Tips & Guidelines

To report a crime or if you have any information concerning a crime or incident, please contact us. For anonymous reporting, please call 610-660-1114 or fill out this form. There is also a Tip Drop Box in the Drexel Library.

Personal Safety Tips

Remember: you can become the victim of a crime at any time. Always be alert to your surroundings. Do not walk alone after dark. Call for an escort at 610-660-1111 or just dial extension 1111 from any university phone. Never get into a vehicle. The safest action to take is to run and holler to attract attention. Notify the police and SJU security as soon as possible.

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not leave your books, purse or bag unattended.
• Immediately report any suspicious persons to Security.
• Avoid isolated areas when studying or doing research.
• Don’t leave anything in plain sight inside your vehicle. Lock everything in the trunk.
• Call for an escort.
• Don’t leave doors unlocked and don’t prop doors open.
• Don’t walk alone at night.
• Don’t be vulnerable, appear confident.
• Stick to well-traveled, well-lit streets.
• Never get into a car.
• If you become a victim, don’t resist, comply then run and attract attention.
• Never give your name or address to strangers.
• If you attend a party, go with friends you trust, tell them to never leave you alone and don’t be afraid to make a scene.

Crime Victim Support

The Office of Public Safety and Security has established the following guidelines for what you should do in the event of an active shooter on campus. Please note that active shooter incidents on colleges and universities are rare; however, the OPSS is aware that these incidents instill much fear and anxiety.

Due to the fact that most of these incidents are over within minutes, students, faculty and staff must be prepared to deal with the situation until first responders arrive. These situations are unpredictable, but there are a few steps that can be taken immediately to protect yourself and possibly others.

Read Guidelines

Saint Joseph’s University has taken steps to ensure that the campus continues to function in the event of an emergency. The resources and information contained on this page are designed to help you cope with an emergency situation and protect yourself and your colleagues should the region experience an incident.

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Sheltering in Place During an Emergency

During an emergency, one of the instructions you may be given is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors until an incident has been declared “all clear” and it is safe to resume normal operations.

If you’re instructed to shelter-in-place, take refuge in a small, interior room, with no or few windows until you receive confirmation that the situation is under control and you are no longer required to shelter-in-place.

Shelter-in-Place Causes

You may be instructed to shelter-in-place due to an accidental release of chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants, the intentional release of chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants due to a terrorist incident, a natural disaster, or for personal protection because of a criminal incident.

Normally evacuation is the most common protective action taken when an airborne hazard, such as smoke or noxious odor, is found in a building. In most cases, existing general evacuation plans apply to evacuation in response to these types of incidents.

However, a general evacuation may not be the best course of action for an external hazardous materials incident, particularly one that is widespread, such as a tanker car chemical explosion. Since a general evacuation will most likely expose individuals to the hazardous conditions and a rapid evacuation may not be possible, individuals are encouraged to shelter-in-place.

You can achieve a greater level of protection by sheltering-in-place rather than risking direct exposure to the hazardous conditions. You can also achieve a higher level of protection by taking shallow breaths and covering your nose and mouth with a damp cloth.

In all emergencies, follow the instructions provided through the Emergency Notification System and, if possible and safe to do so, use a computer to find out more information or turn on a TV or radio.

Most importantly, remain calm.