
Campus Safety & Security
Southwestern Law School is committed to providing a safe campus environment for students, faculty, staff, residents, and visitors. The law school's security program is supported by numerous individuals on a daily basis; however, the complete success of the program can only be achieved through the cooperation and participation of all members of the law school community. This publication is part of Southwestern's on-going effort to ensure that this collaborative endeavor is effective. Information required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is provided to assist you in establishing personal safety and contributing to a safe campus.
Southwestern is located in the heart of one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the country. A variety of cultural, entertainment, educational, and professional opportunities exist in the area for you to enjoy. To make the most of this dynamic urban environment, it is important to develop your own personal safety awareness. Additionally, by taking a stake in providing a safe environment for learning, teaching, living, and working, you increase your own safety and the safety of those around you. Your involvement in Southwestern’s security program will ensure that the law school campus and residential areas continue to be secure and crime-free.
See also: Emergency Operations Plan
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Campus Security
The Administrative Services Office is responsible for maintaining the campus security program; developing and implementing security policies and procedures; supervising security officers; investigating security incidents; disseminating security-related notices and information; maintaining law school facilities and security equipment; providing educational materials to students, faculty, and staff; and working as a liaison between the law school and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
Southwestern has engaged the services of Allied Universal. Allied Universal security officers are charged with a full range of responsibilities, including protecting students, faculty, staff, law school property, and facilities; reporting crime, medical, fire, and other emergencies; reporting suspicious or criminal activities to the Los Angeles Police Department; and managing all other incidents requiring security officer assistance.
Security officers provide service to the law school 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Officers employ a variety of crime prevention techniques, including area foot patrols, bicycle patrols, and security walks, to ensure campus security. Campus Security operates a 24-hour communications center that coordinates and supports the activities of patrolling officers.
Security officers must pass screening and background checks. Additionally, security supervisors and officers receive training from Allied Universal on crime reporting, incident investigation, evidence gathering, arrest procedures, property surveillance, and responding to campus emergencies such as earthquakes and fires. Security supervisors and designated officers are also cross-trained on emergency medical procedures to ensure effective first aid/CPR response and communication with emergency medical technicians.
Security communications include the use of two-way radios by all security officers. Additionally, officers monitor two-way radio and telephone transmissions in the Security Office on a 24-hour basis to provide information and security service and to coordinate police, fire, and medical emergency response. The Campus Security Office is located on the first floor of the Bullocks Wilshire Building (ext. 5793), and The Residences Security Office is located next to the Leasing Office (ext. 6745).
All security supervisors and officers have civilian powers of arrest. The primary statutory responsibility for law enforcement both on and off the law school campus rests with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) - Olympic Division. However, LAPD cannot provide 24-hour protection to all areas at all times. As a result, Campus Security and LAPD work closely together, handling suspicious situations as well as crime reporting, response, and investigation for the law school and the surrounding neighborhood.
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Facility Access
All parking and building entrances are controlled by a computerized access system and may be entered by using your Southwestern identification card during building operating hours. Different access privileges are provided for residential students.
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Security Systems
Southwestern has exterior lighting along the law school buildings and parking lots to keep the campus well-lit. Perimeter security fencing and closed circuit cameras are located in the parking lots and throughout other campus areas, including The Residences at 7th. Additionally, the Bullocks Wilshire Building has emergency intercoms in the library, restrooms, and parking areas. The Residences at 7th have emergency intercoms at pedestrian and parking entrances and throughout the parking structure.
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Firearms and Weapons
Security officers may carry service revolvers while on duty. These weapons may be used only when there is a serious, imminent, identifiable threat to life or a threat of great bodily harm. No one other than licensed on-duty security officers, on-duty law enforcement officers, and, with prior authorization from Administrative Services, off-duty law enforcement personnel, may carry or possess firearms or other weapons on campus or at any Southwestern sponsored event.
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Law School Access
Southwestern is a private institution. Everyone is required to wear a CDC-compliant face mask at all times while indoors on campus. Acceptable masks do not include a neck gaiter, scarf, ski mask, balaclava, bandana, turtleneck, collar, or single layer of fabric. Face shields are not a replacement for masks but may be worn with a facemask for additional protection. The law library is currently open to the following groups upon presentation of proper identification: current students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The Career Services Office is open to currently enrolled students and recent graduates, by appointment only. The Residences at 7th is open only to residents and their guests, and authorized employees and agents of Southwestern. The remaining law school property and facilities are open only to students, faculty and staff who are currently enrolled or employed. Any other person who enters the campus and refuses to leave upon the request of the Dean or her agents may be guilty of a misdemeanor (Sec. 602 of the Penal Code of the State of California).
VISITOR ACCESS – Administrative Buildings
All campus visitors must check in with Campus Security and show a government issued ID and proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (e.g., 14 days after two shots for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, one shot for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine), before gaining campus access. Individuals who cannot provide both required documents, will not be permitted to enter administrative buildings (Bullocks Wilshire and Westmoreland).
Individuals dropping off food, packages, and mail, prospective students, families of students and prospective students, guests in the Residences, and legal clinic clients are not required to provide proof of vaccination. But they are required to wear a CDC-compliant face mask at all times while indoors on campus. Acceptable masks do not include a neck gaiter, scarf, ski mask, balaclava, bandana, turtleneck, collar, or single layer of fabric. Face shields are not a replacement for masks but may be worn with a facemask for additional protection.
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Safety and Security in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a large, vibrant, diverse, modern city with all the benefits and challenges of urban life. Being in the heart of a major metropolitan area is exciting, providing many cultural, professional, recreational, historical and educational opportunities. However, you also need to be smart about your safety and security. What can you do to protect yourself from crime? Southwestern is committed to protecting you in every way possible; however, you are ultimately responsible for your personal safety. Take time to do some planning and learn how to keep yourself safe. The following are a few helpful hints to keep in mind.
When Walking on the Street:
- Pay attention to your surroundings.
- Avoid walking alone, especially at night.
- Walk with a friend or use the escort service provided by on-campus security.
- Avoid dark streets.
- Walk near the curb and avoid shrubs and dark doorways.
- Have your keys in your hand, so you can open your car or home immediately.
- Keep a tight hold on your bag or purse.
- If a driver asks you for directions, don't get too close to the car.
- If you feel you are being followed, move away fast, change directions or walk into a well-lit public area, store or building.
- Protecting your Property:
- Keep your books, laptop computer or bags with you; don't leave them unattended on campus or other public places.
- Don't leave books, bags or other valuable items visible in your car.
- Do not carry large amounts of cash on you.
- Lock your car or bike.
Security Assistance
There are three safety intercoms/buzzers on each floor of the campus parking structure that are directly connected to campus security, as well as one in every campus restroom area; the parking structure is also monitored by surveillance cameras. Report any incidents on campus by using one of these intercoms or calling one of the campus security numbers.
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Security Services
Many crimes can be prevented. At Southwestern, crime prevention is a partnership between you and the law school. You can prevent crime by making safe behavior part of your daily routine. Southwestern also offers the following services to help keep you safe.
SECURITY WALKS
Security provides Security Walks for the safety of anyone walking alone on campus. Security Walks are available during law school operating hours, seven days a week. To request a Security Walk, contact Campus Security at (213) 738-5793, or go to the Security Office located on the first floors of the Wilshire or Westmoreland Buildings (ext. 5793).
EMERGENCY INTERCOMS
Security intercoms are located throughout the law school campus. Exterior intercoms are located in the parking structures of both the Bullocks Wilshire Building and The Residences at 7thand are identified by a blue light. Interior intercoms are provided throughout the Bullocks Wilshire Building bathrooms and the library. Intercoms are also located in the elevator courts at The Residences at 7th.
LOST AND FOUND
The Administrative Services Office (W100) maintains the law school’s lost and found. Found items are retained in the office for one semester. If you have lost an item, please call (213) 738-6800 or stop by to check if the item was turned in. Items lost in the Law Library are retained at the circulation desk for a period of one semester.
AREA CRIME STATISTICS
Southwestern reviews on-campus and public property crime statistics and provides weekly reports to the law school community via Security Roundup. Additionally, the data is used by Campus Security for daily patrols and in coordination with LAPD.
SECURITY INSPECTIONS
Southwestern inspects campus grounds and buildings to identify and address security and safety needs.
SW-ALERT
Southwestern’s emergency announcement service is available to students, faculty, and staff. It allows the law school to send text messages to participants who have registered their personal cellular telephones. Participation in SW-Alert is voluntary. To sign up, go to: www.swlaw.edu/swalert.
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Reporting Crimes and Emergencies
We encourage every member of the law school community to promptly report to Campus Security and/or LAPD any emergency or crime of which they are the victim or which they may witness either on-campus or in the proximity of the law school. Prompt crime reporting improves the chances of solving a crime. Every minute that passes before the crime is reported decreases the opportunity for Campus Security & LAPD to solve the crime and apprehend the suspect. Additionally, reporting crimes helps prevent them from recurring and allows responsible campus officials to direct security resources and programs to reduce crime and promote security awareness.
Campus Security and the Administrative Services Office respond promptly to any report of criminal activity or campus emergency by conducting an immediate search of the law school campus and surrounding area for suspects and evidence. When a crime is reported, LAPD is called and a security officer is dispatched to the emergency location to take necessary action, conduct a preliminary investigation, prepare a crime report, and relay report information to LAPD for a prompt response.
Students, faculty and staff should use the following procedure whenever reporting actual or potential criminal activity:
Immediately go to a safe place and call Campus Security at (213) 738-5793 or (213) 738-6735 or directly contact the security officer located in the lobby of the Bullocks Wilshire Building.
Call LAPD at 9-1-1.
If assistance is needed, Campus Security or Administrative Services Office will notify LAPD.
As accurately as possible, tell Campus Security or LAPD everything you can remember about the suspect and incident, including:
Location of the incident you are reporting
Suspect description: Descriptive information (sex, age, weight, height, hair color, clothing including color and style, complexion, speech mannerism, accent, and other distinguishing features such as tattoos, scars, or marks)
Suspect escape route and mode of travel
Description of any vehicles involved in the incident, especially license plate number and vehicle color and make and model
All reports will be investigated. Southwestern does not have procedures for voluntary, confidential reporting of crime statistics. Violations of the law will be referred to LAPD. When a potentially dangerous threat to the Southwestern community arises, timely warnings will be issued through email announcements, the posting of flyers, in-class announcements, or other appropriate means.
Anonymous Tip Line (213) 738-5730: Students, faculty and staff may leave any crime tip as to who, what, where, when, why, how much, or with what. You do not need to leave your name or how you came across the information. The crime tip line is monitored by the Administrative Services Office, is completely anonymous, and helps you take an active role in keeping your campus crime-free.
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Security Reports
Southwestern provides timely reporting of crimes occurring either on or near the campus as follows:
Security Roundups: This weekly notice is posted throughout the law school and includes a listing of criminal activity occurring either on-campus or in the area immediately surrounding the law school. This notice is available for public inspection in the Administrative Services Office during regular business hours.
Security Incident Log: The log contains a three-year record of on-campus and public property crimes and includes incident, date, time, location, description, and Campus Security/LAPD response. The log is available for review by students, faculty and staff in the Administrative Services Office.
Timely Warnings
Emergency Security Notification: An emergency notification will be issued via PA system, email, SW-Alert (text messaging) or other method when it is determined that there is a significant dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students, faculty or staff occurring on-campus.
Neighborhood Alert: This flyer is posted in the building lobbies whenever a crime occurs in the area surrounding the campus.
Security Alert: This flyer is posted in the building lobbies whenever suspicious activity or crime occurs on the law school campus.
Additionally, periodic security announcements regarding area crime, security procedures, crime prevention and campus watch alerts are provided through law school memorandum and other printed information in an effort to reduce campus crime.
Anyone with information warranting a timely warning should report the circumstances to the Administrative Services Office, by phone (213) 738-6800 or in person at W100. Information can also be reported to the Campus Security at (213) 738-5793, (213) 738-6735, by email to security@swlaw.edu, or by directly contacting the officer in the Wilshire Building Security Office.
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Monitoring Criminal Activity
While LAPD may have primary jurisdiction in all areas off campus, Campus Security officers can and do respond to security-related incidents that occur in close proximity to campus. Campus Security communicates with the LAPD, fire department, and ambulance services to facilitate rapid response in any emergency situation. When a Southwestern student, faculty or staff member is party to an off-campus security matter, Campus Security officers may assist with the investigation in cooperation with local, state, or federal officers.
Southwestern operates on-campus housing but does not operate any off-campus student housing or off-campus student organization facilities.
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Preparation and Distribution of Annual Crime Reports
The preparation of Southwestern's annual security report is a continual process. Statistics are compiled in accordance with the Uniform Crime Reporting of the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of investigation. Statistics for the annual crime report are based upon data provided from Campus Security and LAPD. To comply with the Clery Act, we collect relevant online crime statistics from LAPD for locations that are contiguous to, or adjacent to the property of Southwestern.
Each year, an email notification is made to all faculty, staff, and enrolled students that provides web site to access this report. Copies of the report may also be obtained at the Administrative Services Office.
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Crime Prevention Techniques
Make Crime Prevention part of your daily routine by using these tips:
At Home:
- Get to know your neighbors.
- Do not prop outside doors open.
- Keep your doors locked, even if you are just going out for a minute.
- Do not let strangers into your building, apartment or home, even if they look harmless.
- Lock your windows and secure sliding doors with a pole in the bottom track.
- Record serial numbers and keep videos, photos or descriptions of your valuables.
- If you receive an obscene phone call, hang up. If calls continue, report them to your local law enforcement agency.
In the City:
- There is safety in numbers. Always go places with a friend or group.
- Be alert and pay attention to your surroundings.
- Look confident when you walk and keep a firm grip on your book bag, purse or briefcase.
- Avoid dark streets when parking or walking.
- Do not use ATM machines at night.
- Walk near the curb and avoid passing close to shrubs, dark doorways and other hiding places.
- Carry your keys in your hand to allow quick entry into your car or home.
- Carry enough change for a phone call. Keep cellular telephones fully charged and ready for use.
- If you suspect trouble, leave the area immediately.
In the Car:
- Keep windows rolled up and doors locked.
- Keep possessions out of sight and locked in the trunk. Keep your purse either under the front seat or in your car trunk while driving.
- Check around your car and in the back seat before you get in.
- Make sure your car runs well and has plenty of gas.
- If your car breaks down, stay inside your car and wait. Never go with anyone who offers help. Instead, ask them to call for assistance.
- Park in an area that is well lit.
- Never pick up strangers.
- Do not allow another vehicle to force you off the road; drive to a busy location to get away from a dangerous driving situation.
At Southwestern:
- Use the security officer escort service when walking to your car.
- Walk in groups. Do not walk alone.
- Never leave personal property or other valuables unattended on-campus or visible in your vehicle.
- At night, place all office equipment and personal property in a locked desk or cabinet.
- Store money in a cash box and keep it in a locked cabinet.
- Immediately report suspicious individuals to Campus Security.
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Crime Prevention Security Awareness Program
Crime prevention at Southwestern is a campus and community based effort. Representatives of the Administrative Services Office meet with LAPD officers as needed to discuss area crime prevention to increase neighborhood safety. Involvement by all members of the law school campus and the community is essential to the success of the program. By taking an active role in crime prevention, the quality of life for students, faculty, staff and the neighborhood is greatly improved.
Southwestern's crime prevention program increases awareness and campus safety through the dissemination of materials and presentations geared towards reducing criminal opportunity. A variety of programs are utilized to encourage security-conscious behavior:
ANONYMOUS CRIME TIP LINE (213) 738-5730
Students, faculty and staff may leave any crime tip reporting information for questions about who, what, where, when, why, how much, or with what. You do not need to leave your name or how you came across the information. The crime tip line is monitored by the Administrative Services Office, is completely anonymous, and helps you take an active role in keeping your campus crime-free.SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
This program encourages public awareness of indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper authorities.LOCK IT, HIDE IT, KEEP IT
Tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of property theft are highlighted through various communiques.PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION
Theft of unattended property such as backpacks, laptop computers, purses, briefcases, books or cellular telephones occasionally occurs on the law school campus. To assist you in protecting your valuables, Southwestern encourages you to label personal property and to keep a record of the property in the event it is stolen (e.g., make, model, serial number). Marking valuables not only deters theft but may also lead to the recovery of the item. Anyone wishing to label their property may borrow a permanent marking pen from Campus Security in the Security Office (ext. 5793).BICYCLE REGISTRATION
Bicycle registration is required for all faculty, staff, and students who ride or park a bicycle on the Southwestern campus. By registering your bicycle, you will help Southwestern identify your bike if it is lost, stolen, recovered, or impounded. There is no cost for the registration and a sticker will be provided one time for your bicycle. Send an email to parking@swlaw.edu to register your bicycle.SECURITY TIPS
Crime prevention tips are emailed monthly, posted on lobby plasma screens and on brochures and flyers. Different security topics are highlighted each month to familiarize students, faculty and staff with specific crime prevention strategies. The crime prevention topics for the 2021-2022 academic year are:August Personal Well-Being and Safety September National Campus Safety Awareness October Apartment & Residential Safety November Alcohol & Substance Abuse Awareness December Holiday, Online Shopping & ATM Safety January Vehicle/Transportation Safety February Fraud & Identity Theft March Street Smarts April
Sexual Violence Awareness and Denim Day May Emergency Preparedness June Keeping Kids Safe July Travel and Tourist Safety -
Sexual Harassment
Southwestern Law School reaffirms the principle that its students, faculty and staff have the right to be free from all forms of unlawful harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment. Southwestern encourages members of the law school community to report and pursue their claims of unlawful harassment and discrimination. Southwestern will not tolerate retaliation against any person who reports unlawful harassment and discrimination.
What is sexual harassment AND GENDER-BASED DISCRIMINATION?
Harassment is conduct that creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile working or learning environment or that unreasonably interferes with work or academic performance based on a person’s protected status, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. All such conduct is unlawful.
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, physical, graphic, or otherwise.
Sex or gender-based discrimination refers to the disparate treatment of a person or group because of that person’s or group’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Southwestern will investigate allegations of harassment or discrimination involving students, faculty, employees, campus visitors, or any other person on law school property or involved in a law school function.
Examples of conduct that may create a hostile environment include:
Verbal Conduct: includes making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs or humor; verbal abuse of a sexual nature, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations; or objectively offensive comments of a sexual nature, including persistent or pervasive sexually explicit statements, questions, jokes, or anecdotes.
Visual Conduct: includes leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons, or posters in a public space or forum; or severe, persistent, or pervasive visual displays of suggestive, erotic, or degrading sexually oriented images that are not pedagogically appropriate.
Written conduct: includes letters, notes or electronic communications containing comments, words, or images described above.
types of Sexual Misconduct
A number of different acts fall into the category of sexual misconduct including sexual assault, non-consensual sexual contact, sexual exploitation and stalking.
Sexual assault: any sexual act directed against another person, without consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.
Non-consensual sexual contact: Having sexual contact with another individual by force or threat of force, without the individual’s affirmative consent or when the individual is incapacitated.
Sexual exploitation: occurs when an individual takes non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for one’s own advantage or benefit, or to benefit or advantage anyone other than the one being exploited.
Stalking: occurs when a person engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.
For more information on conduct prohibited by the Southwestern Sexual Misconduct Policy, please visit https://www.swlaw.edu/student-life/title-ix.
Observe, Report, Be Involved
Members of the law school community can keep other campus members safe by being observant and reporting criminal or inappropriate activities when they occur.
If sexual violence happens to you:
- It is not your fault.
- If you feel safe, report the incident to someone you trust. You may report the incident to the appropriate authorities including Campus Security, LAPD and the Title IX Coordinator as soon as possible.
- Keep a record. Preserve any evidence of the incident (e.g. text messages, photographs, clothing, etc.)
- Provide detailed information such as a description of the individual(s) involved, incident location, time incident occurred, and details about the incident. Campus Security will assist any reporting party in notifying law enforcement authorities.
- Learn more about the procedures. Details about the initiation of informal or formal procedures can be found for law school constituencies in the following publications:
- Students:
- Policy to Prevent Discrimination and Harassment: https://www.swlaw.edu/Policy
- Sexual Misconduct Policy: https://www.swlaw.edu/student-life/title-ix
- Faculty: Faculty Manual, Section 2-14: Harassment Policy.
- Staff: Employee Handbook, Appendix C: Harassment Policy.
- Students:
Retaliation
It is a violation of law school policy to retaliate against any person for exercising their right to make a formal or informal harassment complaint, use any of the informal or formal processes provided by the law school, or testifying or offering evidence connected with a complaint.
Notification
Southwestern Law School recognizes that a victim of a sexual offense may wish to preserve his or her privacy after a traumatic experience. The law school will balance any request for privacy with its dual obligation to provide a safe and non- discriminatory environment for all Law School community members. In making a determination about disclosing details of a reported sexual offense, the Law School may consider the seriousness of the conduct, the respective ages and roles of the individuals involved, whether there have been other complaints or reports of harassment or misconduct against the accused party, and the rights of the accused party to receive notice and relevant information before disciplinary action is sought., Further, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act mandates the annual disclosure of statistics of sexual offenses known to have occurred within the law school’s jurisdiction. The victim’s name will not be disclosed, however, in any such reporting.
Disciplinary Action
Sexual misconduct or violence occurring between members of the law school community will be regarded as a basis for Southwestern disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from school or termination of employment. Where a report alleges that a sexual offense has been perpetrated by a member of the law school community against another member, the law school is committed to providing fair and appropriate adjudication. Reports of sexual harassment or assault will be handled according to procedures set forth regulating student, faculty, and staff behavior (i.e., Student Policies, Policy to Prevent Discrimination and Harassment, Sexual Misconduct Policy, Faculty Manual, and the Employee Manual). Disciplinary procedures shall provide that: 1) the reporting party and the accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during disciplinary procedures, and 2) both the reporting party and the accused shall be informed of the outcome of any campus disciplinary proceeding alleging a sexual offense.
Assistance may be available in changing academic and on-campus living, work and transportation if requested by the reporting party and if the requested changes are reasonably available. Options for changes include, but are not limited to termination of an existing on-campus housing contract and/or withdrawal from classes.
Any conduct which is a violation of local, state or federal law and which occurs on the law school campus will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency having criminal jurisdiction. Southwestern will assist any student, faculty, or staff member with notifying the LAPD.
Support and Counseling
Students, faculty, or staff who have been victims of a sexual offense may also seek assistance from the following community support and counseling centers:
Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center: (310) 319-4000
Violence Intervention Program (24 Hours): (323) 221-4134, (323) 409-3800, (323) 409-5086
East Los Angeles Women’s Center (24 Hours): (800) 585-6231
Peace Over Violence: (213) 626-3393In addition, counseling services are available through Southwestern’s on-campus Psychological Counselor, Dr. Daria Spino (213-738-6617, dspino@swlaw.edu), or Charles Nechtem Associates, Inc. (1-800-531-0200), an independent counseling group coordinated by Southwestern.
Registered Sex Offender Information
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Act Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires that law school students, faculty and staff be advised how to obtain registered sex offender information. This information is available three ways: 1) Police and Sheriff’s Departments may notify residents or businesses of a nearby “high risk” or “serious” sex offender; 2) individuals may view the information at most local law enforcement agencies, with 21 LAPD locations where the information may be obtained 24 hours/day by calling (213) 485-2121; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department website (http://www.lasd.org) has a link entitled “Sexual Offender (Megan’s Law)” that contains information regarding sexual offenders; or 3) individuals may call 1-800-448-3000. The Megan's Law website at http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov is another resource for sex offender information in California. It is illegal under California law to use any disclosed public information to commit a crime against any registrant or to engage in illegal discrimination or harassment against any registrant.
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Substance Abuse
Alcohol or drug abuse in the law school community are detrimental to an effective academic program, academic or work performance, residential life and institutional reputation. Further, such abuse is detrimental to the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the campus. Southwestern, as a recipient of federal funds, is subject to the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act (34CFR Part 86) which requires the adoption and implementation of a program to prevent the use and abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs by students, faculty, and staff. Southwestern's substance abuse program includes educating the law school community on substance abuse through presentations and publications. The Administrative Services Office may be contacted for publications and other information about substance abuse.
TREATMENT AND COUNSELING
Southwestern recognizes that alcohol and substance dependencies are complex illnesses which under most circumstances can be successfully treated. Students, faculty, and staff who have a problem which they feel may affect academic or job performance should seek assistance from one of the many treatment programs available in the community (see "Important Telephone Numbers"). In addition, counseling services may be used through Charles Nechtem Associates, Inc. (1-800-531-0200).
RULES GOVERNING THE POSSESSION, USE OR SALE OF ALCOHOL AND ILLEGAL DRUGS ON SOUTHWESTERN PREMISES OR AT SOUTHWESTERN SPONSORED EVENTS
Southwestern has established the following rules governing the possession, use and sale of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs on the law school campus or at Southwestern activities:
- Any unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol or drugs on Southwestern premises or at any Southwestern sponsored activity is prohibited.
- According to the student policy on alcohol and other drugs, alcoholic beverages may not be served at student functions held on Southwestern premises or at Southwestern sponsored off-campus events unless approval and permission is obtained.
- Southwestern will not provide funds for the purchase of alcoholic beverages at off-campus student events.
- All students, faculty and staff are prohibited from being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while on campus.
Infractions of this policy will be regarded as a basis for Southwestern disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from school or termination of employment. Violations will be handled according to procedures set forth regulating student, faculty and staff behavior (i.e., Student Policies, Faculty Manual, and Employee Manual). In addition, any violation of this policy that violates local, state, or federal law and occurs on the law school campus will be referred to the appropriate authorities for criminal prosecution.
Information compiled by the Administrative Services Office in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.