2009 DTS Dallas Clery Act Crime Report
Furnished by DTS Campus Police
This report is furnished annually by the Campus Police Department in compliance with the "Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act."
Our Goal
Dallas Theological Seminary Police, through cooperation with other departments, strives to create a campus environment in which people are safe from physical harm and property is secure, in a manner that is consistent with federal, state, and local laws, as well as seminary regulations. At the same time we strive to ensure a climate conducive to ministry, academic investigation, extracurricular activity, and residential living.
Crime Prevention Through Preparation
Campus Police and/or Campus Security officers are on campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, serving the nearly 2,000 persons who work and study on our urban campus. Dallas Seminary's Campus Police office is located in the Police kiosk which is between the Walvoord Student Center and Turpin Library. Campus Police can be contacted any time of the day or night at (214) 841-3590 or by simply dialing 3590 from any campus phone. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to report criminal actions and other emergencies.
Campus Police staff are full-time seminary employees some of whom are students or alumni. Personnel are either security officers holding commissions through the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau, or police officers holding licenses through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.
A representative from Campus Police speaks to new students at their orientation to advise them of potential dangers. Campus Police maintains a literature rack in the Student Center stocked with crime prevention materials. Campus Police continually reviews and replaces items in this high traffic area.
Campus Police submits articles to the Kerygma in an attempt to keep crime awareness at a proper level. Campus Police officers assist in the training of resident assistants and they also speak to dormitory students each semester to make them aware of the special risks of living in the immediate area. Campus Police remind students, staff, and faculty that as individuals they are ultimately responsible for their own actions, and therefore their own security.
Campus Police responds to all reports of suspicious persons or vehicles on the premises. Escorts are provided around the clock for any reason. The campus is unlocked each weekday morning between 6:00 and 7:00 A.M. and promptly secured following evening classes in order to keep out unauthorized persons. Entrance to residential buildings is by key only. Campus Police operates a squad car with high visibility law enforcement accessories. This vehicle is used to patrol the campus and to respond to police and medical emergencies.
Investigation and Enforcement
The Campus Police Department oversees the reporting and investigation of all criminal incidents on the campus and strongly encourages all victims to make timely reports to Campus Police and to the Dallas Police Department. Dallas Seminary Police officers are authorized by law to arrest anyone committing an offense in their presence or view. Persons committing these criminal violations on campus are taken into custody and prosecuted through the criminal justice system.
In the event of a crime that occurs on or near campus that constitutes an ongoing threat to the campus, a timely warning will be issued to the campus community. One or more of the following methods will be used: e-mails to students, faculty and staff; text messages via the Campus Alert System; postings in the Kerygma; postings on the Campus Police website; posting notices in campus buildings and placing notices in campus mailboxes.
Campus Police is responsible to see that all parking regulations are enforced on campus including the issuing of parking permits for all vehicles. They also facilitate Dallas Seminary's compliance with all local, state, and federal laws which have a direct bearing on campus security.
Networking
Campus Police sends copies of crime reports to a limited number of people, depending upon the circumstances. Those who may receive a copy include the president, executive vice president, vice president for business affairs, vice president for student services, director of risk management, director of housing and others as needed to keep them informed of security incidents. Students who engage in criminal activity off-campus are referred to Student Services.
Unsafe and hazardous conditions are reported to the director of Facilities and Plant Operations. That department also works toward the security of the campus by repairing defective lights, doors, locks, gates and widows in a timely manner. We are open to suggestions from all persons and are constantly looking for new ways to improve the safety and security of the people associated with Dallas Seminary.
Crime and Statistics
Dallas Seminary Campus Police work closely with the Dallas Police Department and Baylor Hospital Police Department. These three organizations share information about crime and alert each other to crime trends and suspect information. Together they strive to produce a safer community.
In cooperation and compliance with the Campus Security Act of 1990, Dallas Seminary Police furnishes public crime statistics for the three previous years. These statistics include the occurrence of specific types of crimes that take place on or near campus and can be viewed below. Statistics are also collected from Student Services, Housing and External Studies. The seminary does not currently use any voluntary confidential reporting system in the collection of statistics, and the statistics may or may not involve people associated with the seminary.
Weapons Policy
The possession of any kind of firearm at any school or institution of higher education is a crime according to state law (Texas Penal Code 46.03) and also against seminary regulation. The only exceptions to this law are for authorized law enforcement, police officers and commissioned security officers. Violators are subject to arrest and/or suspension.
Drug and Alcohol Policy
Dallas Seminary is a drug-free and alcohol-free campus. The use, possession, consumption, sale, manufacture, or delivery of illicit drugs and narcotics, including marijuana and drug paraphernalia, is prohibited by law and seminary regulation. Violations may result in arrest and/or suspension from the seminary.
Counseling services for drug and substance abuse are available through the seminary's Counseling Center. In addition, the Counseling Center offers referral services to off-campus rehabilitation programs or to long-term individual therapy sessions if needed. See Dallas Seminary's pamphlet, Drug & Alcohol Health Risks & Sanctions for further information.
Sexual Assault Policy
In the event of a sexual assault victims are strongly encouraged to report the incident and preserve any physical evidence as proof of the assault. It is also recommended that victims seek medical treatment as soon as is reasonably possible. The campus offices authorized to deal with sexual offenses are Student Services and Campus Police, and both will assist the victim if requested. When contacting one of these offices, victims will be given specific information that explains how to bring formal charges against the offender. However, victims should be aware that reporting the incident does not mean that they must make an official police report. Victims of a sex crime are encouraged to take advantage of the services of the Counseling Center. Referrals to other community support services will be made when appropriate. The seminary may change a victim’s academic or living situations if changes are requested and are reasonably available. Campus disciplinary procedures may also be taken against accused individuals, but the accuser and the accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during a disciplinary proceeding, and both will be informed of the outcome of any such proceeding. Upon a final determination, accused individuals may be suspended or permanently dismissed from the seminary.
Registered Sex Offenders
To find information on registered sex offenders see the website for the Texas Department of Public Safety http://records.txdps.state.tx.us/
2008 Crime Statistics
You may print the Crime Report.
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On Campus |
Public Property |
Non-Campus |
2007 Crime Statistics
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On Campus |
Public Property |
Non-Campus |
2006 Crime Statistics
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On Campus |
Public Property |
Non-Campus |
Definitions
On Campus: Any building or property owned or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or in a manner related to, the institution’s educational purposes. This includes our residence facilities.
Public Property: All public property that is within the campus, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. This includes the streets and sidewalks that abut our campus, as well as Exall Park, which is within one mile of the campus.
Non-Campus: Any building or property owned or controlled by an institution that is used in direct support of, or in relation to, the institution’s educational purposes, is frequently used by students, and is not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution. This includes our extension campuses in Atlanta, Austin, Knoxville, San Antonio and Tampa. Our Houston extension campus submits its own annual crime report, which can be viewed on this website.
Contact Us
Dallas Theological Seminary
CAMPUS POLICE
3909 Swiss Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75204
(214) 841-3590 |
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