Crime Prevention Unit (CPU)

The Office of Crime Prevention was established in October 1996 in conjunction with a federal grant awarded to the UPD. The CPU provides the University community with a vast array of educational programs that enhance the student's college experience. The CPU primarily concentrates within the campus, but travels, upon request, throughout the area giving talks, lectures and presentations to various groups and organizations.

The following is a brief description of the programs offered to the students, faculty, and staff of The University of Southern Mississippi:

Personal Safety

This program is to discuss the various aspects of personal safety and awareness both on and off campus. Participants will be provided with educational materials on personal safety principles.

Operation ID

In this program, officers will assist participants in labeling and recording personal property and valuables that have been brought to campus. The officers use hand engravers for this program.

Drugs, Alcohol and the Law

This program is to discuss various state laws that apply to the campus community. Officers will also discuss the dangers of certain types of drugs. Visual aids will be used during this program to educate students on what certain drugs look like.

Crime Prevention and the Workplace

This program emphasizes key components that are vital to workplace safety. Officers will conduct security surveys of the departments and suggest implementation that might be used to deter crime.

Escort Service

The UPD provides a 24-hour escort service, seven days a week. Escorts are provided upon request to those who have legitimate concerns for their personal safety when moving about campus. Red escort phones are conveniently located throughout the campus. If you need an escort, call 266-5919.

The UPD has strategically placed 22 code blue phones throughout the campus. If you have an emergency, simply press the red button and begin speaking. Upon being activated, these phones will directly dial into the UPD dispatch office, where a patrol unit will be dispatched for assistance.

Campus Security Officers (Night Security)

The University of Southern Mississippi Police Department is responsible for the security of the residence halls. The Campus Security Officer's (CSOs), force consists of eight (13) full-time non-sworn employees. The program is also supplemented by up to fifteen (15) student workers to assist with this responsibility. The CSOs work from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m., every night. CSOs are assigned to a residence hall area with the responsibility of providing services for that hall. In addition to monitoring the residence halls they provide security to the parking lots in their area.

CSOs assist in the enforcement of all residence halls policies as well as university policy. Some of their specific duties include seeing that the visitation policy is adhered to, checking of all doors to see that they are in proper working order and secured, walk through of residence halls in the assigned area, and enforcement of parking rules and regulations on violations that impact emergency access to residence halls. They also assist with campus escorts in their area of responsibility.

Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D)

R.A.D. is a program designed to empower women through self-defense. This program offers education and hands-on techniques that a woman can use as a means of escape during an attack. This program is for women only! The program is free to female dorm residents, and for students who live off campus, there is a $5 fee. UPD currently has four certified R.A.D. instructors. Classes are offered on a regular basis. For dates and times of this program, contact the crime prevention specialist at the UPD.

For more information concerning R.A.D. please contact Lt. Ronnie Dickinson, 601-266-4986.

CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS

Click this link for more information:

http://www.ago.state.ms.us/divisions/crime_victim/billofrights.pdf

IDENTITY THEFT INFO

Identity theft costs society billions of dollars in loss each year. A single instance of identity theft can take years of effort to remove from your credit records and can hurt your credit rating. Identity theft has been connected to terrorist funding and to the aquisition of documents for illegal purposes.

If you believe you have been a victim of identity theft contact the University Police. The Federal Trade Commission maintains a website of resources for identity theft victims.

Federal Trade Commission

USM Crime Stoppers

The Crime Stoppers program allows members of the university to anonymously report criminal activity occurring on campus and to receive a monetary reward of $25-$1,000 for information that leads to an arrest. The Crime Stoppers hotline is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Hot Line Numbers
266-6504 and 266-4986 (all calls are confidential)

Looking for a parking decal, or trying to pay a ticket?

It’s all at the PARKING MANAGEMENT.