Timely Warning Policy

The Campus Crime Alert ("Alert") is provided to give students, faculty and staff timely notification of crimes that may present a threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness. In general, criminal suspects are unknown to the victims. However, in the instance of a violent crime occurring between two individuals who know each other, University Police will look at each instance to determine if the suspect poses a continued threat to the campus community and issue a warning where necessary. The Alert also seeks information that may lead to arrest and conviction of the offender when violent crimes against persons or major crimes against property have been reported to the police.

Ohio State University Police are responsible for a Campus Crime Alert when a crime is reported to or brought to the attention of the Ohio State University Police, and that crime represents a threat to the safety of members of the campus community. Information for alerts also comes from other law enforcement agencies or other offices. Every attempt will be made to distribute the Alert within 12 hours of the time the incident is reported; however, the release is subject to the availability of accurate facts concerning the incident. Alerts are distributed to on-campus offices, residence halls and libraries, off-campus businesses, on- and off-campus postings and the Internet.

Timely Warning Procedure

Ohio State University Police Department will prepare a Campus Crime Alert whenever a report is received of a violent crime against a person or a particularly threatening crime against property on campus that represents an ongoing danger to the safety of students, faculty and staff. Alerts are sequentially numbered, beginning January 1 of each year, and provide details of the crime, a description of the suspect if known, information on whom to contact about the investigation, and often crime prevention tips.

Campus Crime Alerts will be widely distributed throughout campus, provided to campus media, posted on the Public Safety web site and, to the extent possible, posted in off-campus areas frequented by students, and e-mailed as quickly as possible to building coordinators and select university offices.

Whenever the City of Columbus Police issue a news release about an off-campus crime that represents an ongoing threat to the safety of students, faculty, and staff, the university will assist in publicizing the crime on campus.

Information included in Campus Crime Alerts:

1. A succinct statement of the incident.
2. Possible connection to previous incidents, if applicable.
3. Physical description of the suspect.
4. Composite drawing of the suspect, if available.
5. Date and time the bulletin was released.
6. Other relevant and important information.