Crime Reporting & Prevention

Crime Reporting & Prevention

Phoenix College enjoys good relations with its neighbors and maintains a highly visible College Police Department that provides for the safety of the campus community. However, no community can be totally risk free in today’s society. To lessen the chances of crimes occurring within the campus community, everyone’s cooperation and vigilance is needed. All members of the campus community are encouraged to immediately report all suspected crimes, unusual or suspicious activities, and emergencies to the College Police Department. For additional information on campus crime, go to the Clery Center for Security on Campus or the US Department of Education's page on Campus Safety & Security.

College Police 1

The College Police Department, under direction of the Director of the College Police, has the responsibility of gathering the data used to prepare the annual campus crime statistics. The data is obtained from reports made to the College Police Department campus security authorities and the college Counseling Department. In the case of the college departments, the data is gathered the same day that it’s reported. Data is obtained annually from the Phoenix Police Department and compared with the data gathered at the college. The resulting data is used to prepare the annual crime statistics report.

Crime Statistics

Statistics and security policies, collated in accordance to the guidelines establish in the Clery Act (20 USC 1092(f)), are published and distributed annually to all current students and employees, and when requested, to any applicant for enrollment or employment at the college. A copy will also be provided to anyone, upon request to the Director of the College Police Department at 602-285-7254.

Crimes and Other Emergencies in Progress

Students, employees and others are encouraged to report all criminal activity and emergencies occurring on campus. A report may be filed with a College Police Officer, appropriate personnel in the College Police Department, or by calling 480.784.0900 or on campus, extension 5-7911. In emergency situations, 9-1-1 may be called first, followed by an immediate notification to the College Police Department at 602.285.7911 or on campus, extension 57911.

In the event of an immediate threat or danger, the appropriate police/fire/medical agency should be contacted by dialing 9-1-1.

Reports of a past crime or incident may be made to any of the following:

  • The College Police Department: In person or by calling 480.784.0900

The importance of Reporting All Crime

The importance of reporting crime, suspected crime or unusual or suspicious activity to the College Police Department cannot be overemphasized. The reports provide a basis for making timely warnings when a crime may present a threat to other members of the campus community and also assist the college in providing a full disclosure in the annual crime statistics report. In addition, such action by a victim or witness will assist in making the campus environment a safer place for the entire community.

Voluntary Confidential Reporting

Phoenix College does not have a policy or procedure that would allow a victim or witness to report crime on a voluntary and confidential basis. However, the College Police Department accepts and investigates all reported incidents, whether or not a victim or witness provides a name or other identifying information.

Confidential Reporting to a Counselor

Generally, when counselors do not have the permission of the victim, they can only report the occurrence of a number/statistic to the law enforcement authority. However, when the counselor deems it appropriate, the person being counseled will be informed of any procedures to report crime on a voluntary, confidential basis for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. All faculty, staff and students are encouraged to report criminal acts and safety hazards or occurrences to the College Police Department. In the event of an immediate threat or danger, the appropriate police/fire/medical agency should be contacted by dialing 9-1-1.

Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter: The willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another.

Negligent Manslaughter: The killing of another person through gross negligence.

Forcible Sex Offenses: Any sexual act (Forcible Rape, Forcible Sodomy, Sexual Assault With An Object, Forcible Fondling) or an attempted sexual act directed against another person, forcibly and/or against that persons will, or not forcibly or against the persons will where the victim is incapable of giving consent.

Non-Forcible Sex Offense: Unlawful non-forcible sexual intercourse (Incest, Statutory Rape).

Robbery: The taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.

Aggravated Assault: An unlawful attack by one person on another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm.

Burglary: The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft.

Arson: Any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc.

Motor Vehicle Theft: The theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle.

Weapons Law Violations: The violations of laws or ordinances dealing with weapons offenses, regulatory in nature, such as: manufacture, sale, or possession of deadly weapons; carrying deadly weapons, concealed or openly; furnishing deadly weapons to minors; aliens possessing deadly weapons; and all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned.

Drug Abuse Violations: Violations of state and local laws relating to the unlawful possession, sale, use, growing, manufacturing, and making of narcotic drugs. The relevant substances include: opium or cocaine and their derivatives (morphine, heroin, codeine); marijuana; synthetic narcotics (Demerol, methadone); and dangerous non-narcotic drugs (barbiturates, Benzedrine).

Liquor Law Violations: The violation of laws or ordinances prohibiting the manufacture, sale, transporting, furnishing, possessing of intoxicating liquor; maintaining unlawful drinking places; bootlegging; operating a still; furnishing liquor to a minor or intemperate person; using a vehicle for illegal transportation of liquor, drinking on a train or public conveyance; and all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned (drunkenness and driving under the influence are not included in this definition).

Crime Awareness/Prevention Bulletin

The occurrence of crime considered to present a threat to members of the campus community, is reported on a timely basis through the “Crime Awareness/Prevention Bulletin.” Copies of the bulletin are posted on bulletin boards throughout the campus, and all college departments are notified through electronic mail. The bulletin provides information on the specific crime(s) that occurred and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Incident/offense Report information

The College Police Department publishes weekly information on all incidents, administrative and criminal, occurring on campus. The information is posted on the bulletin board inside the College Police Department and sent out to all employees by electronic mail. In addition, the CSD maintains a Daily Crime Log that contains the date, time, location, nature and disposition of all crimes occurring at the college and on adjacent public property. Entries in the log are made within two business days of the incident report.

Escort Service

For those on campus after normal hours, an escort service is available to the students, faculty and staff of Phoenix College. A request may be made to the College Police Department at extension 602.285.7254. An officer will respond and accompany you to a vehicle or the bus stop closest to the campus.

Assistance for Disabled Motor Vehicles

Reasonable assistance will be provided to drivers who lock their keys inside of their vehicles and/or whose motor vehicle is disabled on campus. After the driver of the vehicle prepares and signs the appropriate vehicle assistance form, an officer will provide a battery boost or assist with opening the vehicle.

Safety Presentations

Members of the College Police Department provide safety presentations during class orientations. They are also available to talk to any department or groups of students. The orientations and talks are designed to educate members of the college community about the services provided by the College Police Department and how to avoid becoming the victim of a crime at the college.

Reporting a Sexual Assault

Any student, employee or visitor who is the victim of a sex offense, forcible or non-forcible, is encouraged to report the assault to college authorities or the Phoenix Police Department. If a victim so chooses, he/she may be assisted by college authorities in reporting the assault to the proper law enforcement authorities. After making the report, the victim is not obligated to continue with legal or college disciplinary action. The assault may be reported at:

  • The College Police Department or by calling 480-754-0900.
  • A Phoenix Police Department precinct or by calling 602/262-6151.
  • The Office of the Dean of Student Development Services or by calling 602-285-7228.

Preserving Evidence of a Sexual Assault

After a sexual assault, it is very important that the victim receive a medical examination for health and evidentiary reasons. A victim should not wash; use the toilet or change clothes before seeing trained medical personnel. If clothes are changed, those worn during the assault should be placed in a paper bag and taken along to the examination. Even if the victim is certain he/she will not prosecute, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible just in case the victim decides to pursue criminal charges at a later date.

Coping with sexual assault: Victims of a sexual assault may find it helpful to discuss their experience with a counselor. College counselors are available to meet with victims in an informal and private setting. The counselor can assist by changing a victims academic situation, serve as a source of referral to outside agencies, and provide information about on and off campus reporting, prosecution procedures, and the college disciplinary process. College counselors may be contacted by calling 602-285-7392.

Victims of a sexual assault may also receive free, confidential, twenty-four hour, counseling by calling the Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN) at 1-800/656-4673, extension 1. Trained counselors are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

How to reduce the risk of sexual assault (reproduced from the RAINN web pages):

  • When you go to a party, go with a group of friends.
  • Arrive together, watch out for each other, and leave together.
  • Don’t leave your beverage unattended or accept a drink from an open container.
  • Don’t allow yourself to be isolated with someone you don’t know or trust.
  • Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
  • Trust your instincts.
  • Think about the level of intimacy you want in a relationship, and clearly state your limits.

College response to a sexual assault: Sexual assault is a criminal act, which subjects the perpetrator to criminal and civil penalties in state and federal courts. Besides the sanctions that can be imposed in court, Phoenix College will respond administratively if a sexual assault or other criminal offense involves a student or employee as the offender. Students and employees are subject to applicable District policies and disciplinary procedures, including policies prohibiting sexual harassment. Sanctions may include suspension or expulsion for student offenders or termination of employment for employees.

Victims may commence a disciplinary action by submitting a written, signed statement detailing the incident to the Dean of Student Development Services. The accuser and accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during the disciplinary hearing, and in the case of sexual assault, both the accuser and accused shall be informed of the outcome.