located throughout the campus. Any suspicious activity or person(s) seen that makes you feel uncomfortable or can not be explained should be reported to the Public Safety Office, whom have received training in evaluating situations. In addition you may contact the following departments, who can assist you:

For off campus options, you may contact us or any of the listed departments above, as well as the Portland Police (9-911). The Public Safety Office and the Portland Police Bureau have a mutual aid and working agreement. Each department augments the other within their jurisdictions during mutual investigations, arrest, and prosecutions. The Public Safety Office personnel attend meetings with local law enforcement agencies to exchange ideas and problems which may be a concern for the University community.

Confidential Reporting Procedures

If you are the victim of a crime and do not want to pursue action within the University System or the criminal justice system, you may still want to consider making a confidential report. With your permission, the Public Safety Office or a University Official can file a report on the details of the incident without revealing your identity. The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter confidential, while taking steps to ensure the future safety of yourself and others. With such information, the University can keep accurate records of the number of incidents involving students, determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method, or assailant, and alert the campus community to potential danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crimes statistics for the institution.

Access Policy

During business hours, the College (excluding certain housing facilities) will be open to students, parents, employees, contractors, guests, and invitees. During non business hours access to all College facilities is by key, if issued, or by admittance via the Public Safety Office. In the case of periods of extended closing, the College will admit only those with prior written approval to all facilities.

Residence halls are secured 24 hours a day. Over extended breaks, the doors of all halls will be secured around the clock, and will be equipped with a lock separate from the regular key issued to resident students. Some facilities may have individual hours, which may vary at different times of the year. Examples are the Physical Education Learning Center, the Library and the SMSU Building. In these cases, the facilities will be secured according to schedules developed by the department responsible for the facility. Emergencies may necessitate changes or alterations to any posted schedules. Areas that are revealed as problematic have security surveys conducted of them. These surveys examine security issues such as landscaping, locks, alarms, lighting, and communications.

Campus Public Safety Authority & Jurisdiction

Campus Public Safety Officers have complete police authority to apprehend and arrest anyone involved in illegal acts on-campus and areas immediately adjacent to the campus. If minor offenses involving University rules and regulations are committed by a University student, the Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO) may also refer the individual to the disciplinary division of Student Affairs.

Major offenses such as rape, murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and auto theft are reported to the local police and joint investigative efforts with investigators from CPSO and the city police are deployed to solve these serious felony crimes. The prosecution of all criminal offenses, both felony and misdemeanor, are conducted at Municipal, General Sessions, or Federal Court of Multnomah County.

Campus Public Safety personnel work closely with local, state, and federal police agencies and have direct radio communication with the City Police Department on the city police radio network. The Campus Public Safety Office is also a part of the Multnomah County 911 Emergency System.

By mutual agreement with state and federal agencies, The Campus Public Safety Office maintains an NLETS terminal (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Network). Through this system police personnel can access the National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) system as well as the Portland Police Data System (PPDS). These computer databases are used for accessing criminal history data, nationwide police records, driver/vehicle identification information, as well as other local, state and federal law enforcement information.

Per agreement with the Portland Police Bureau, the Campus Public Safety Office jurisdiction extends west bounded by Thirteenth Ave, east to Fourth Ave, south to the I-405 Freeway, and north to Market Street. Any University owned or leased property in outlying areas is patrolled jointly by both University and City Police.

Through coordination with local law enforcement agencies, any criminal activity engaged in by students at off-campus locations of student organizations, is monitored and recorded. This information is provided to the Dean of Students for any action or follow-up that may be required.

General Procedures for Reporting a Crime or Emergency

Community members, students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to report all crimes and public safety related incidents to the Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO) in a timely manner. This publication focuses on CPSO because it patrols the majority of the Portland State University campus.

To report a crime or an emergency on the Portland State University campus, call CPSO at extension 5-4404 or, from outside the University phone system, 503-725-4404. To report a non-emergency security or public safety related matter, call CPSO at extension 5-4407 or, from outside the University phone system, 503-725-4407.

Dispatchers are available at these respective telephone numbers 24 hours a day to answer your call.

In response to a call, Public Safety Dispatchers will take the required action, dispatching an officer or asking the victim to report to CPSO to file an incident report.

All CPSO incident reports are forwarded to the Office of Student Affairs for review and potential action by the Office of Student Judicial Services. Public Safety Officers will investigate a report when it is deemed appropriate. Additional information obtained via the investigation will also be forwarded to the Office of Student Judicial Services.

If assistance is required from the Portland Police Bureau or the Portland Fire Bureau, CPSO will contact the appropriate unit. If a sexual assault or rape should occur, staff on the scene, including CPSO, will offer the victim a wide variety of services. PSU has trained members who are available to assist a victim 24 hours a day.

This publication contains information about on-campus and off campus resources. That information is made available to provide PSU community members with specific information about the resources that are available in the event that they become the victim of a crime. The information about “resources” is not provided to infer that those resources are “reporting entities" for Portland State University.

Crimes should be reported to the Public Safety Office to ensure inclusion in the annual crime statistics and to aid in providing timely warning notices to the community, when appropriate.

Counselor Policy

As a result of the negotiated rule making process which followed the signing into law, the 1998 amendments to 20 U.S.C. Section 1092 (f), clarification was given to those considered to be campus security authorities. Campus “Pastoral Counselors” and Campus “Professional Counselors”, when acting as such, are not considered to be a campus security authority and are not required to report crimes for inclusion into the annual disclosure of crime statistics. As a matter of policy, they are encouraged, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform persons being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis for inclusion into the annual crime statistics.

The rulemaking committee defines counselors as follows:

Pastoral Counselor

An employee of an institution who is associated with a religious order or denomination, recognized by that religious order or denomination as someone who provides confidential counseling and who is functioning within the scope of that recognition as a pastoral counselor.

Professional Counselor

An employee of an institution whose official responsibilities include providing psychological counseling to members of the institution’s community and who is functioning within the scope of his or her license or certification.

Security Awareness Programs

During orientation, students are informed of services offered by the Public Safety Office. Presentations are given to inform students on ways to maintain personal safety and residence hall security. Students are told about crime on-campus and in surrounding neighbor-hoods. Similar information is presented to new employees. Crime Prevention Programs and Sexual Assault Prevention Programs are offered on a continual basis.

Periodically during the academic year Public Safety, in cooperation with other university organizations and departments, present crime prevention awareness sessions on sexual assault (rape and acquaintance rape), theft, and vandalism, as well as educational sessions on personal safety and residence hall security.

A common theme of all awareness and crime prevention programs is to encourage students and employees to be aware of their responsibility for their own security and the security of others.

In addition to seminars, information is disseminated to students and employees through crime prevention awareness packets, security alert posters, displays, and articles and advertisements in university and student newspapers.

When time is of the essence, information is released to the university community through security alerts posted prominently throughout campus, through computer memos sent over the university's electronic mail system and a voice mail broadcasting system.

Crime Prevention Programs

Crime Prevention Programs on personal safety and theft prevention are sponsored by various campus organizations throughout the year. Public Safety Office facilitate programs for student, parent, faculty, and new employee orientations, student organizations, community organizations, in addition to quarterly programs for Housing Services Resident Advisers and residents providing a variety of educational strategies and tips on how to protect themselves from sexual assault, theft and other crimes.

Tip: To enhance personal safety, and especially after an evening class, walk with friends or someone from class that you know well, or call the Public Safety Office for an escort at 503-725-4407.

Off-Campus Criminal Activity Policy

When a Portland State University student is involved in an off-campus offense, police officers may assist with the investigation in cooperation with local, state, or federal law enforcement. Portland police routinely work and communicate with campus officers on any serious incidents occurring on-campus or in the immediate neighborhood and business areas surrounding campus. Portland State University operates no off-campus housing or off-campus student organization facilities. However, many graduate students and some undergraduate students live in the neighborhoods surrounding Portland State University. While Portland police have primary jurisdiction in all areas off campus, Public Safety officers can and do respond to student-related incidents that occur in close proximity to campus. Public Safety officers have direct radio communications with the city police, fire department, and ambulance services to facilitate rapid response in any emergency situation.

Alcohol Beverage Policy

The possession, sale or the furnishing of alcohol on the University campus is governed by PSU Alcohol Policy and Oregon state law. Laws regarding the possession, sale, consumption or furnishing of alcohol is controlled by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). However, the enforcement of alcohol laws on-campus is the primary responsibility of the Public Safety Office. The Portland State University campus has been designated “Drug free” and only under certain circumstances is the consumption of alcohol permitted. The possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any controlled substance is illegal under both state and federal laws. Such laws are strictly enforced by the Public Safety Office. Violators are subject to University disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fine and imprisonment. It is unlawful to sell, furnish or provide alcohol to a person under the age of 21. The possession of alcohol by anyone under 21 years of age in a public place or a place open to the public is illegal. It is also a violation of the PSU Alcohol Policy for anyone to consume or possess alcohol in any public or private area of campus without prior University approval. Organizations or groups violating alcohol/substance policies or laws may be subject to sanctions by the University.

Illegal Drug Policy

The Portland State University campus has been designated “Drug free” and only under certain circumstances is the consumption of alcohol permitted. The possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any controlled substance is illegal under both state and federal laws. Such laws are strictly enforced by the Public Safety Office. Violators are subject to University disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fine and imprisonment.

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Information

Prevention Programs

The University has developed a program to prevent the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees. The program provides services related to drug use and abuse including dissemination of informational materials, educational programs, counseling services, referrals and university disciplinary actions.

Student Health and Counseling Services (SHAC) provides an overall coordination of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program. However, many services are the responsibility of other areas of the institution. These include:

Alcohol and Drug Education: Student Health & Counseling Services, Employee Assistance Program, and the Public Safety Office.

Counseling Services: Student Development Counselors, Student Health & Counseling Services, and Employee Assistance Program.

Referral Services: Student Development Counselors, Student Health & Counseling Services, Employee Assistance Program, Public Safety Office, and Ombuds.

University Disciplinary Actions: Faculty/Student Judicial Review Committee. Director of Student Development, the Office of Student Affairs.

Local, State & Federal Legal Sanctions
Legal Sanctions – Laws Governing Alcohol

The State of Oregon sets 21 as the minimum age to purchase or possess any alcoholic beverage. Specific ordinances regarding violations of alcohol laws, including driving while intoxicated, are available from the Public Safety Office. Effective January 1, 1990, a package of state laws was passed regarding alcohol. They include the following:

1. Minor in possession – any attempt to purchase by a person under 21 years is a violation (up to $250 fine).
2. Providing liquor to a minor – Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year in prison and a fine, plus restitution and community service).
3. Mandatory minimums: 1st conviction is $350; 2nd conviction is $1,000; 3rd or subsequent conviction is $1,000 and 30 days imprisonment.
4. For the purposes of the Oregon DUII statutes, for a person under 21 years of age, any amount of alcohol in the blood constitutes being under the influence of intoxicating liquor (Class A misdemeanor: penalty of up to 1 year and $2,500 fine, and suspension or revocation of driving privileges).

A violation of any law regarding alcohol is also a violation of the University's Student Code of Conduct and will be treated as a separate disciplinary matter by the University.

Please refer to Student Health & Counseling Service's Alcohol-Drug Guide at their website.

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response

The University educates the student community about sexual assaults and date rape through orientations each fall. The Public Safety Office (CPSO) offers sexual assault education and information programs to University students and employees upon request. Literature on date rape education, risk reduction, and University response is available not only through the Public Safety Office, but also through other offices; i.e., the Office of Residence Life, Women’s Resource Center (WRC), Student Health & Counseling Services (SHAC)

If you are a victim of a sexual assault at this institution, your first priority should be to get to a place of safety. You should then obtain necessary medical treatment. The Public Safety Office strongly advocates that a victim of sexual assault report the incident in a timely manner. Time is a critical factor for evidence collection and preservation. An assault should be reported directly to a Public Safety Officer and/or to any university official.

Filing a police report with Public Safety will not obligate the victim to prosecute, nor will it subject the victim to scrutiny or judgmental opinions from officers. Filing a police report will

• Ensure that a victim of sexual assault receives the necessary medical treatment and tests, at no expense to the victim
• Provide the opportunity for collection of evidence helpful in prosecution, which cannot be obtained later (ideally a victim of sexual assault should not wash, douche, use the toilet, or change clothing prior to a medical/legal exam)
• Assure the victim has access to free confidential counseling from counselors specifically trained in the area of sexual assault crisis intervention.

When a sexual assault victim contacts the Public Safety Office, the Portland Police Sex Crimes Unit will be notified as well. A representative from the Office of Residence Life will also be notified. The victim of asexual assault may choose for the investigation to be pursued through the criminal justice system and the University Conduct Council, or only the latter. A University representative from the Public Safety Office or staff from the Women’s Resource Center will guide the victim through the available options and support the victim in his or her decision. Various counseling options are available from the University through SHAC, WRC, University Ministries, and Employee Assistance. Counseling and support services outside the University system can be obtained through various resources, such as the Portland Woman’s Crisis Line, Sexual Assault Resource Network. Please refer to the Women’s Resource Center’s website for other Community Resources.

University disciplinary proceedings, as well as special guidelines for cases involving sexual misconduct, are detailed in the Student Handbook. The Handbook provides, in part, that the accused and the victim will each be allowed to choose one person who has had no formal legal training to accompany them throughout the hearing. Both the victim and accused will be informed of the outcome of the hearing. A student found guilty of violating the University sexual misconduct policy could be criminally prosecuted in the state courts and may be suspended or expelled from the University for the first offense. Student victims have the option to change their academic and/or on-campus living situations after an alleged sexual assault, if such changes are reasonably available.

Sexual Offender Registration

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act (CSCPA) of 2000, which became law October 28, 2000, but which delayed certain provisions until October 28, 2002, amends the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act. CSCPA provides special requirements relating to registration and community notification for sex offenders who are enrolled in or work at institutions of higher education. In addition to the Wetterling Act, CSCPA also amended the Clery Act, an annual crime reporting law, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to allow the disclosure of this information regarding students. As provided in the Wetterling Act, any person required to register under a state sex offender registration program must notify the state regarding each institution of higher education in the State of which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student and must also alert the state of any change in enrollment or employment status. Oregon law was amended in 2005 (HB 2299) to make these requirements effective January 1, 2006.

Under state law, sex offender information can be obtained through local law enforcement agencies and the Oregon State Police through its sex offender registration information line at (503) 378-3720 extension 4429. Requestors can access sex offender information by name, address, zip code or county. Persons seeking information about registered sex offenders residing within a specific geographic area may contact the Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registration Unit in Salem , OR by phone at (503) 378-3720 ext. 4429. The requestor will be asked to provide the zip code(s) of the area for which they are seeking the names of registered offenders. A list of all registered sex offenders residing within this specific zip code area will be mailed to the requestor within two weeks. If the requestor desires to check on the status of an individual by name, they will need to call the Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registration Unit at (503) 378-3720 ext. 4415. A search of the name provided will be conducted and the caller will be provided with available information.

Another law passed in 2005 (HB 3486) mandates the posting of predatory sex offenders and sexually violent dangerous offenders to a public internet site. The site is available through the Oregon State Police website, http://egov.oregon.gov/osp/ Questions can be e-mailed to sexoffender.questions@state.or.us or made by calling the above noted phone number.

Additional sex offender information can be obtained from Multnomah County Parole and Probation at http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dcj/acjsoffendersup.shtml

The Portland Maps website has Sex Offender locations available, their website is http://www.portlandmaps.com

Inclement Weather

Every employee is personally responsible for verifying weather conditions and the University's operational status prior to coming to work. Conditions can be ascertained at:

• PSU Web page at www.pdx.edu
• Calling your voice mail at 503-725-5600.
• Call the PSU switchboard voice mail at 503-725-3000.
• Listen to or watch media announcements.

When the University closes due to inclement weather, all scheduled performances, meetings or other events are cancelled unless a specific exception is obtained in accordance with University procedure.

When inclement weather requires closure or curtailment of operations after the workday has begun, notification will normally be made by 2 p.m. through an appropriate vice president, provost, or dean.