H-220 Cooperation with Law Enforcement Agencies

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear and lawful expectations for Employees when interacting with law enforcement agencies, including federal immigration officials, while protecting the rights of Students and Employees, maintaining campus safety, and minimizing disruption to educational and workplace activities. 

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

All law enforcement interactions beyond routine matters shall be coordinated through Campus Safety and Security.

Employees will cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the performance of their official duties.  Cooperation does not require Employees to independently provide access to campus spaces, Student or Employee records, or substantive information.  Employees shall not assess the legality of law enforcement requests.  Employees shall:

• Direct law enforcement officials to Campus Safety and Security if approached.

• Immediately notify Campus Safety and Security of law enforcement or federal immigration officials’ presence.

• Refrain from answering substantive questions or providing access to records.

• Maintain a professional, neutral, and non-confrontational demeanor.

The College will not obstruct or interfere with law enforcement officers acting within their legal authority.  The College will not physically impede, delay, or intentionally hinder lawful law enforcement actions, while still coordinating interactions through Campus Safety and Security.  The College shall not knowingly participate in any investigation that violates the rights of Students or Employees.

CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the initial point of contact when law enforcement or federal immigration officials arrive on campus.

• Verify law enforcement identities and credentials.

• Determine the stated purpose and necessity of the requested contact.

• Coordinate logistics, notifications, and escort consistent with College Policies.

• Maintain campus safety and minimize disruption to educational and workplace activities.

Note: Campus Safety and Security staff members are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice to individuals.

ACCESS TO CAMPUS SPACES

• Law enforcement officials may access public areas of campus without prior authorization.  Public areas are generally available to Students, Employees, and Visitors. 

• Law enforcement officials shall not access non-public (private) areas without appropriate legal authority and coordination through Campus Safety and Security.  Non-public areas include College offices, classrooms and lab spaces, storage areas, maintenance areas, locker rooms, and other areas not designated as forums for public communication by tradition or designation. 

LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS

Unless there is no other practical alternative, law enforcement officials seeking to contact a Student on campus will be permitted to make contact, provided there is no disruption to educational activities. Law enforcement officials shall first contact Campus Safety and Security to determine that the contact is necessary.  If contact is deemed necessary, Campus Safety and Security will coordinate with the Executive Director of Student Services/CSSO or their designee and take appropriate actions to assist law enforcement officials in contacting the Student. However, the College will not actively remove the Student or disrupt educational activities.  Authorized access to non-public areas and/or Student records will not be granted for requests based on solely administrative immigration warrants.

If a judicial arrest warrant exists for a Student, every effort will be made to promptly locate the Student. Campus Safety and Security will coordinate with the Executive Director of Student Services/CSSO or their designee to facilitate locating and escorting the Student to a designated area to meet with the law enforcement official. Depending on the nature of the warrant, the law enforcement official may accompany Campus Safety and Security staff in locating the Student.  Administrative immigration warrants alone do not constitute a judicial arrest warrant.

LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACT WITH EMPLOYEES

Unless there is no other practical alternative, law enforcement officials seeking to contact an Employee on campus will be permitted to make contact, provided there is no disruption to educational or workplace activities. Law enforcement officials shall first contact Campus Safety and Security to determine that the contact is necessary.  If contact is deemed necessary, Campus Safety and Security will coordinate with the Executive Director of Human Resources/CHRO or their designee and take appropriate actions to assist law enforcement officials in contacting the Employee. However, the College will not actively remove an Employee or disrupt educational or workplace activities.  

If a judicial arrest warrant exists for a Student, every effort will be made to promptly locate the Student. Campus Safety and Security will coordinate with the Executive Director of Student Services/CSSO or their designee to facilitate locating and escorting the Student to a designated area to meet with the law enforcement official. Depending on the nature of the warrant, the law enforcement official may accompany Campus Safety and Security staff in locating the Student.  Administrative immigration warrants alone do not constitute a judicial arrest warrant.

RECORDS AND INFORMATION REQUESTS

The College shall cooperate with law enforcement officials by providing information as required by law. The release of student records to law enforcement personnel is outlined in Policy J-300 – Education Records, Directory Information, and Privacy. Requests for student records by Law enforcement officials shall be directed to the Executive Director of Student Services/CSSO.

Employee records will be provided as required by federal and state laws. Requests for Employee records by Law enforcement shall be directed to the Executive Director of Human Resources/CHRO.

If a law enforcement official indicates that the health or safety of Students or Employees may be at risk, Student/Employee information will be released to the official. The release of student information to law enforcement officials is included in Policy J-300 – Education Records, Directory Information, and Privacy.

All disclosures of Student or Employee records to law enforcement shall be documented in accordance with applicable College Policies and record-keeping requirements.

FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS

Federal immigration officials are subject to the same coordination requirement as other law enforcement agencies.  All interactions shall be coordinated through Campus Safety and Security.  Employees shall not independently provide access, information, or assistance.