Crime Reporting Policies

Reporting Policies

1. The Security Office, located in Wiecking Center (V/TTY 389-2111) is the office to which all criminal reports should be made. Violence, assault and other criminal offenses have no place at Minnesota State Mankato. To enhance safety and ensure compliance with federal and state legislation, all University faculty and staff, including student employees, are required to notify a Campus Security Authority of campus crimes and also acts or threats of workplace violence that are reported to them in their role as an employee of the University. Students and visitors are encouraged to report immediately any and all potentially criminal activity to the Security Office and/or the Mankato Department of Public Safety. Individuals reporting to Minnesota State Mankato who also wish to file a complaint with the Mankato Department of Public Safety will be provided with assistance from Minnesota State Mankato upon request.
2. Minnesota State Mankato will issue an annual report of criminal reports made to Security and other law enforcement agencies for crimes occurring on university property or facilities. The annual report includes reported crimes alleged to have occurred on the campus and facilities owned or rented by Minnesota State Mankato and/or recognized student organizations and public property immediately surrounding the university. It includes the following reports of crime:
   1. Murder:
   2. Sex offenses:
      1. Forcible;
         1. Forcible rape;
         2. Forcible sodomy;
         3. Sexual assault with object;
         4. Forcible fondling.
      2. Non-Forcible:
         1. Incest;
         2. Statutory rape.
   3. Robbery;
   4. Aggravated Assault;
   5. Burglary;
   6. Motor Vehicle Theft;
   7. Non-negligent and negligent manslaughter;
   8. Arson;
   9. Any of the above crimes as well as larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation, damage to property, evidencing hate

      The report also includes arrests and violations referred to campus adjudication for the following:

   10. Liquor law violations;
   11. Drug abuse violations;
   12. Weapons possession
3. The Director of Security serves as the primary liaison for Security with all law enforcement agencies.
4. When reports are made, the Director of Security or designee will decide if a threat continues to exist to the campus community. If a threat continues to exist, a warning will be sent out informing the campus community. Such notification may include postings on bulletin boards, electronic mail, the Personal Safety Hotline (389-2594), Security Web page, and media releases.

Reporting Procedures

1. All criminal activity occurring on campus should be reported immediately to Security (222 Wiecking Center or V/TTY 389-2111) and/or to the Mankato Department of Public Safety. Security will assist the complainant in completing criminal reports. These reports will also be forwarded to the Mankato Department of Public Safety. Reports involving college students and visitor misconduct will also be shared with the Director of Student Conduct in the Office of Student Affairs. Reports involving suspected employee misconduct will be forwarded to the employee's supervisor and the Office of Human Resources. Security will assist the Mankato Department of Public Safety with investigations.
2. Every effort should be made to ensure that physical evidence is maintained and protected. Immediately reporting incidents will assist in preserving physical evidence.
3. If you are a victim of a crime or witness a crime:
   1. Call Security (V/TTY 389-2111) or the Mankato Department of Public Safety (911) for any emergency including medical assistance, fires, suspicious people or activities, crime reports, traffic accidents, or other illegal activities;
   2. Obtain a description of the offender(s), including sex, age, race, hair, clothing, and other distinguishable features. Attempt to obtain a description and license number of any vehicle involved. Note the direction taken by offenders or vehicles and report those to Security or the police;
   3. Preserve the crime scene. Do not touch any items involved in the incident. Close off the area of the incident and do not allow anyone in the crime area until Security and/or police arrive.
4. Security will accept third-party reports in cases of sexual assault in order to protect the victim's identity.
5. All employees, faculty or staff who become aware of an allegation of violation of University policy, student code of conduct, civil or criminal law need to report the allegation to their supervisor and Security or a Campus Security Authority. The following positions have been designated as campus security authorities at Minnesota State Mankato: President; Vice Presidents; Student Affairs directors; Support Service directors; coaches; Office of Affirmative Action; Human Resources director; Security Department; faculty and staff who advise student groups. A complete listing of positions with the names of designated officials is available from the Security Department.

   When Minnesota State Mankato employees, including student employees, elicit information from an individual with knowledge of campus crime or workplace violence, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act requires that Minnesota State Mankato staff provide the individual making the disclosure of a campus crime with the following notice:

   • federal and state regulations require Minnesota State Mankato to compile and disclose accurate information on campus crime and workplace violence;
   • all Minnesota State Mankato employees are required to report campus crime and workplace violence to a Campus Security Authority;
   • timely warnings to the campus community aid in crime prevention;
   • criminal acts that are reported to Campus Security Authorities will be immediately reported to Security and law enforcement who will compile statistics.

   These individuals should not attempt to investigate, but should instead report the incident to Security.

6. All persons in the Minnesota State Mankato community are encouraged to assist anyone in reporting alleged criminal activity by contacting Security and/or the Mankato Department of Public Safety, as well as providing assistance in making the report.
7. Student organizations with control of any facility are advised to report safety and security concerns to Security.

University's Response to Reports

1. All allegations will be investigated. These investigations may be made in conjunction with the Mankato Department of Public Safety or the Blue Earth County Sheriff Department, other Law Enforcement agencies, or MnSCU.
2. Reports will be classified in conjunction with the appropriate police agency according to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Definitions.
3. Reports regarding student violations of University policy will be forwarded to the Director of Student Conduct for investigation and appropriate action. Criminal investigation, arrest and prosecution can occur independently, before, during or after the campus disciplinary process.
4. The University will issue a timely warning to members of the campus community in cases of reported murder, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, manslaughter, arson and any hate crimes (manifesting evidence of prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability) of murder, forcible rape or aggravated assault, in cases where the Director of Security (or the Director's designee) determines there is a continuing threat to the University Community. In such cases, warnings may be published through campus bulletins, electronic mail systems, personal safety hotline, residence hall bulletins, Security Web page and media releases.

Emergency Notification

Minnesota State University is committed to safety. For the protection of all members of the University community and to ensure compliance with federal legislation, all students and staff of Minnesota State University, Mankato should immediately notify University Security of any situation or incident on campus that involves a significant emergency or dangerous situation that may involve an imminent or on-going threat to the health and safety of students and/or staff. Security Department can be reached at 507-389-2111.

If an incident is reported, University Security and/or the Mankato Police Department will respond and investigate to determine if the situation does in fact, pose an imminent threat to Minnesota State Mankato campus community. In the event the incident does pose an immediate threat to students and/or staff, University Security will, without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, collaborate with a member of the campus emergency response team to determine the content of the notification. The notification will be transmitted via campus voice-over IP telephone system.

Testing of the campus voice-over IP telephone system is completed monthly. Any deficiencies identified will be addressed immediately. All tests will be documented and reported in the campus annual security report.

The University has various systems in place for further communication with the community. Some or all of these methods of communication may be activated in the event of an immediate threat to the Minnesota State Mankato campus community. These methods of communication include text message system (opt in), network e-mails, emergency web site, scrolling message boards throughout campus and media outlets.

University Security will contact area agencies that have been identified to appropriately respond to emergencies. This can include but is not limited to the Mankato Department of Public Safety, MN State Patrol, MN Valley Tactical Response Team, etc.

Emergency Evacuation

The purpose of evacuation drills is to prepare building occupants for an organized evacuation in case of fire or other emergency. Drills are coordinate through the departments of Environmental Health & Safety for non-residential buildings, and Residential Life for residential buildings. In addition to educating the occupants of each building about the evacuation procedures during the drills, the process also provides the University an opportunity to test the operation of the fire alarm system components or any other tool used during emergency situations.

Reports are prepared by participating departments to identify deficient equipment so that repairs can be made immediately. Recommendations for improvements are also submitted to the appropriate department/offices for consideration.

In the event of an emergency that requires an extended evacuation, occupants should temporarily report to Bresnan Arena; CSU ballroom if Bresnan Arena is the area evacuated.

Additional information regarding the different methods of evacuation can be found on the University emergency preparedness web site.

Residential Missing Students

If a member of the Minnesota State Mankato community has reason to believe that a student who resides in on-campus housing is missing, he or she should immediately notify University Security at 507-389-2111. University Security will generate a missing person report and initiate an investigation. After investigating the missing student report, should University Security determine that the student is missing and has been missing for more than 24 hours, Minnesota State Mankato will notify Mankato Police.

Students residing in on-campus housing have the option to identify confidentially an individual, as their missing person emergency contact, to be contacted in the event the student is determined to be missing for more than 24 hours. If a student has identified a missing person emergency contact, Security will notify the contact no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not an emancipated individual, Minnesota State Mankato will notify the student's parent or legal guardian immediately after University Security has determined that the student has been missing for more than 24 hours.

In the event that a student does not identify a separate missing person contact, the next of kin identified in the University general database will be contacted.

Students residing in on-campus housing who wish to register an emergency missing person contact can do so by calling the Department of Security at 507-389-2111.