Operating Standard
Type: Administrative
Responsible:
Related Policies: A7400
Linked Procedures:
Related Laws:
Related Standards:
HLC Criterion:
Statement
The purpose of this procedure is to establish policies for Shawnee Community College (SCC) Campus Safety and Security personnel relative to the use of video surveillance cameras in public areas for the purpose of campus safety and security. SCC Security will utilize covert video surveillance cameras to monitor and record public areas to help ensure the safety and security of the SCC campus community. SCC Security may also monitor and record through the use of covert video surveillance cameras when necessary to accomplish unique missions related to theft detection, security of assets, and safety of persons.
Procedure
The use of video surveillance cameras shall be limited to campus safety and security purposes, including, but not limited to:
- Property and building protection.
- Enhancing public safety.
- Crime prevention and deterrence.
- Reducing or removing the fear of crime.
- Alarm verification.
- Video patrol of public areas.
- Criminal investigation.
- Identifying suspects.
- Gathering evidence.
- Monitoring of access control systems.
The use of video surveillance cameras shall not be used for:
- Profiling.
- Random targeting of individuals.
- Peering into buildings, private office spaces, restrooms facilities, locker rooms, or other areas where there is an expectation of privacy, except for legitimate campus safety and security purposes, such as criminal investigations.
Responsibility
Designated SCC personnel shall be considered to be video surveillance system operators and shall receive training with regard to the system and are required to maintain a working knowledge of the monitoring functions of the system.
All SCC and Security personnel shall be guided by the information outlined in this procedure relative to the monitoring of video surveillance cameras.
The SCC Security officer on duty shall be immediately notified whenever any suspicious, criminal, or life threatening activity is observed through the monitoring of video surveillance cameras.
The Campus Safety and Security officer on duty will include a statement in their incident report depicting what was observed from the employee monitoring the video surveillance cameras.
Management
Signage shall be posted at all entrances stating “These premises are under video surveillance”.
Security of digital recordings:
- Access to digital recording equipment is limited to the College President, the Vice President of Administrative Services, and others as may be designated by the College President.
Limiting access to digital recordings or video surveillance equipment:
- The Vice President of Administrative Services has the authority to limit access to digital recordings and video surveillance equipment by installing passwords on the computerized system or through implementation of rules and regulations, such as this procedure.
- Under no circumstances will anyone other than designated staff be permitted access to the video surveillance system and shall not be permitted to monitor video surveillance cameras or digital recordings, without prior knowledge and permission from the campus security officer or the Vice President of Administrative Services.
Review and dissemination of information:
- Only designated staff are permitted to review, copy, or remove digital recordings from the video surveillance system.
- Concerned citizens, victims, news media and other non-security employees will not be allowed access to digital recordings unless approved by the college President.
- If necessary, designated staff will “burn” a digital recording onto a compact disc for evidence purposes. This compact disc will be handled as evidence and disseminated to proper authorities as required.
Maintenance of Equipment
- Under no circumstances shall anyone, except professional factory trained technicians or qualified member of the Office of Information Technology, attempt to service, repair, or tamper with any of the video surveillance equipment.
- If any video surveillance system equipment fails, the Vice President of Administrative Services should be notified as soon as possible. The Vice President of Administrative Services will be responsible for notifying the factory representative for repairs and for shutting down the affected equipment during failure.
New Policy: May 2004
| Date of Change | Description of Change | Governance Unit |