Creating the Framework for Increasing the Professionalism of Campus Safety Officers

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.

The Institute for Public Safety Partnerships at the University of Illinois at Chicago will develop and deliver a series of training curricula geared toward enhancing the professionalism of campus safety officers. The project will begin by convening a group of Illinois campus safety leaders as well as nationally recognized campus safety experts to form an Advisory Board. The Advisory Board will assist in updating existing curricula as well as identifying gaps and training needs and providing general oversight to the project. This training initially will be developed and pilot tested in Illinois, Maryland, and Oregon, and will be adaptable to other jurisdictions, as well.

CA/NCF