Reporting Criminal Actions

Make reports in person or by telephone to campus. The campus safety office can be dialed from most telephones on campus. College Village Housing and 137 Elm St. must dial (440) 775-8911. Potential criminal action and other emergencies on campus may also be reported directly to the Oberlin Police Department, 85 S. Main St., Phone: (440) 774-1061.

Emergency assistance is also available by dialing 911 from your campus telephone. The countywide emergency 911 service will directly contact fire, law enforcement, or EMS rescue services, who may request assistance from Campus Safety. This service is not available when using the campus emergency "Blue Light" telephone system.

The campus safety office coordinates a comprehensive public safety and security program for the college community. The office provides general and emergency response services, life and property protection, and educational programming. The office also alerts representatives of other college services if they are needed by the college community after regular business hours.

Campus Safety Officers

Campus Safety Officers are not sworn police officers and have limited arrest authority, but they collaborate closely with the Oberlin Police Department (OPD) to maintain a secure campus environment. Uniformed Campus Safety officers conduct mobile, bicycle, and foot patrols across the campus, including parking areas, residence halls, and administrative and academic buildings.

Their duties encompass a broad range of public safety services, such as enforcing federal, state, and local regulations, responding to criminal activities, addressing medical and fire emergencies, and managing other safety and security issues. Campus Safety officers and OPD work together to patrol all public properties, including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking areas both on and adjacent to the campus. The Oberlin Police Department frequently monitors the Campus Safety Office's radio frequency.

In critical situations, Campus Safety officers will alert the appropriate law enforcement authorities and can facilitate contact with law enforcement upon a victim's request. For serious criminal offenses like felonies or physical/sexual assaults, Campus Safety will notify the OPD. Established protocols guide the collaboration between the college and city authorities in investigating and addressing criminal activities on campus. Information about criminal activities, both on and off campus, is shared in compliance with privacy laws.

Support Teams Oberlin College collaborates with the Nord Center's Sexual Assault Services to assist victims of sexual offenses. For incidents in residence halls, residential education staff may help file a report with the Campus Safety Office.

Campus Safety Dispatchers are available 24/7 at (440) 774-8444 or (440) 774-8911. Upon receiving a call, either a Campus Safety or OPD officer will be dispatched, or the victim will receive immediate medical care and be invited to file an incident report voluntarily.

The judicial coordinator also accepts direct reports from community members, encouraging officers to build trust within the college community to promote timely reporting.

If the OPD is notified of criminal activity involving Oberlin College students occurring off-campus, they may inform Campus Safety, though they are not required to do so. Students involved may face arrest by OPD and subsequent judicial proceedings by the college.

This information aims to inform Oberlin College community members about available resources if they become crime victims. It is not intended to suggest that these resources serve as official reporting entities for the college. Crimes should be reported directly to Campus Safety for inclusion in annual crime statistics and timely community warnings.

While a fully confidential reporting process is not available, the director or a designee can file a report detailing an incident without disclosing the reporter’s identity. This approach ensures confidentiality while addressing the safety of the reporter and the community and maintaining accurate records of incidents. Reports filed in this manner are included in annual crime statistics and may influence campus alerts.