G18.1.3 Public Safety Advisories
Chapter: Chapter 18: Other Orders
Sub-Chapter: 18.1 - Other Orders
Effective Date: 05/08/2018
Revised Date: 09/25/2024
Rescinds: G18.1.3 – 2/16/2022
Purpose
To provide the Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) with guidance for issuing a Public Safety Advisory (PSA) to the campus community.
General Order
The IUPD may issue a PSA to the campus community for any non-Clery crimes, crimes which occur outside of Clery geography, or any situation where it is determined there is a serious or continuing threat to students and employees but does not qualify for the issuance of an emergency alert as described in G17.1.4 Emergency Notifications.
Public Safety Advisories
Public Safety Advisories may be issued if the IUPD has determined that the incident represents a serious or continuing threat to students and employees but does not rise to the level of an immediate threat to the health or safety of the campus community. Final determination on whether to issue a PSA will be made by the superintendent for public safety or their designee in consultation with the director for compliance and others as appropriate.
Public Safety Advisories may be issued under any of the following circumstances:
- reported crimes that do not meet the definition of Clery crime (as defined in G16.3.2 Timely Warnings);
- reported crimes that occur outside of Clery geography (as defined in G16.3.2 Timely Warnings); or
- any other safety concerns that may not involve criminal activity.
Situations in which a crime not meeting the definition of a Clery crime may be considered a serious or continuing threat include, but are not limited to, the following factors depending on the specific circumstances of the incident:
- The suspect or their whereabouts are unknown.
- The nature of the crime.
- The nature and level of the threat.
- There is a pattern of activity the same or similar to the reported crime. This may include incidents that have been reported just outside Clery geography.
- The situation does not appear to be an isolated incident.
Public Safety Advisories should be issued as soon as pertinent information is available. Public Safety Advisories are written, issued, and sent by the IU Public Safety’s director for compliance or their designee in consultation with other members of the IUPD or IU Public Safety. The campus Notification Decision Group (NDG) may also provide advice and input. The composition of the NDG for each campus is described in G16.3.2 Timely Warnings. A PSA will typically include any of the following information as applicable, unless issuing any of this information would compromise law enforcement efforts to investigate and/or solve the crime or would identify the victim:
- Reported offense and/or brief description of the incident
- Date and time or timeframe of reported incident
- Location of offense
- Suspect description if there is sufficient detail that would provide a meaningful description and assist in the identification of the suspect
- Information that will promote safety and potentially aid in the prevention of similar crimes (crime prevention or safety tips)
- IUPD contact information
- Other information as appropriate
Law enforcement efforts will be considered when drafting the PSA. Information that would compromise these efforts will be avoided. Public Safety Advisories that are issued for crimes will be provided to students and employees in a manner that the identity of victims remains confidential, and that will aid in the prevention of similar occurrences though inclusion of relevant safety information. The names of victims will never be included in a PSA.
The PSA draft may be reviewed by the NDG for content and accuracy prior to distribution. The Office of the President may have final review and approval for all PSAs.
Public Safety Advisories may be distributed to members of the campus community in a variety of methods including, but not limited to social media, flyers, or email.
Related Information
Indiana University Police Department
- G16.3.2 Timely Warnings