To bolster campus security, college officials should make a greater effort to communicate and share information with other agencies on campus and local authorities outside the school.
That's one of the recommendations contained in a report compiled by the Florida Gubernatorial Task Force for University Campus Safety. Gov. Charlie Crist established the task force in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings. The group conducted six public hearings and took testimony from 83 people.
The report makes 63 recommendations for improving safety and security on Florida's college campuses. Among them:
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Campuses and communities should focus more attention and resources on preventing mental-health issues.
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Each college should ensure that its law enforcement or campus security agency is well-trained, well-equipped and adequately staffed.
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The state university system should work with law-enforcement officials to develop a standard for the minimum amount of officers on a campus and the recommended number of officers per 1,000 campus population.
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Each campus should incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design strategies for any facility upgrade or new construction.
The entire report is on the web at www.dcf.state.fl.us/campusSecurity/docs/finalReport052407.pdf.
