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The Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires Altamaha Technical College to disclose to the public specific crime-related information on an annual basis.  In compliance with this legislation, the College must report campus crime statistics, campus offenses, and security measures to all students and employees by October 1 of each year.

Prospective students and employees shall receive either a copy of the report or a notice of its availability and a brief summary of its contents.  The College may publish the report electronically, but the College must give students, employees, and potential students or employees a paper copy upon request and individually inform them of the availability of the report in electronic format.

The College posts the annual reports on the website no later than October 1 of each year.  Current students, faculty, and staff, as well as prospective students and employees, may contact the Vice President for Student Affairs at (912)427-5899 for clarification or additional information.

Personal Safety and Crime Prevention

All members of the campus community share responsibility for ensuring their personal safety and securing their personal property.  Altamaha Technical College places priority on providing a safe and secure environment. 

During new student Orientation each term students are informed of safety and security services offered.  Students are informed about on-campus crime and incident reporting and prevention.  Similar information is presented to new employees.  Crime prevention and campus safety and security awareness “Lunch and Learn” programs are held periodically for students and employees as well as information included in the Student Newsletter and Employee Newsletter.   

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Altamaha Technical College has been designated “Drug Free” and only under certain circumstances is the consumption of alcohol permitted.  The possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any controlled substance is illegal under both state and federal laws.  Such laws are strictly enforced.  Violators are subject to College disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fine and imprisonment.

It is a violation of Altamaha Technical College and the Technical College System of Georgia Policy for anyone to consume or possess alcohol on an Altamaha Technical College campus without prior College approval.  The possession of alcohol by anyone under the 21 years of age in a public place or place open to the public is illegal.   

Campus Security Authority and Jurisdiction

Altamaha Technical College employs off-duty law enforcement officers and as such they have complete police authority to apprehend and arrest anyone involved in illegal acts on-campus and areas immediately adjacent to the campus.  If offenses involving College rules and regulations are committed by students, the Campus Security Officer may issue citations as appropriate and/or refer the individual to the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for possible disciplinary action.  Disciplinary action will be administered pursuant to the College Student Code of Conduct and Student Disciplinary Procedure.  The Student Code of Conduct and Student Disciplinary Procedure are contained in the College Catalog and Student Handbook which can be found on the College website.

Procedures for Reporting Incidents

Any student or employee witnessing or being subject to any criminal act or safety hazard on campus is encouraged to report the incident immediately to the designated administrator or security officer.  The Vice President for Student Affairs has been designated as the College Security Director with responsibility to oversee the daily security activities at each campus and instructional site.  Security officers are posted on each campus and instructional site during peak hours and other varied instruction times.  The designated Campus Security Coordinator and on-site instructor should be notified of all security related instances on all off-campus instruction sites.  

Crime Reporting

College officials notify local police when someone commits a crime on campus or at College-sponsored events.  In case of crime-related incidents involving students, visitors, or employees, the persons involved must complete and return incident report forms to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Students who are victims of a crime and do not want to pursue action within the College Student Disciplinary Procedure or criminal justice system, may file a confidential report within the guidelines of applicable state and federal laws.  The College Security Director will record the details of the incident for reporting purposes without revealing the identity of the student making the complaint.  The incident will be recorded in the Campus Crime Log.

Campus Security Authorities, including advisors of chartered campus organizations must report criminal incidents committed by students while participating in College-sponsored activities both on and off campus properties.  Campus security authorities must submit these reports in writing to the Vice President for Student Affairs.  Students who violate the Student Code of Conduct or who commit crimes while participating in College-sponsored activities will be subject to the Student Disciplinary Procedure. 

Altamaha Technical College considers the College’s Professional Counselors, when acting in that capacity, not to be “campus security authorities” and they are not required to report crimes for inclusion into the annual disclosure of crime statistics.  College Professional Counselors are required to inform and, when they deem appropriate, to encourage students being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis for inclusion into the annual crime statistics. 

Campus Crime Log

A log of crimes is maintained and recorded by their nature, date, time, general location, and disposition.  The Vice President for Student Affairs maintains the Crime Log.  The Crime Log for the current calendar year for each campus is available for public inspection, upon request, during normal business hours.  Prior year Crime Logs will be available to the public within two business days of receiving a written request unless disclosure of such information would:

• Be prohibited by law;
• Jeopardize the confidentiality of the victim;
• Jeopardize an on-going criminal investigation
• Jeopardize the safety of an individual;
• Cause a suspect to flee or evade detection; or
• Result in the destruction of evidence.

Crime Statistics

Altamaha Technical College is committed to providing students with a safe and secure environment in which to learn.  The College reports statistics on the following crimes and offenses annually:

• Criminal Homicide – murder and non-negligent and negligent manslaughter.
• Forcible and Non-forcible Sex Offenses – A forcible sex offense is any sexual act directed against another person, forcible and/or against that person’s will or not forcible or against that person’s will where the victim is incapable of giving consent (such as when the victim is intoxicated). Non-forcible sex offenses are acts of “unlawful, non-forcible sexual intercourse.” This definition encompasses incest or statutory rape
• Robbery – the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the control, custody, or care of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.
• Aggravated Assault – an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury.  Usually, this offense occurs by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
• Burglary – the unlawful entry (breaking and entering) into a building or other structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft.
• Arson – willful or malicious burning or an attempt to burn a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, or personal property.
• Motor Vehicle Theft – the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle.
• On-campus Arrests for Alcohol, Drug, and Illegal Weapon Violations.
• Certain Referrals for Campus Disciplinary Actions for Alcohol, Drug, or Illegal Weapons Violations – If these referrals are included in the report as an arrest, the College does not need to report the referral under this category.
• Hate Crimes – crimes that fall into the list above, crimes involving bodily injury, crimes of larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation, destruction/damage/vandalism of property, or crimes reported to campus security or local police.  Altamaha Technical College must report hate crimes by category of prejudice:  race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability as part of the campus crime statistics.

Furthermore, Altamaha Technical College must provide the following geographic breakdown of the crime statistics:

• On campus;
• In a non-campus building or on non-campus property;
• On non-campus public property including thorough-fares, streets, sidewalks, or parking facilities that are within the campus or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

Each year, an e-mail notification is sent to all enrolled students to their student e-mail account and all Altamaha Technical College employees that provides the website to access this report.  All current and prospective employees and students can obtain a copy of this report from the Student Affairs Office on each campus or Human Resources Specialist by calling (912)427-5876.

Campus Facilities and Security Access

The Maintenance Department maintains College buildings and grounds with concern for safety and security.  This department inspects campus facilities regularly and promptly makes needed repairs.  Students and employees must contact the Campus Maintenance immediately to report any hazard.  The Maintenance Department routinely inspects College facilities to review lighting and environmental safety.

Most campus facilities are open to the public during the day and evening hours when classes are in session.  Members of the maintenance staff on the Jesup, Baxley and Hazlehurst campuses unlock and lock buildings each day.  Faculty and staff at other college locations are responsible for securing those facilities.  When officially closed, all College facilities remain locked and assessable only to employees with keys. 

Altamaha Technical College does not have campus residences.

Crime Alert Bulletins (Timely Warnings)

In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the College Security Director, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide crime alert bulletin or “timely warning” will be issued to give prompt warning to members of the College community regarding the occurrence of serious crimes and to encourage members of the College community to take appropriate safety precautions.  The warning will be issued to students, faculty, and staff through some or all of the following methods as the severity of the situation dictates:  the College e-mail system, campus bulletin boards, special notices posted in multiple campus locations, and the College website. 

Emergency Response and Evacuation

 Altamaha Technical College has procedures in place to notify the campus community upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus.  The procedures for these situations are detailed in the Altamaha Technical College Emergency and Safety Guidelines and Procedures manual.  The College Security Director is responsible for determining if there is a significant emergency, who to notify, the content of the notification and initiating the notifications system.  The College Security Director will evaluate all available information to make the determination as to what type of response is needed.  Dependent on the type of situation involved, the College Security Director may use witness information, law enforcement information, weather information, alerts from local Emergency Management Agencies, and news sources to make a determination.  The College will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system.  Notification procedures for the campus community and for the larger community are detailed in the Altamaha Technical College Emergency and Safety Guidelines and Procedures manual.  A test of the Emergency Response System will be conducted annually and the results made public as part of the annual security disclosure.

Disclosures of Alleged Victims of Crimes of Violence or Non-forcible Sex Offenses

Altamaha Technical College will, upon written request, disclose to the alleged victim of a crime of violence, or non-forcible sex offense, the results of any disciplinary hearing conducted by the College against a student who is the alleged perpetrator of the crime or offense.  If the alleged victim is deceased as a result of the crime or offense, Altamaha Technical College will provide the results of the disciplinary hearing to the victim’s next of kin, if so requested in writing.

Sexual Assault

Altamaha Technical College seeks to prevent sexual assault and educate and promote awareness of rape, acquaintance rape and other forcible and non-forcible sex offenses by offering educational presentations, publications, and videos to students upon request.  Information is also available to students through The Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office at www.ovw.usdoj.gov.

The College is committed to providing a safe, secure educational and work environment where individuals are free from threat of sexual assault or other crimes involving force or intimidation.  Persons who believe they have been sexually assaulted or been subjected to any sexual offense on campus should immediately report the incident to Campus Security personnel or to a local law enforcement office by calling 911.  College personnel will assist victims in notifying appropriate law enforcement authorities if requested.  

Victims of sexual assault should make every effort to protect the evidence that could be used to prosecute the offender including not changing clothes, showering or bathing, not disturbing the crime scene, and seeking medical attention.  Assaults should be reported immediately to the proper authorities, including the police and hospital.  Professionals at these agencies are available to offer instruction on the proper procedures and provide a full range of counseling services.  Area hospitals include:

Sex offenses should be reported to the Campus Security Director (the Vice President for Student Affairs) at (912)427-5899.     

A victim of a sexual assault may request changes to their academic schedule after the assault.  Changes will be made when requested and reasonably available. 

Disciplinary Procedures involving incidents of an alleged sex offense will be handled by the Altamaha Technical College Sexual Harassment Coordinator (the Human Resources Specialist).  The Sexual Harassment Coordinator will follow the College Unlawful Harassment Complaint Procedure which can be found in the College Catalog and Handbook. The accuser and the accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have a campus representative present during the disciplinary proceeding.  The accuser and the accused will be informed of the College’s final determination of any disciplinary proceeding with respect to the alleged sex offense and any sanction that is imposed against the accused. 

Sanctions the College may impose following a final determination of a disciplinary proceeding regarding rape, or other forcible or non-forcible sex offenses may include, but are not limited to: academic probation, suspension, expulsion from the College, loss of credit and/or tuition.

Sex Offender Registry and Access to Related Information

Federal legislation requires certain convicted sex offenders to notify the state of Georgia of each institution of high education at which the individual is a student or is employed.   

The federal Campus Sex Crimes Act, enacted on October 28, 2000, became effective on October 28, 2002.  This law mandates that institutions of higher education issue a statement advising the campus community where sex offender information provided by a state may be obtained.  The GBI Sex Offender Central Registry may be accessed at http://gbi.georgia.gov under services.

Reported in accordance with Uniform Crime Reporting procedures and the Jeanne Cleary Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act

*The statistics we received for this location from the Kingsland Police Department did not include the dates or times of the crimes that were reported.  Altamaha Technical College has use of this facility (Camden County High School) from 4:30 p.m. to  8:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday during each semester.