Timely Warnings
Colby-Sawyer College issues Timely Warning Notices in accordance with the Clery Act to alert students and employees to Clery-reportable crimes occurring within the College’s Clery geography that the College determines represent a serious or continuing threat.
A Timely Warning is intended to provide information that enables members of the College community to take reasonable precautions and reduce the risk of similar incidents. Not every reported crime will result in a Timely Warning. Federal requirements apply when a Clery-reportable crime is reported to a Campus Security Authority or local law enforcement, occurs within Clery geography, and is determined to represent a serious or continuing threat.
How the Decision Is Made
The determination to issue a Timely Warning Notice is made on a case-by-case basis after considering the facts and circumstances of the reported crime and the information available to the College.
Factors may include:
- The nature and severity of the reported crime;
- Whether the alleged perpetrator is known or has been apprehended;
- Whether a continuing danger exists;
- The location of the incident;
- When the incident occurred and when it was reported;
- Whether similar incidents have occurred; and
- Whether the circumstances indicate a pattern of criminal activity.
Reports of aggravated assault, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence are evaluated individually. An incident arising from an isolated dispute between two individuals, for example, may not present a continuing threat to the broader College community.
Similarly, a crime reported significantly after it occurred may no longer present a continuing threat when the College receives the report. However, the passage of time alone does not determine whether a Timely Warning will be issued. The College evaluates the circumstances and information known at the time of the report.
Property crimes are also evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A Timely Warning may be issued when an individual incident or pattern of criminal activity presents a serious or continuing threat.
Authorization and Distribution
The Director of Campus Safety or designee reviews reports to determine whether a Timely Warning Notice is warranted.
Notices are typically written and distributed by the Director of Campus Safety. The College President or designee, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Emergency Management, and Office of Marketing and Communications may also distribute a notice when authorized by the Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students or designee.
Timely Warning Notices are generally distributed through College email. Depending on the circumstances, the College may also use:
- CSC ALERT text messages;
- Desktop emergency alerts;
- Posters;
- The College website; or
- Other appropriate communication methods.
The communication method or combination of methods will be selected based on the nature of the incident, the affected population, and the information available.
Information Included in a Timely Warning
A Timely Warning Notice will contain available information intended to help members of the College community protect themselves and prevent similar crimes.
Depending on the circumstances, a notice may include:
- The nature of the reported crime;
- The date, time, or timeframe of the incident;
- The location of the incident;
- A brief description of what reportedly occurred;
- A description of the suspect when appropriate and sufficiently detailed;
- Areas or circumstances community members should avoid;
- Relevant safety or crime-prevention information; and
- Information about reporting related or suspicious activity.
The amount and type of information provided will depend on what is known at the time and what will assist the community in taking appropriate precautions.
Privacy and Law-Enforcement Considerations
The College will withhold the names and other personally identifying information of victims as confidential.
The College may also withhold information when disclosure would compromise law-enforcement efforts, interfere with the apprehension of a suspect, create an additional safety concern, or otherwise be prohibited by law.
The College will not omit information merely because it may reflect negatively on the College or because an investigation is ongoing. Information necessary to help the community protect itself will be provided unless there is a legitimate safety, legal, or law-enforcement reason for withholding it.
Report Information Promptly
Prompt reporting enables the College to evaluate whether a serious or continuing threat exists and whether a Timely Warning is required.
Anyone with information about a crime or circumstance that may warrant a Timely Warning should immediately contact:
Department of Campus Safety
603-526-3300
James House
Call 9-1-1 for a crime in progress, immediate threat, serious injury, or other emergency.
Campus Security Authorities should follow the reporting procedures established for their positions. Campus Safety and Residential Education personnel should complete their applicable departmental incident reports. Other CSAs should use the CSA Clery Crime Report Form when they do not report through an established departmental process.
crimes occurring within the College’s Clery geography that the College determines represent a serious or continuing threat.
A Timely Warning is intended to provide information that enables members of the College community to take reasonable precautions and reduce the risk of similar incidents. Not every reported crime will result in a Timely Warning. Federal requirements apply when a Clery-reportable crime is reported to a Campus Security Authority or local law enforcement, occurs within Clery geography, and is determined to represent a serious or continuing threat.
How the Decision Is Made
The determination to issue a Timely Warning Notice is made on a case-by-case basis after considering the facts and circumstances of the reported crime and the information available to the College.
Factors may include:
- The nature and severity of the reported crime;
- Whether the alleged perpetrator is known or has been apprehended;
- Whether a continuing danger exists;
- The location of the incident;
- When the incident occurred and when it was reported;
- Whether similar incidents have occurred; and
- Whether the circumstances indicate a pattern of criminal activity.
Reports of aggravated assault, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence are evaluated individually. An incident arising from an isolated dispute between two individuals, for example, may not present a continuing threat to the broader College community.
Similarly, a crime reported significantly after it occurred may no longer present a continuing threat when the College receives the report. However, the passage of time alone does not determine whether a Timely Warning will be issued. The College evaluates the circumstances and information known at the time of the report.
Property crimes are also evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A Timely Warning may be issued when an individual incident or pattern of criminal activity presents a serious or continuing threat.
Authorization and Distribution
The Director of Campus Safety or designee reviews reports to determine whether a Timely Warning Notice is warranted.
Notices are typically written and distributed by the Director of Campus Safety. The College President or designee, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Emergency Management, and Office of Marketing and Communications may also distribute a notice when authorized by the Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students or designee.
Timely Warning Notices are generally distributed through College email. Depending on the circumstances, the College may also use:
- CSC ALERT text messages;
- Desktop emergency alerts;
- Posters;
- The College website; or
- Other appropriate communication methods.
The communication method or combination of methods will be selected based on the nature of the incident, the affected population, and the information available.
Information Included in a Timely Warning
A Timely Warning Notice will contain available information intended to help members of the College community protect themselves and prevent similar crimes.
Depending on the circumstances, a notice may include:
- The nature of the reported crime;
- The date, time, or timeframe of the incident;
- The location of the incident;
- A brief description of what reportedly occurred;
- A description of the suspect when appropriate and sufficiently detailed;
- Areas or circumstances community members should avoid;
- Relevant safety or crime-prevention information; and
- Information about reporting related or suspicious activity.
The amount and type of information provided will depend on what is known at the time and what will assist the community in taking appropriate precautions.
Privacy and Law-Enforcement Considerations
The College will withhold the names and other personally identifying information of victims as confidential.
The College may also withhold information when disclosure would compromise law-enforcement efforts, interfere with the apprehension of a suspect, create an additional safety concern, or otherwise be prohibited by law.
The College will not omit information merely because it may reflect negatively on the College or because an investigation is ongoing. Information necessary to help the community protect itself will be provided unless there is a legitimate safety, legal, or law-enforcement reason for withholding it.
Report Information Promptly
Prompt reporting enables the College to evaluate whether a serious or continuing threat exists and whether a Timely Warning is required.
Anyone with information about a crime or circumstance that may warrant a Timely Warning should immediately contact:
Department of Campus Safety
603-526-3300
James House
Call 9-1-1 for a crime in progress, immediate threat, serious injury, or other emergency.
Campus Security Authorities should follow the reporting procedures established for their positions. Campus Safety and Residential Education personnel should complete their applicable departmental incident reports. Other CSAs should use the CSA Clery Crime Report Form when they do not report through an established departmental process.