Crime Awareness & Prevention Tips and Information

 

Crime Prevention Tips

  • Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.
  • Remember to lock your vehicle.
  • Do not leave belongings (purse, books, equipment, etc.) unattended.
  • Lock office doors, even if leaving for only a few minutes.
  • Do not lend office or class keys to anyone.

 

Contact Campus Police – Ext. 7911 – if:

  • A student is verbally disruptive, abusive, appears to be emotionally unstable or is acting out of character.
  • A student threatens another.
  • You observe a medical emergency.
  • You observe illegal activity.

 

Rave Guardian Safety App

Rave Guardian, a free mobile app that turns your smartphone into a personal safety device. You can invite friends and family to join your network as “Guardians.”  You can then request one or more of your Guardians to virtually walk with you on or off campus.

The app also has a safety feature that directly connects you to the Forsyth Tech Campus Police in an emergency, as well as the ability to submit an anonymous tip to the Campus Police should you see something suspicious.

The application is available for use by all currently registered Forsyth Tech students and current employees of the college. Subscribers to the application must use a Forsyth Tech email address to login.

  • Download the free Rave Guardian App from Google Play or Apple App Store

 

Preventing Date Rape and Sexual Assault

First, remember that date and acquaintance rape does occur! Most students who are raped or sexually assaulted don’t report it. They fear publicity, blame, disbelief or reprisals – especially if they know their attacker(s). Dates and acquaintances commit most college sexual assaults.

Protect yourself:

  • Know whom you are dating before the date. If this person is somewhat of a stranger, stay in well-populated areas.
  • Avoid those people who ignore you, pretend not to hear you, talk over you or are hostile in disagreement.
  • Avoid those people who stare at the sexual parts of your body and invade your personal space by unwanted touching or making you feel uncomfortable.
  • Let a friend or family member know where you will be on the date and what time you plan to return.
  • Don’t use drugs or alcohol on dates.
  • Clearly communicate your sexual limits to your partner. Say “no” forcefully if pressured for unwanted sex.
  • If “no” doesn’t work, try to get away by running and screaming for help.
  • If you don’t feel safe walking to your vehicle, contact Public Safety or walk with classmates.

Know what to do if you are sexually assaulted:

  • Report the crime to Campus Police or a law enforcement agency.
  • Get medical attention. The physician should collect specimens and make detailed notes about the physical evidence, such as bruises, cuts, torn clothing and traces of semen. You should be tested later for pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.
  • Don’t wash or change clothes – you could destroy evidence.
  • Contact a rape crisis or counseling center.
  • Forsyth Tech prohibits sexual violence or any other criminal offenses against its campus community to include: students, employees and visitors. Victims of any crimes are encouraged to report it to Campus Police or local law enforcement in their jurisdiction.
  • Crimes reported to Campus Police will be fully investigated with additional internal or external assistance, if needed.
  • Definitions:
    • Domestic violence – asserted violent misdemeanor and felony offenses committed by the victim’s current or former spouse, current or former cohabitant, person similarly situated under domestic or family violence law, or anyone else protected under domestic or family violence law.
    • Dating violence – violence by a person who has been in a romantic or intimate relationship with the victim. Whether there was such relationship will be gauged by its length, type, and frequency of interaction.
    • Stalking – a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for her, his or others’ safety, or to suffer substantial emotional distress.
    • Rape – The new definition of rape is: “The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”

 

Self-Defense Classes

  • R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Systems Inc. is a program specifically designed for women who are willing to consider defense as a viable option, in situations where their life is in jeopardy.
  • Rape Aggression Defense means “Defense Against Abduction.”
  • R.A.D. is a program that is designed to help women overcome the effects of sexual harassment and sexual violence by teaching assertiveness, awareness, risk reduction, risk recognition, avoidance and physical defense strategies.
  • The class is approximately nine hours long and includes both instruction and demonstration/practice of basic self-defense techniques.
  • Students will be given an opportunity to do an optional simulation scenario upon completion of the course. We do not certify the students upon completion of the class.
  • If you want to participate in a class, or you have any questions, please contact us via telephone at 336.734.7243 or email Guillermo Vargas at GVARGAS@FORSYTHTECH.EDU. You may also sign up in the Campus Police Office.
  • You will need to include your full name, address, telephone number, email address and if you have a daughter over the age of 16 that you want to participate with you.
  • Keep in mind that class space is limited and there may not be space available. However, we will keep your contact information on file and as we schedule more classes, we will try to get to everyone. If you are chosen to participate in a class, you will receive a confirmation letter either by mail or email.

 

Important Guidelines When Reporting a Crime or Incident on Campus

Listed below is important information that will assist you here at the college and in your everyday activities when reporting information to law enforcement:

  1. Location of Incident – exact location if known, building, room number, parking lot, direction of travel, etc.
  2. What is the emergency or purpose for assistance – medical assistance problem of the victim, conscious or not etc., suspicious person/package, vehicle unlock, motorist assistance, etc. Public Safety/law enforcement need to know what the incident or problem is so we can act/respond accordingly.
  3. Description of an individual – race, gender, approximate height, approximate weight, clothing, special features (ex. moustache, bald head, accent, any distinguishing feature that will help identify someone).
  4. Description of a vehicle – make, model, color, tag number, and distinguishing feature that will help identify the vehicle (ex. stickers, missing hubcap, loud muffler, etc.).
  5. Campus Police/Law Enforcement response – officer(s) arriving at the scene of emergency/incident need certain information. If there is a suspect in an incident, the officer(s) need information described above, 1 – 4. This information can then be passed onto other Public Safety personnel/other law enforcement agencies to assist in the locating process.
  6. Reporting person/caller response – It is very important that steps 1 – 4 are followed. Public Safety at times will need to speak with the individual reporting an emergency/incident or the individual who actually observed what happened. Often there will be a report that will be completed by the officer(s), and the information needed for the report has to come from the reporting person or an actual witness. Second-hand information, at times, may help, but information gets distorted after being passed from person-to-person. It is also very important to report the emergency/incident immediately and not wait until you exit campus or wait days/weeks later.

The goal of the Forsyth Technical Community College Campus Police Department is to provide service, safety and security to the entire college community.

 

Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act Of 1990/Clery Act

In accordance with the Campus Security/Clery Act, U.S. Public Law 101-542, the following information is submitted for Forsyth Technical Community College.

  • The Campus Security/Clery Act was amended in 2000 to require schools beginning in 2003 to notify the campus community about where public “Megan’s Law” information about registered sex offenders on campus could be obtained.
  • This information can be obtained at the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations website at: http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. Go to the North Carolina Sex Offender & Public Protection Registry and follow the listed instructions.
  • If there are any questions, please contact the Forsyth Technical Community College Campus Police Department.

 

Annual Crime Reports/Statistics

Daily Crime Logs