The Department of Public Safety encourages prompt and accurate reporting of violations of criminal law, the University’s Student Code of Social Conduct, and the Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy to Public Safety. The Department also encourages prompt and accurate reporting of all crimes to the appropriate police agencies when the victim of a crime elects to, or is unable to, make such a report. Public Safety officers respond to on-campus locations as appropriate and are available to take reports at the office.
Violations of Rider’s Student Code of Social Conduct are adjudicated by the appropriate hearing authority as enforced by the Office of Community Standards. Further information is available in the Office of Community Standards. Depending on the nature of the incident involved, prosecution may take place, in accordance with New Jersey criminal law, independent of University action.
All resident students may first confer with their Community Assistants or Community Directors for incidents occurring in the residence halls or Greek houses. This does not preclude the ability to notify and file a report with the Department of Public Safety and/or local police, or to report a violation of the Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy to the Title IX Coordinator or Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
Reporting crimes and other serious incidents
There are various ways in which members of the Rider community and guests can report crimes and other serious incidents:
- A formal complaint report results when an incident report is prepared that includes victim and witness statements and results in an investigation, and if appropriate, the identification of suspects and the filing of campus charges.
Students, faculty and staff can initially report incidents or concerns by calling Public Safety at 609-896-5029 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or stopping by West House where the department is located at the south entrance of campus. They also have the option of reporting online using the Report and Support webpage or via the silent witness form described in item 4 below. The more information that can be provided, the more effective Public Safety can be in its response.
Violations of the University’s Student Code of Social Conduct are adjudicated through the Office of Community Standards. Incidents involving faculty or staff may be referred to Human Resources. Where appropriate, suspects who are not students may be identified as Personas Non Grata, meaning that they are not allowed on University property at any time. - An informational report may be taken when an individual does not wish to pursue formal charges or an investigation but wishes to have an accounting of the incident on file.
- A confidential report may be taken when an individual does not want his or her identity publicly revealed in the reporting of a crime or other serious incident.
- A silent witness form allows individuals to notify the Department anonymously of any crime or other serious incident that occurs on campus.
Campus Security Authorities
Campus Security Authorities who are notified of crimes or other serious incidents are required to notify the Department of Public Safety. Campus Security Authorities are defined as an official of an institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings. An official is defined as any person who has the authority and the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution. Pastoral and professional counselors, if and when they deem appropriate, may inform individuals whom they are counseling of appropriate procedures to report crimes on a voluntary, confidential basis. Pastoral and professional counselors who act outside of their primary role would then be required to adhere to the same reporting requirements as a Campus Security Authority.