State of the Campus – Department of Security Update

Based on campus crime statistics for 1998 and 1999, the Department of Security is proud to announce that Jefferson’s campus has been fortunate to experience a reduction in several of the key crime categories used in law enforcement reporting, and releases the following information:

In the last two years, campus wide, Jefferson has had no homicides, 2 forcible sexual offenses, 5 non-forcible sexual offenses, 5 robberies, 29 assaults, 5 burglaries, 528 thefts and no incidents of arson. Burglary dropped by 100 percent between FY 98 and 99, forced sexual assault dropped from 4 incidents in 1998 to one in 1999, still not acceptable but one crime that is difficult to anticipate and to take preventative measures against. Robbery dropped by 75 percent. Theft, the most persistent problem, has dropped three years in a row. Between 1997 and 1998, theft dropped by 7 percent while between 1998 and 1999 we experienced at 28 percent drop. Assault, however, continued an upward trend, and, between 1998 and 1999, we experienced a 19 percent increase.

Monthly Trend Reports
In 1998, John P. Sullivan, Vice President for Administration, requested that the Security Department begin developing monthly trend reports. Each month, the department develops charts and graphs to show incidents committed on campus. These graphs are broken out by month, day of the month, day of the week, hour of the day and the areas in which they occurred. The Security Department utilizes these reports to “predict” where and when problems will occur and to take proactive approaches against such incidents.

The Security department utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to assist these efforts. For example, closed circuit television cameras are located in strategic areas, and card access in many labs, the residence halls and some building entrances. Based on monthly crime charts, Security maintains aggressive patrols and increased identification card checks. 

Students and employees also benefit from Security Awareness briefings to make them aware of potential problems.

How the Security Department Keeps Crime Down
One of the yardsticks that the department uses to determine the effectiveness of their efforts is to group the various buildings as Hospital or University, and to estimate the numbers of persons utilizing them. To calculate the number of criminal offenses per 100,000 visits.

So, for example, in the Hospital Buildings there were 3,030,928 visits in 1999 and 237 criminal offenses. This indicates that there were 7.8 crimes per 100,000 visits. In 1998 there were 10.4 criminal offenses per 100,000 visits, indicating that there was a 25 percent decrease in criminal activity within Hospital Buildings in 1999.

In the University Buildings, there were 2,063,700 visits in 1999 and 75 criminal incidents, or 3.6 crimes per 200,000 visits by employees, students and visitors. In the previous year, there were 141 incidents or 7.0 incidents per 100,000 visits. Therefore, in 1999 University Buildings experienced a 49 percent decrease in criminal activity.

Calculating residence halls in the same way, in 1999 there were 1.3 crimes per 200 residents down from 2.71 in l998, which represents a 52 percent decrease in criminal activity.

Cooperating Agencies Support Security Department Goals
The Security department maintains close relationships with the Center City Police District, located at 9th and Filbert Streets as well as with the Sixth Police District. The Center City Police District augments the Sixth Police District and has been a rich source of support information, photographs and other pertinent information regarding incidents in Jefferson’s area.

Representatives of the Security Department also attend monthly meetings of the Center City District, which comprises members of area businesses. 

The Security Department enjoys a close affiliation with the PATCO Police Department, with whom they share information. 

The Security Department’s close association with the SEPTA Police Department provides a source of information about problems experienced within their transportation system. 

Safe Corridor Program
Another component of the Department’s overall plan for providing a safe and secure environment for our employees and students is the “safe corridor” program. Initiated in 1994, the Security Department began deploying Security Officers to strategic perimeter points around campus at specific times. These “safe corridors” provide an added measure of safety and security for our employees and students traveling to and from the Hospital or University.

Strategy Pays Off
As a result of this strategy, the Security Department has been pleased to report a decrease in crime for each of the last three calendar years. Using technologies and proven law-enforcement techniques, the Security Department works to sustain the trend of decreasing crime in and around the expanding and increasingly populated University and Hospital complex. For more information, call 955-6245.

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