Department of Safety and Security

POLICY FOR REPORTING THE ANNUAL DISCLOSURE OF CRIME STATISTICS

The Department to Safety & Security & Security prepares this report to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Crime Statistics Act. This report is prepared in cooperation with the local law enforcement agencies, and the Office of Student Development. Each entity provides updated information on their educational efforts and programs to comply with the act. A hard copy of the report is available at the Department to Safety & Security & Security (DCSS).

 

CRIME REPORTING PROCEDURES

Community members, students, faculty, staff, visitors and guests are encouraged to report all crimes to DCSS in a timely manner. Hazardous situations involving public safety should also be reported.

To report a crime, call 863-680-4305, for non-emergencies, and from a campus phone ext. 3555 for emergencies. Dispatchers are available 24 hours a day to answer calls.
The safety officers will take the appropriate action which may include: filing an incident report, contacting the local police department for back up if necessary, or contacting the emergency medical services for medical emergencies. Although the DCSS files incident reports, victims of crimes are encouraged to contact the Lakeland Police Department at (863) 834-6900 for follow-up investigations. The DCSS can assist the victim with that process.

Student Life

To review policies, procedures and general student life information, go to www.flsouthern.edu/student_life/. There you will find many links for all your information.

 

REPORTING SEXUAL ASSAULT

Should a sexual assault occur, either on or off campus, the victim or anyone having knowledge of the assault is encouraged to notify local law enforcement and the DCSS (863.680.4305). Victims of sexual assault are also encouraged to seek counseling and mental health services through the Counseling Center (863.680.6236) or its crisis line (863.688.0103). Investigations of sexual assault are handled through the Office of Student Development. The Lakeland Police Department (863.834.6966/ 6900), offers a Victim’s Assistance Program to guide a victim through the reporting process.

Assistance in changing academic or living situations after an alleged assault has occurred is available through the Office of Student Development (863.680.4209).

The DCSS works with the Lakeland Police Department to arrange medical attention and/or evidence collection. Assistance in changing academic or living situations after an alleged sexual assault has occurred is available by calling (863) 680-2406, Office of Student Development.

Should this or any other situation occur that you would like to talk about, contact the Counseling Center help line directly at (863.680.0103). Another community service agency is the Peace River Rape Recovery and Resource Center at (863.413.2707).
Assaults may be reported anonymously. Anonymous reporting alerts the campus community to potential danger and helps in compiling crime statistics. You will not be asked any personal information when making an anonymous report.

Sex Offender Registry

The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act and the Florida Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 mandate that higher education institutions inform their campus communities where information is available concerning registered sexual offenders.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Website http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/search may be used to access all registered sexual offenders in the state of Florida.

 

TIMELY WARNINGS

In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the Director of DCSS, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide “timely warning” will be issued. The warning will be issued through the college email and text messaging system to students, staff, and faculty and placed on the campus hotline.

Here are the directions to sign up:
Go to www.flsouthern.edu, click on the login box in the top right hand corner, then click on the FSC Text Messaging System and you will find the directions.

It’s easy and free, tell your parents sign up as well.