Staying Safe On and Off Campus
In light of recent reports of growing violence in the Harrisonburg area, a proactive approach to personal safety should be taken by JMU students and residents of Harrisonburg/Rockingham County. Part of the responsibility falls on each individual to take all the steps necessary in your day to day life in order to avoid situations where you could be placed in harm’s way. It is important that all members of the JMU community follow this mindset, and avoid the “it could not happen to me” cliché.
It is the mission of the office of Off Campus Life to help educate students to make informed decisions while living in the Harrisonburg community. This includes providing information on how to stay safe while living off campus. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to stop by our office located in Festival, or call 540-568-6071.
JMU’s Efforts to Keep You Safe:
- JMU has created a Safety Task Force to analyze possible solutions and changes to be made to keep the community safe.
- Public Safety has 4 officers assigned to off campus patrols, not including the 25 officers assigned to on campus patrol.
- Safety escorts are available to any student on campus, free of charge. Escorts are provided by carefully screened and trained student employees known as the Campus Police Cadets. Cadets are on duty 7pm - 2am Sunday-Wednesday, 9pm-2am Thursday, and 9pm-3am Friday and Saturday. Police officers will provide any escorts outside of those time periods.
- JMU SafeRides is a student run, non-profit organization whose mission is to create a safer community for the city of Harrisonburg. Members work to prevent drunk driving by educating JMU students, fundraising to help support our mission, and providing free rides home for JMU students. If you are a JMU student and need a ride home over the weekend, please feel free to call us at 540.JMU.RIDE (540-568-7433). No matter where you are in Harrisonburg, we are here for you!
- Public Safety offers educational crime prevention opportunities throughout the year.
- Timely Notifications are issued by the James Madison University Police, giving notice of acts that could pose as a Possible Threat, that reportedly occurred on or near the campus of James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Until the investigation of the specific act has been concluded, it can be assumed that conditions continue to exist that may pose a threat to members and guests of the community. It is the duty of the institution to warn of possible "dangerous conditions" on its property; an "affirmative duty" exists to warn of possible peril at the hands of some third party.
What You Can Do to Help:
- Secure your property
- Utilize door locks whenever possible. If you have lost a key, please contact your property manager to receive a replacement.
- Close and lock all windows and sliding glass doors. Place wooden dowel in sliding glass door track (you can purchase wooden dowels at a local hardware store).
- Utilize blinds and shades, especially at night.
- When parking your vehicle, place all valuables out of site, secure them in the trunk and lock your doors. Try to leave the vehicle parked under a light.
- If uninvited guests won’t leave, call the police.
Host a Safe Party
- Report suspicious people or activity immediately to the police. Be a witness, don’t be a hero.
- Register your party with the Harrisonburg Police Department (540-434-4436). Instead of sending an officer out for the first noise complaint, HPD will call the host to correct the problem.
- Have a guest list – know who is in your home.
- If uninvited guests won’t leave, call the police.
- Have a sober host on the premises at all times.
- Keep it small. Be aware occupancy limits. Beware of overcrowding wooden decks.
- Lock doors to private areas (i.e. bedrooms) and secure or hide valuables.
- Limit the alcohol consumption of guests.•Provide non-alcoholic beverages and food.
When Attending a Party
- Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable, leave the area.
- Report suspicious people or activity immediately to the police. Be a witness, don’t be a hero.
- Go and stay with friends. Look out for each other.
- Know the hosts of the party you are attending.
- If you choose to drink, drink responsibly. Do not drink to excess.
- Have a safe way to get home – bus, taxi or JMU SafeRides (540-568-7433).
- Carry only the ID and money you’ll need for the night.
- Be considerate of others and respectful of property.
Traveling by Foot
- Use well lit and well traveled areas: Avoid dark and deserted areas, i.e. railroad tracks, shortcuts.
- Do not walk or jog alone.
- Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk and you must walk in the roadway, always walk facing traffic.
- If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach it. Instead, turn and quickly walk the opposite direction.
- If approached, don’t resist or try to fool a robber.
Other Tips
- Don't make it easy for thieves. They are on the lookout for items left unattended, on tables, desks, in cars, etc. It takes only seconds to grab your property and get away.
- Use common sense: trust your instincts. Listen to that gut feeling.
- Report all crimes: When reporting a crime or suspicious activity, give the dispatcher all the information you have. If it is happening at the time of your call, stay on the line until the officer arrives.
Report Suspicious Activity Immediately
- Look out for your neighbors and call the local police immediately if you observe suspicious activity.
Important Contact Information:
JMU Police: 540-568-6913
Harrisonburg & Rockingham County Police (Emergency Communications Center): 540-434-4436
Call 911 for emergencies!
For additional public safety information visit www.jmu.edu/pubsafety.
Follow us on Facebook at JMU Off Campus Life for more tips.
