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Safety in the Workplace

James Madison University strives to provide all employees with a working environment that is free from recognized health or safety hazards. JMU's Office of Public Safety strives to improve the quality of life of those we serve by developing partnerships with the university community so that together we can effectively address issues and concerns.  Our primary goal is to maintain a secure environment with equal protection under the law and to provide dedicated service for all persons living, working, and visiting with the university.

The university's safety office conducts safety surveys and inspections, investigates fires, and hazardous materials spills, and provides awareness training in all aspects of environmental and workplace safety and health. The office works closely with the Harrisonburg Fire Department, the Virginia State Fire Marshal's office, the state's Offices of Risk Management, Waste Management, and Occupational Safety and Health, and safety equipment service contractors.

Under Virginia law, the university police have the mandate and authority to investigate all crimes occurring on campus. It operates 24 hours a day throughout the entire year. The department's primary jurisdiction applies to all university owned, leased, rented, or controlled property, the streets and sidewalks adjacent there to and has extended and concurrent jurisdiction in other areas in the city. The authority, responsibility, and training of the university police are as required of any other police officer in the Commonwealth. University police officers are graduates of state-affiliated regional criminal justice training academies and are required to complete 40 hours of in-service training biennially. All are certified by the State Department of Criminal Justice Services as police officers and are trained in all phases of law enforcement, including the use of firearms. Officers carry standard issue or approved firearms at all times and must maintain firearms proficiency through semiannual classroom training, qualification and certification at a local firing range. The university police department utilizes state-of-the-art automatic external defibulators (AEDs) in the field. All sworn personnel within the department have been trained on the proper use of AEDs and basic life support techniques (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation - CPR). An AED unit is taken out into the field each shift by assigned officers on patrol. Within the police department there are specialized divisions including patrol, communications, crime prevention, criminal investigations, and forensics which all work together to maintain a safe environment for the JMU community.

All crimes occurring on campus should be reported directly to the JMU Police Department by dialing 6911 from any on campus telephone (note: this is the one on-campus number that does not require dialing an 8 before the number). Persons off campus or anyone calling from a mobile phone should dial (540) 568-6911. For non-emergency communications dial (540) 568-6913. An alternate phone number, (540) 442-6911, can be accessed during emergencies if normal JMU telephone service is disrupted. The reporting of crime occurring on campus to any other agency such as the Harrisonburg Police Department will delay the response while they transfer the complaint. There are in excess of 250 emergency telephones located across campus. These telephones provide one-button speed dialing for instant communication with the university police.

If you feel that a crime has been committed against you, that you have witnessed a crime in progress, or that you have information about a crime that has occurred, please contact the JMU Police Department immediately (on campus dial 6911, off campus dial (540) 568-6911).

Information concerning emergency procedures which include lightning and thunderstorms, fire, hostile intruder, suspicious packages, and other emergencies along with information concerning crime prevention, policies, reporting a crime, and other information can be found at the public safety website. Crime statistics for the most recent three-year period are published in "Your Right to Know", along with other valuable information.

“Your Right to Know”

Your personal safety and the security of the campus community are of vital concern to James Madison University. A copy of the university's annual Harrisonburg (main US campus), Washington Semesters, plus three overseas branch campus security reports are available upon request. These reports include statistics for the most recent three year period concerning reported crimes, including "hate" motivated crimes, that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by James Madison University or affiliates, and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes information regarding the law enforcement authority of the university police, means of immediate notification of students and staff upon confirmation of a significant emergency on campus, protocols for students missing more than 24 hours, including voluntary student contact information in cases where the student is missing; policies concerning campus security, such as crime prevention, alcohol and drug use, sexual assault, state sex offender registry, missing person investigation procedures, and the reporting of any crimes that may occur on the campus.

You can obtain a copy of any or all of these reports by contacting the Office of Public Safety, Crime Prevention Unit, MSC 6810, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, or you can request that a copy be mailed to you by calling (540) 568-6969/6913. This information is also available at "Your Right to Know" for the Harrisonburg campus, Washington Semesters, and three overseas branch campuses.

Thank you and stay safe!

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Handbook questions, comments, or updates?

Contact Cathy Thomas, Employee Ombudsperson at thomasce@jmu.edu or 83967.