2023 Annual Security Report

Bakersfield College

With more than 156 acres of physical space, Bakersfield College’s complex network of campuses, communities, facilities, happenings, students, and staff is comparable to a small city. Located on the eastmost bluffs of Bakersfield, California in Kern County’s San Joaquin Valley, our college serves more than 40,000 students and nearly 2000 employees throughout the cities of Arvin, Bakersfield, Delano, McFarland, Shafter, and Wasco.

This Annual Security Report (ASR) details important efforts to prepare for, provide, and enhance the safety needs of our Bakersfield College community. The following report meets local, state, and federal requirements for annual reporting of incidents on campus, with a special focus on the Higher Education Opportunity Act and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

Message From the President

As we embark on a new academic year, it is crucial that everyone on campus is aware of the policies, procedures, and services provided by Bakersfield College. Your understanding and cooperation play a vital role in fostering a secure and safe learning environment. We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to familiarize themselves with the Annual Security Report to gain insight into how Bakersfield College promotes safety, crime prevention, emergency preparedness, and more. While reporting incidents directly to College Safety is preferred, you can also use the incident reporting form on the Student Rights and Responsibilities Website to report any situations, including sexual misconduct and other forms of misconduct, to college officials.

Remember, our safety motto at BC is "If you see something, say something, so we can do something about it." If you have any questions regarding this report, need to report a crime or suspicious activity, or have any safety concerns, please reach out to the Department of College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or visit our new office location in the Administrative Services Building, west of the Campus Center.

Sincerely,

Steve Watkin
Acting President
Bakersfield College

Preparation of the Annual Report

The Annual Security Report (ASR) is published each year by October 1st. The report is reviewed and updated to ensure compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and other local, state, and federal requirements. Along with crime statistic information, resources specific to each individual campus are also included. Bakersfield College Department of College Safety (College Safety) abides by and establishes its policies through the Kern Community College District (KCCD) Board Policies and Administrative Procedures.

The ASR is published on the Bakersfield College Clery Act Compliance website. The ASR can also be viewed in the College Safety Office (Administrative Services building, southeast corner) or a digital copy can be sent to you by contacting collegesafety@bakersfieldcollege.edu or (661) 395-4554.

This year’s report reflects the crime statistics that were reported in 2020-2022. Crime reporting statistics include data on crimes that occur on the physical campuses, on public property within campus bounds, on public property immediately adjacent to the campus, and on non-campus buildings and property owned by the College. These areas are defined as the Clery geography. They also include data on crimes reported to Bakersfield College’s Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) and local law enforcement agencies. This report will not include reporting statistics for fire or missing persons because the College does not provide living facilities for students either on or off campus.

The procedures for preparing the annual disclosure of crime statistics include crime reporting statistics to the college community obtained from the following sources: College Safety, Campus Security Authorities, Human Resources, Office of Student Life, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and Bakersfield, Delano, Shafter, McFarland, and Arvin Police Departments. For statistical purposes, crime statistics reported to any of these sources are recorded in the calendar year the crime was reported. A written request for statistical information is made on an annual basis to all Campus Security Authorities (as defined by federal law) and to all College Deans, Directors, and Department Chairs who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities.

All statistics are gathered, compiled, and reported to the college community via this report, which is published by College Safety. College Safety submits the annual crime statistics published in this report to the United States Department of Education (DOE). The statistical information gathered by DOE is published for the public on their Campus Safety and Security website.

Bakersfield College complies with the regulations of the Clery Act, especially as it pertains to equal employment opportunity in KCCD BP 3420. Compliance with the Clery Act is a joint effort between Kern Community College District, Bakersfield College, College Safety, and the administration of each institution.

The Executive Director of College Safety (Director) is responsible for maintaining Bakersfield College crime statistics and making reasonable, good-faith efforts to obtain these statistics from other law enforcement agencies as necessary to allow the institution to comply with its reporting requirements under the Clery Act. The Director is also responsible for compiling the following as required under California Education Code 67380:

• All occurrences and arrests reported to the KCCD for crimes that are committed on campus that involve violence, hate violence, theft, destruction of property, illegal drugs, or alcohol intoxication.
• All occurrences of noncriminal acts of hate violence reported to KCCD for which a written report is prepared.

Over the years, the categories have expanded for which crime statistics are required to be included in the ASR. They now include hate crimes and sexual assault crimes of rape, fondling, incest, and statutory rape as well as the Violence Against Women Act offenses of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This report reflects the current review of institutional policies to evaluate and adopt practices that address and prevent campus sexual violence and refine standards of student conduct. Some of these practices include training and awareness campaigns for students and employees.

College Safety encourages accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes and takes all such reports seriously. Reports will be accepted in any manner, including in person or in writing, at any KCCD/BC facility. Reports will also be accepted anonymously, by phone, email, or through the College Safety website.

Report Notifications & Sample

Each year, all enrolled students, college employees, and members of our communities receive email notification of the availability of the Annual Security Report. The notification provides information about the report and how to access it, including the locations of its publication on our websites.

Below is a sample of the notification sent to our campus communities when the Annual Security Report is made available.

October 1, 2023

Subject: BC’s 2022 Annual Security Report Now Available! Hi Renegades!

In compliance with the Clery Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and other local, state, and federal laws, Bakersfield College prepares the Annual Security Report. This publication is a report of our campus security policies, three years of crime statistics, and important crime and safety information for our college communities.

The 2023 Annual Security Report is now available on our Clery Act Compliance website.

Please take a moment to read through the report. It includes information on campus safety, crime awareness and prevention, procedures for reporting a crime, emergency procedures, fire safety drills, emergency notifications and timely warnings, alcohol and substance abuse, sexual assault, and more.

Crime reporting statistics include data on crimes that occur on the physical campuses, on public property within campus bounds, on public property immediately adjacent to the campus, and on non-campus buildings and property owned by the college.

If there is anything we can help with, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Remember our motto: If you see something, say something, so we can do something about it. Report any suspicious criminal activity to College Safety immediately at (661) 395-4554 using the 5Ws: WHO did you see, WHAT did you see, WHEN did you see it, WHERE did you see it, and WHY is it suspicious.

Thank you,

College Safety
Bakersfield College

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy & Crime Statistics Act

Focused on advocacy, education, and collaboration, the Clery Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to safe campus communities nationwide. The organization was founded in 1987 by Connie and Howard Clery, one year after the rape and murder of their 19-year-old daughter, Jeanne who was a Lehigh University student. Her assailant, also a student at Lehigh, who she did not know prior to the attack, is now spending life behind bars without parole.

Through their grief and with enormous strength and courage, the Clery family committed themselves to creating enduring change. They were alarmed by the lack of information provided to students and campus communities about the state of crime on college campuses. They realized that, although crimes were being reported to campus authorities, administrators often failed to provide useful notification about those incidents. Most troubling was that laws were not consistent about when or how reporting campus crimes were mandated.

The Clery’s engaged and took their fight to Capitol Hill. In 1990, Congress passed the Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act, later renamed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Several amendments to the Clery Act have been signed into law, including updated emergency response, timely warning procedures, and hate crime reporting standards. The full text can be found in the Federal Register Vol. 79, No. 202.

Jeanne Clery’s death led to significant changes in campus safety, but it is her life and her spirit that is remembered. Her legacy is one of love. The special people in her life carried that love through their tragedy and used that as motivation to create positive, nationwide change.

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual security report, and provide emergency notifications and timely warnings to campus communities about crimes that pose immediate or ongoing threats. It also ensures certain basic rights for complainants of sexual assault and requires the United States Department of Education to collect and disseminate campus crime statistics.

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to:

• Publish an annual security report by October 1st that contains campus security policies and crime statistics for the past three years.
• Disclose crime statistics from the campus, public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus, and the campus’s non-campus buildings and property. Statistics must be compiled from College Safety, local law enforcement agencies, Campus Security Authorities, and contracted security agencies.
• Notify complainants of sexual assault of their basic rights.
• Provide timely warnings and emergency notification of crimes or situations that meet specific guidelines and pose an immediate or ongoing threat to our college communities.
• Make available a public daily crime log that contains any crime that has occurred on campus and is reported to College Safety.
  Bakersfield College understands that students, faculty, staff, and visitors have a right to be aware of the amount of criminal activity that occurs on its campuses. All members of our campus communities are encouraged to report suspicious or criminal activity that occurs on campus to College Safety and/or the local law enforcement agency.

Bakersfield College understands that students, faculty, staff, and visitors have a right to be aware of the amount of criminal activity that occurs on its campuses. All members of our campus communities are encouraged to report suspicious or criminal activity that occurs on campus to College Safety and/or the local law enforcement agency.

Clery Act Geography

Bakersfield College is required to release crime data for criminal offenses, Violence Against Women Act offenses, hate crimes, and arrests and referrals for disciplinary action. Crime reporting statistics include data on crimes that occur within the Clery geography, or:

• Campus buildings and property
• Non-campus buildings and property owned by the college
• Public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from our campuses
• Areas within the jurisdiction of the College Safety

As defined in the Clery Act, below are definitions related to the Clery geography.

• Campus
  1. Any building or property owned or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or in a manner related to, the institution’s educational purposes, including residence halls and
  2. Any building or property that is within or reasonably contiguous to the area identified in paragraph (i) of this definition, that is owned by the institution but controlled by another person, is frequently used by students, and supports institutional purposes (such as a food or other retail vendor)
• Non-campus building or property
  1. Any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the institution; or
  2. Any building or property owned or controlled by an institution that is used in direct support of, or in relation to, the institution’s educational purposes, is frequently used by students, and is not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution.
• Public property
  1. All public property, including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities, that is within the campus, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

Clery Act Crime Definitions

Below are the Clery crime definitions as defined in the Clery Act.

• Arson - Any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc.
• Aggravated Assault - An unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. (It is not necessary that injury result from an aggravated assault when a gun, knife, or other weapon is used which could and probably would result in serious personal injury if the crime were successfully completed.)
• Burglary - The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft. For reporting purposes this definition includes; unlawful entry with intent to commit a larceny or felony; breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny; housebreaking; safecracking; and all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned.
• Criminal Homicide (Manslaughter by Negligence) - The killing of another person through gross negligence.
• Criminal Homicide (Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter) - The willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another.
• Motor Vehicle Theft - The theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. (Classify as motor vehicle theft all cases where automobiles are taken by persons not having lawful access even though the vehicles are later abandoned—including joyriding.)
• Robbery - The taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the complainant in fear.
• Dating Violence - Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the complainant.
  1. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
  2. For the purposes of this definition—(A) Dating violence includes, but is
     not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse. (B) Dating violence does not include acts covered under the definition of domestic violence.
  3. For the purposes of complying with the requirements of this section and §668.41, any incident meeting this definition is considered a crime for the purposes of Clery Act reporting.
• Domestic Violence

  1. A felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed - (A) By a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the complainant; (B) By a person with whom the complainant shares a child in common; (C) By a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabitated with, the complainant as a spouse or intimate partner; (D) By a person similarly situated to a spouse of the complainant under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred, or (E) By any other person against an adult or youth complainant who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred.

  2. For the purposes of complying with the requirements of this section and §668.41, any incident meeting this definition is considered a crime for the purposes of Clery Act reporting.

• Stalking
  1. Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to—(A) Fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or (B) Suffer substantial emotional distress.
  2. For the purposes of this definition—(A) Course of conduct means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property. (B) Reasonable person means a reasonable person under similar circumstances and with similar identities to the complainant. (C) Substantial emotional distress means significant mental suffering or anguish that may, but does not necessarily, require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.
  3. For the purposes of complying with the requirements of this section and section 668.41, any incident meeting this definition is considered a crime for the purposes of Clery Act reporting.
• Hate Crime - A crime reported to local police agencies or to a campus security authority that manifests evidence that the complainant was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias against the complainant. For the purposes of this section, the categories of bias include the complainant’s actual or perceived race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, and disability.
• Intimidation - To unlawfully place another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words and/or other conduct, but without displaying a weapon or subjecting the complainant to actual physical attack.
• Simple Assault - An unlawful physical attack by one person upon another where neither the offender displays a weapon, nor the complainant suffers obvious severe or aggravated bodily injury involving apparent broken bones, loss of teeth, possible internal injury, severe laceration, or loss of consciousness.
• Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property - To willfully or maliciously destroy, damage, deface, or otherwise injure real or personal property without the consent of the owner or the person having custody or control of it.
• Larceny (Theft - Except Motor Vehicle Theft) - The unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another. Attempted larcenies are included. Embezzlement, confidence games, forgery, worthless checks, etc., are excluded.
• Sex Offenses - Any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the complainant, including instances where the complainant is incapable of giving consent.
• Fondling - The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the complainant, including instances where the complainant is incapable of giving consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental incapacity.
• Incest - Sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.
• Statutory Rape - Sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.
• Rape - The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the complainant.
• Sexual Assault - An offense that meets the definition of rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape as used in the FBI’s UCR program and included in Appendix A of the Clery Act.
• Drug Abuse Violations - The violation of laws prohibiting the production, distribution, and/or use of certain controlled substances and the equipment or devices utilized in their preparation and/or use. The unlawful cultivation, manufacture, distribution, sale, purchase, use, possession, transportation, or importation of any controlled drug or narcotic substance. Arrests for violations of State and local laws, specifically those relating to the unlawful possession, sale, use, growing, manufacturing, and making of narcotic drugs.
• Liquor Law Violations - The violation of State or local laws or ordinances prohibiting the manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, possession, or use of alcoholic beverages, not including driving under the influence and drunkenness.
• Weapons: Carrying, Possessing, Etc. - The violation of laws or ordinances prohibiting the manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, possession, concealment, or use of firearms, cutting instruments, explosives, incendiary devices, or other deadly weapons.

College Safety Enforcement Authority

Bakersfield College employs professional College Safety staff to provide safety and security at all college campuses. The Executive Director of College Safety oversees the Department of College Safety and supervises all operations.

College Safety Officers are certified under the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services and have been granted enforcement authority by the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees and the Bakersfield College President to provide safety for persons of our college communities and property of our college campuses.

Officers respond to emergencies and reports of criminal or suspicious activity, enforce parking rules and regulations, and participate in other related campus safety needs. They also have the authority, under California Penal Code 837, to make citizen arrests for certain public offenses. If an arrest is made, the local law- enforcement agency located within the jurisdiction of the campus is notified to respond.

Bakersfield College maintains collaborative working relationships with its partnering law enforcement agencies including the Bakersfield Police Department, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Delano Police Department, Arvin Police Department, Shafter Police Department, McFarland Police Department, and the California State University Bakersfield Police Department. These relationships help Bakersfield College address and respond to the safety needs of our college communities. Currently, there are no written agreements or memorandums of understanding (MOUs) regarding any topics (including the investigation of criminal incidents) between Bakersfield College and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office or above listed local police departments. However, the College is in the process of drafting MOUs with these agencies.

All criminal offenses (murder, rape, assault, robbery, auto theft, etc.) are reported by our Officers to the appropriate local law enforcement agencies. Those agencies complete their own investigations into these crimes. Prosecution of all criminal offenses is conducted by the District Attorney through the Superior Court of the county of jurisdiction.

The jurisdiction of our Officers extends to the boundaries of property owned and operated by the College. Any crime that occurs outside these boundaries should be reported to the local law enforcement agency or 911 and to College Safety.

If a student commits a violation of College or District policies and/or rules, College Safety has the authority to refer the student to the Dean of Students for the Student Discipline process.

Security Of & Access to Facilities

During normal business hours, most academic and administrative buildings at the Panorama campus are open to our college communities. Most buildings and facilities have individual hours that may vary based on the time of the year, specific academic use, special event scheduling, and/or community use. Access to these buildings is also controlled by authorized card or key access after normal business hours. All of these buildings have varied levels of access. College Safety Officers regularly patrol the interior and exteriors of all campus facilities. Authorized persons requiring after hours access to a building should notify College Safety upon arrival and before departure. During periods of “operational closure”, only certain persons will be authorized to access facilities. Bakersfield College does not maintain any on-campus student housing facilities.

Specific access protocols for building spaces can be obtained from each area’s Dean or Manager, by contacting College Safety at (661) 395-4554, or by connecting with the appropriate contact below:

• BC SouthWest: Emmanual Mourtzanos, Dean of Instruction, (661) 395-4936
• Weill Institute: Ramon Puga, Building Facility Manager, (661) 336-5051
• Delano Campus: Brian Rodriguez, Interim Program Director of Rural Initiatives, (661) 395-2024
• Job Spot: Liz Ramirez, Dean of Instruction, (661) 395-4936
• Wasco Education Center: Brian Rodriguez, Interim Program Director of Rural Initiatives, (661) 395-2024
• City Serve: Brian Rodriguez, Interim Program Director of Rural Initiatives, (661) 395-2024
• McFarland: Brian Rodriguez, Interim Program Director of Rural Initiatives, (661) 395-2024

Maintaining Campus Facilities

Bakersfield College maintains campus facilities and landscaping in a manner that minimizes hazardous and unsafe conditions. College Safety Officers conduct regular patrols (in vehicles and on foot) of our campuses, checking for hazards and safety concerns. Patrol areas also include buildings, doors, locks, bike racks, and walkways. College Safety works closely with the Maintenance & Operations Department to promptly address lighting issues, malfunctioning doors and locks, and other malfunctioning physical conditions that affect safety and security. When issues are identified, they are reported to Maintenance and Operations. Any member of our college community can help by reporting facilities safety issues to College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or Maintenance and Operations at (661) 395-4221. College Safety is often consulted on security measures during construction and renovation project meetings.

Campus Security Authorities

What Is a Campus Security Authority?

Bakersfield College strongly encourages community members to immediately report any suspicious or criminal activity to College Safety at (661) 395-4554. Some may prefer to report criminal or suspicious activity to other college individuals. The Clery Act provides for this through Campus Security Authorities (CSAs).

A CSA is defined as...

• A campus police or security department of an institution (College Safety).
• Individual(s) who have responsibility for campus security but who do not constitute a campus police or security department, such as an individual who is responsible for monitoring entrances into institutional property.
• Any individual or organization specified in an institution’s statement of campus security policy as an individual or organization to which students and employees should report criminal offenses.
• An official of an institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline, and campus judicial proceedings (pastoral or professional counselors are not considered CSAs when acting as pastoral or professional counselors).

Roles of CSAs

CSAs take reports of suspicious or criminal activity from members of our college communities. CSAs do not determine whether a crime took place and they do not apprehend alleged suspects of crimes. They only take reports of alleged crimes. CSAs also understand that complainants have the right to decline to report any crime at any time.

CSAs should notify College Safety, as soon as possible, of these reports, especially those that include crimes as defined in the Clery Act. College Safety and local law enforcement agencies will conduct their own investigations into these crimes and determine the appropriate interventions. College Safety will also request reported crimes and suspicious activity from CSAs at least once per year to compile into its annual crime statistics.

List of CSAs

Bakersfield College CSAs are identified by virtue of certain roles and by the interactions they have with the student community. The following are several key areas where CSAs are available for members of our college community to report crimes or suspicious activity.

College Safety: (661) 395-4554
Office of Student Life: (661) 395-4355
Athletics: (661) 395-4280
Human Resources: (661) 395-4850
Student Services: (661) 395-4203

A complete list of CSAs can be found on the Campus Security Authorities webpage.

Crime Reporting Procedures

Members of our college communities should immediately report any suspicious or criminal activity or emergencies to College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or 911. Prompt reporting assists in investigations, potential apprehension of suspects, aids in our ability to issue timely warning notices for significant and/or ongoing threats and can help in the prevention of similar crimes. Reporting a crime also ensures that it is included in annual crime statistics.

Any crime or suspicious activity, no matter how small, is important. When a crime is reported, local law enforcement agencies are contacted for investigation, as appropriate. Depending upon investigation outcomes, those crimes may be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution. College Safety Officers may also refer students to the Office of Student Life for the Student Discipline process. That process may include administrative disciplinary action.

Criminal or suspicious activity that occurs off campus should be reported to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Additionally, every Bakersfield College campus has a local law enforcement agency that has primary jurisdiction over that area. College Safety maintains collaborative relationships with these agencies by sharing investigation information and crime statistics that occur within the Clery geography. Bakersfield College also shares investigation information and crime statistics with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to keep our communities safe and meet legal requirements.

Reporting Criminal or Suspicious Activity

To report suspicious or criminal activity immediately, call College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or call 911. Dialing 911 from any phone will connect you with the local law enforcement agency emergency line. Local law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, ambulance services, etc. are contacted and dispatched from this number.

To report suspicious or criminal activity in person, visit College Safety in the Administrative Services building, southeast corner, west of the Campus Center Building.

To report suspicious or criminal activity anonymously, call College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or call 911. Because of the nature of anonymous reports there are limits on how they can be investigated.

To report suspicious or criminal activity to a Campus Security Authority, contact them directly. (See Campus Security Authorities above.)

Response to a Report

College Safety can be reached 24 hours, 7 days a week, by calling (661) 395-4554. College Safety Dispatch or Officers will be available to answer calls.

College Safety will take the required action, either dispatching an officer or asking the complainant to report to College Safety to file an incident report. All reported crimes will be investigated by the College and may become a matter of public record. College Safety incident reports are forwarded to the Office of Student Life for review and referral to the Dean of Students for potential action as described by the Standards of Student Conduct. At the direction of the Executive Director of College Safety, College Safety Officers will investigate reports. If assistance is required from local law enforcement agencies, College Safety will coordinate with those agencies as necessary.

If a sex offense occurs (sexual assault, rape, fondling, domestic violence, etc.), College Safety Officers and/or responding staff on scene will offer the complainant a wide variety of available resources. For these crimes, College Safety will always allow a representative from Student Life, Human Resources, and/or an advocate to be present with any complainant during any interview by College Safety, law enforcement, district attorneys, defense attorneys, and/or medical and physical examinations as described in California Penal Code 679.

Prior to interviews, a complainant of sexual assault or domestic violence must be informed of their right to have an advocate present. The presence of an advocate does not supersede any existing right guaranteed by law, and a law enforcement official shall not, for any reason, discourage a complainant of an alleged sexual assault from receiving medical evidentiary or physical examination.
 
An advocate can be a “sexual assault counselor” as defined in California Evidence Code 1035, a “domestic violence counselor” as defined in California Evidence Code 1037, and/or a “human trafficking caseworker” as defined in California Evidence Code 1038. Bakersfield College protects confidentiality privilege between a complainant and a complainant advocate as described in the above Evidence Codes. During a report or interview, College Safety Officers will connect complainants with the Dean of Students.

Pastoral & Counselors

The Clery Act provides that pastoral or professional counselors that are acting in their capacity as pastoral or professional counselors are not required to report crimes for inclusion into crime statistics for the Annual Security Report. Therefore, conversations and communications shared between these counselors and members of our campus communities are considered confidential and do not need to be shared as part of the crime reporting process. However, pastoral and professional counselors are encouraged to inform those that they counsel of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis, though they are not required to do so. Complainants of crimes also have the right to decline to report any crime at any time.

A pastoral counselor is a person who is associated with a religious order or denomination, is recognized by that religious order or denomination as someone who provides confidential counseling and is acting in their capacity as a pastoral counselor.

A professional counselor is a person whose official responsibilities include providing mental health counseling to members of the institution’s community and who is functioning within the scope of the counselor’s license or certification.

Other college officials that counsel our campus community members (even when that counseling is confidential), but who do not meet the above definitions of a pastoral or professional counselor, are considered CSAs and are required to report crimes for inclusion in the annual crime statistics report.

Confidential & Anonymous Reporting

Kern Community College District on behalf of Bakersfield College uses Maxient to provide our communities with simple, risk-free ways to anonymously and confidentially report activities that may involve safety concerns, criminal, unethical, or otherwise inappropriate activity or behavior in violation of procedures, policies, Standards of Student Conduct, or state and federal laws.

Reports submitted by Maxient are reviewed carefully and handled promptly and discreetly by the KCCD Office of Human Resources and/or the Office of Student Life. No retaliatory action will be taken against anyone for reporting or inquiring about potential breaches of policy or law or for seeking guidance on how to handle those concerns. The Maxient system is not a substitute for existing reporting channels established by the College. This service is provided as a supplementary means of reporting when maintaining the reporter’s anonymity or confidentiality is important. The College encourages reporters to first attempt to resolve problems or disputes through established communication or reporting channels, whenever possible. Some Maxient reports are included in our annual crime statistics.

Maxient is NOT an emergency or 911 service. Do not use this service to report events that present an immediate threat to life or property. Reports submitted through this service may not receive an immediate response. For emergency assistance, call College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or call 911.
 
To anonymously report activities that may involve safety, criminal, unethical, or otherwise inappropriate activity or behavior in violation of procedures, policies, rules, or state and federal laws, file a report on our Report A Complaint webpage. The link to Report a Complaint can also be found in the footer of the Bakersfield College main webpage. You can also file a report by calling 661-336-5107.

Voluntary Confidential Reporting

If you are the complainant of a crime and do not want to pursue action within the College or the criminal justice system, you may still want to consider making a confidential report. With your permission, a College Safety Officer can file a report of the details of an incident without revealing your identity. (However, in the event of a reported sex offense, the violation must be reported to the Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator. The report would include the identity of the complainant and respondent.)

The purpose of a confidential report is to keep the matter confidential while taking steps to enhance the complainant’s safety and the safety of our college communities. With this information, Bakersfield College can keep an accurate record of related incidents, determine if there is a pattern of crime, and alert the college communities of potential danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in our annual crime statistics.

Confidential reports for the purpose of inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics can be made via any of the reporting methods above. (See Reporting Criminal or Suspicious Activity.)

Daily Crime Log

Bakersfield College maintains a daily crime log on our Crime Reporting webpage and can also be viewed in the College Safety office. This is a way for the college to distribute crime information between annual security reports. The log includes crimes and alleged crimes reported to College Safety, local law enforcement, or the Campus Security Authorities. Certain reports may not be made available if they have been deemed confidential because release of these types of reports may interfere with active investigations or other circumstances.

Student Discipline for Respondent

When someone is the complainant of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense and the respondent of that crime is a Bakersfield College student, the complainant can submit a written request to the Kern Community College District Office of Human Resources for the results (or final determination) of any disciplinary proceedings that have been imposed against the respondent. If the complainant is deceased as a result of a crime, the complainant’s next of kin shall be treated as the complainant/representative.

The term “crime of violence” refers to an offense that (1) has as an element of the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another or any other offense that (2) is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.

Complainants should submit their written request to collegesafety@bakersfieldcollege.edu.

Sex Offenses & Sex Offender Registration

Title IX, Violence Against Women Act, & State Law

Title IX is a federal civil rights law passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Simply put, the law protects people from sex discrimination in education settings for institutions that receive Federal funding. Transgender students and students who do not conform to gender stereotypes are also protected by Title IX.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law first passed in 1994 that provides investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, imposes restitution on persons convicted, and allows civil remedies when prosecutors chose to not prosecute persons who commit crimes defined in the act. The Act was reauthorized in 2000, 2005, and 2012. As a result of a United States government shutdown, the Act expired on December 21, 2018. The Act was reintroduced and passed in the US House of Representatives in 2019 but was ignored by the US Senate. The Act was again reintroduced and passed in the US House of Representatives in 2021.

In California, state law expands upon Title IX and gender equity in the Sex Equity in Education Act (CA Education Code 221.5-231.5). This law prohibits discrimination based on gender (sex), gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Bakersfield College is committed to its obligations under Title IX, the Sex Equity in Education Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. The College does not condone or tolerate any sexual assault (rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape), dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking. Whether committed by an employee, student, or member of our community, sexual assault is in violation of College and District policies and is subject to all local, state, and federal laws and the employee and student disciplinary process.

Additionally, the College provides an orientation program, education, and prevention information regarding domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This information includes sexual assault policy and prevention strategies including awareness, primary prevention, bystander intervention, and risk reduction. The College also provides additional bystander intervention information on the BC Bystander Intervention webpage.

Sex Offense Definitions

Clery Act Definitions

• Sex Assault (Offenses) - Any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the complainant, including instances where the complainant is incapable of giving consent.
• Rape - The carnal knowledge of a person, without the consent of the complainant, including instances where the complainant is incapable of giving consent because of his/her/their age or because of his/her/their temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity. There is carnal knowledge if there is the slightest penetration of the genital or anal opening of the body of another person.
• Statutory Rape - Non-Forcible Sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent. There is no force or coercion used in Statutory Rape; the act is not an attack.
• Fondling - The touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the complainant, including instances where the complainant is incapable of giving consent because of his/her/their age or because of his/her/their temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.

California State Law Definitions

• Affirmative Consent - California Education Code 67386
• Sexual Assault and Battery - California Penal Code 243.4
• Rape - California Penal Code 261
• Sodomy - California Penal Code 286
• Oral Copulation - California Penal Code 287
• Bigamy, Incest, and the Crime Against Nature - California Penal Code 289
• Fondling - California Penal Code 243.4
• Statutory Rape - California Penal Code 261.5
• Incest - California Penal Code 285
• Abuse & Domestic Violence - California Family Code 6203 and California Family Code 6211
• Domestic Violence - California Penal Code 273.5
• Dating Violence - California Penal Code 243
• Stalking - California Penal Code 646.9 and California Penal Code 653m

What To Do If You Are A Complainant Of A Sex Offense

If you have been the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, you should report the incident by contacting College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or the Bakersfield College Deputy Title IX Coordinator at (661) 395-4850. The BC Deputy Title IX Coordinator is Gina Duran, gina.duran@kccd.edu. You can also discuss the incident with the BC Campus Advocate at (661) 395-4614 or at advocate@bakersfieldcollege.edu.

Members of our community who may be victims of sexual assault shall be treated with dignity. Our College Safety Officers, Campus Security Authorities (CSAs), and other college officials are required to notify any victim
 
of a sex offense of their right to file a sex discrimination complaint with the college. Complainants of sexual offenses are referred to the KCCD Title IX Coordinator at (661) 336-5141 or the Bakersfield College Deputy Title IX Coordinator at (661) 395-4850. Victims are provided with information and assistance on ways to access medical treatment and how to report to local law enforcement, if they so choose. Victims are also referred to the Campus Advocate at (661) 395-4614 The Campus Advocate is a sexual assault counselor and will assist the complainant with professional counseling and additional college and community resources. Communication with the Campus Advocate is confidential.

Medical Care

After a sex offense incident, complainants should seek medical attention right away by going to the nearest emergency room for a physical exam and possible collection of evidence. The Campus Advocate or a College Safety Officer can assist complainants seek medical care, if needed. Healthcare professionals will check for physical trauma and may provide emergency contraceptives and other interventions as necessary. This may include treatment for possible exposure to sexually transmitted diseases.

In California, evidence may be collected even if you choose not to make a report to law enforcement. In Kern County, law enforcement is the only entity that can initiate response from Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. When this happens, this does not mean a report has to be made. Complainants can receive a forensic exam under an alias such as “John/Jane Doe”.

Preserving evidence after an incident is critical, even if complainants do not wish to prosecute. In the event that worn clothing is collected as evidence, you may bring a change of clothes or clothes will be provided. It is important that the victim not bathe, shower, douche, eat, drink, smoke, change clothing, or clean the area on the body or the physical space where the incident occurred. This is especially important if the incident occurred within the past 96 hours. Complainants should also preserve other evidence like text messages, social media communications or posts, pictures, logs, copies of documents, and any other relevant communications that may be useful to investigators. This might allow evidence to be preserved that may assist in prosecuting an alleged criminal offender and may be helpful in obtaining a protective order.

If complainants opt to not provide forensic evidence collection, health care providers can still treat injuries and provide other interventions, including addressing concerns of pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, etc.

Complainant Rights & Options

Regardless of whether a complainant elects to pursue a criminal complaint and/or a civil suit or whether the offense is alleged to have occurred on or off campus, the College will assist complainants of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and will provide each complainant with a written explanation of their rights and options.

Such information includes:

• Procedures complainants should follow
• How BC protects confidentiality
• Resources for complainants at BC and within our communities
• How to request accommodations and protective measures
• Procedures for BC disciplinary procedure when the incident involves a BC student or staff member

A restraining order, also called a “protective order”, is a court order that can protect someone from being physically or sexually abused, threatened, stalked, or harassed. In California, there are 4 types of orders that can be requested:

• Domestic Violence Restraining Order
• Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order
• Civil Harassment Restraining Order
• Workplace Violence Restraining Order

More information about obtaining restraining orders in Kern County can be found on the Superior Court of Kern’s Domestic Violence & Restraining Orders webpage. The California Courts also provide additional information on domestic violence, elder and dependent adult abuse, civil harassment, and workplace violence.

Bakersfield College complies with California law in recognizing orders of protection. Any person who obtains an order of protection from California or any reciprocal state should provide a copy to College Safety, the Office of Student Life, and the Deputy Title IX Coordinator. A complainant may then meet with College Safety to develop a Safety Action Plan, which is a plan for College Safety and the complainant to reduce the risk of harm while on campus or coming and going from campus.

A Safety Action Plan may include, but is not limited to:

• Campus Escorts
• Academic Accommodations
• Campus No Contact order
• Special parking arrangements
• Changing classroom location or allowing a student to complete assignments from home

College Safety will assist complainants interested in pursuing a restraining order by connecting them with the local law enforcement agency, the Kern County Superior Court, and/or local advocacy centers.

The College may also issue a No Contact order. This is not the same as a restraining order but may provide several protections for the complainant while at Bakersfield College. A No Contact order restricts the respondent from contacting the complainant. This includes, but is not limited to, communication that is written, verbal, or physical. Written communication is understood to include all electronic means of communication, including, but not limited to email, instant messaging, and text messaging. Verbal communication is understood to include phone calls and voicemail messages. A No Contact order may include additional restrictions and terms.

If a No Contact order has been violated, the College will initiate disciplinary proceedings as appropriate and as defined under Standards of Student Conduct.

Counseling

The Title IX Coordinator can assist students with setting up counseling services that are free of charge and confidential. If complainants choose to seek out private counseling, costs may be associated. If complainants are not comfortable talking with a counselor, they should consider talking with a trusted friend or family member. Counseling is often crucial to the recovery process. Survivors are encouraged to seek the assistance of qualified professionals, even if several years have elapsed since the incident.

Academic Options

Upon receipt of a report of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, Bakersfield College will provide information about academic options. If the incident and its aftermath begin interfering with a complainant’s ability to complete academic coursework, the Title IX Coordinator or Dean of Students may be able to help explore academic accommodations.

Examples of academic options may include a transfer to a different section of a class or withdrawal from the class. Reasonable accommodation is available regardless of whether a report has been filed or not.

Confidentiality

Complainant may request that their directory information with the College be kept confidential by submitting a request to Admissions & Records. Initiating this request means that personally identifiable information is only shared with other college officials on a need-to-know basis. Those officials include, but are not limited to, those that are investigating the incident, those that are providing support services, and those that are providing accommodations or protective measures for the complainant.

This allows the College to maintain the complainant’s confidentiality while continuing to assist with mitigation of the incident. By only sharing personally identifiable information with individuals on a need-to-know basis, the College will maintain as confidential any accommodations or protective measures provided to the complainant to the extent that maintaining such confidentiality would not impair the ability of the institution to provide the accommodations or protective measures.

The College does not publish the name of complainants or other identifiable information regarding complainants in the Daily Crime Log or in the annual crime statistics that are disclosed in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Furthermore, if a Timely Warning Notice is issued on the basis of a report of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, the name of the complainant and other personally identifiable information about the complainant will be withheld.

It is never too late to deal with a sexual assault. Dealing with it can help you work toward healing from this significant trauma. There are statutes of limitations on criminal prosecutions, but they are often longer than you might think. Our supportive and professional staff are ready and able to help you.

Additional Resources

Additional resources for complainants of sex offenses include the following:

Student Health & Wellness Center (including Mental Health counseling) (661) 395-4336

The Open Door Network / Alliance Against Family Violence (661) 322-0931

Kern Medical Center (661) 326-2000

Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) (800) 656-4693

Bakersfield Police Department (661) 327-7111

Kern County Sheriff’s Office (661) 861-3110

Delano Police Department (661) 721-3377

Arvin Police Department (661) 854-5583

Shafter Police Department (661) 746-8500

McFarland Police Department (661) 792-2121

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988

US Department of Health & Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (800) 421-3481

US Department of Education (800) 872-5327

US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (800) 669-4000

Sex Offense Prevention

In order to take proactive measures to prevent sexual harassment and violence toward students, the District will provide preventive education programs and make complainant resources, including comprehensive victim services, available.

The District will include such programs in their orientation programs for new students, and in training for student athletes and coaches. These programs will include discussion of what constitutes sexual harassment and sexual violence, the District’s policies and disciplinary procedures, and the consequences of violating these policies. A training program or informational services will be made available to all students at least once annually.

The education programs will also include information aimed at encouraging students to report incidents of sexual violence to the appropriate District and law enforcement authorities. Since victims or third parties may be deterred from reporting incidents of alcohol, drugs, or other violations if District or campus rules were involved, the District will inform students that the primary concern is for student safety and that use of alcohol or drugs never makes the victim at fault for sexual violence. If other rules are violated, the District will address such violations separately from an allegation of sexual violence.

Syllabus Statement

The following statement can be added to a faculty syllabus to help educate students and provide information on Title IX and other sexual offense situations.

In education settings for institutions that receive Federal funding, Title IX, the Sex Equity in Education Act, and the BC Standards of Student Conduct protect people (including transgender students and students who do not conform to gender stereotypes) from discrimination based on gender (sex), gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Bakersfield College is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment. Bakersfield College does not condone or tolerate any sexual assault (rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape), dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking. Whether committed by an employee, student, or member of our communities, sexual offenses are in violation of College and District policies and are subject to all local, state, and federal laws and the employee and student disciplinary process.

Bakersfield College understands that sex discrimination and offenses can undermine academic success. We encourage students who have been a complainant to talk to someone to get the support they need. Faculty members are obligated to report incidents of sexual misconduct to the Deputy Title IX
 
Coordinator. To the extent allowed by law, our goal is to do what is best for complainants by ensuring their safety, helping them understand their rights, and getting them the right resources.

If you or someone you know has been a complainant, call College Safety at (661) 395-4554 as soon as possible. More resources are available on our Title IX webpage.

Sex Offender Registration

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act is a Federal law that amends the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children & Sexually Violent Offenders Registration Act (the “Wetterling Act”), the Higher Education Opportunity Act, and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This law requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement that advises our campus communities where to locate information about registered sex offenders. It also requires that we follow state procedures to ensure this information is made available promptly to appropriate law enforcement agencies for inclusion into state databases.

Megan’s Law

In 1994, seven-year-old Megan Kanka was raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender with two prior convictions of child sexual abuse. Prior to her death, states required sex offenders to register, but registry information was mostly limited to law enforcement. A grassroots movement championed by Megan’s parents after her death galvanized the public and demanded that sex offender registry information be made available to the public.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the federal “Megan’s Law”. The law provides guidelines that states must use to notify the public of sex offender information. It also enhances online sex offender registry information databases.

More information can be found on the California Megan’s Law website.

Registration

Persons convicted of sex offenses under California Penal Code Section 290 who are full time/part time students, full time/part time employees, volunteers, contractors, and/or certain carrier drivers are required to register with College Safety. These persons must register within 5 days of enrollment or employment. Registrants are also required to notify College Safety within 5 days of discontinuing attendance or employment. Student registrants are followed up by the Office of Student Life. Registration with College Safety does not relieve the person of registration within their local jurisdiction or vice versa. Registrants taking online-only classes are still required to register with College Safety and follow all the same processes, and must complete the Department of Justice Online Course Registration Form.

Alcohol & Drugs

Bakersfield College understands the health risks associated with the abuse of alcohol and use of illicit drugs. We are committed to providing a drug-free and alcohol-free environment for our staff, students, and communities. Bakersfield College complies with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act by prohibiting the unlawful possession, use, and distribution of alcohol and illegal drugs on campus and at college associated activities. The local law enforcement agencies within our Clery geography have primary enforcement authority of Federal and State drug laws. The College and the KCCD provide informational materials and counseling resources for substance abuse. KCCD also provides sanctions for students and employees that violate drug and alcohol use policies. For more information or student resources and the Biennial Report visit the Office of Student Life website.

Alcohol Use & Substance Abuse Policies

KCCD employees are expected to abide by KCCD BP 3550, Drug Free Environment and Drug Prevention Program and KCCD BP 3560 Alcoholic Beverages. These policies are conditions of employment. Any employee that violates these policies are subject to the discipline process, up to, and including, termination. Violations may also result in criminal charges being filed. KCCD may require that employees in violation obtain substance abuse assistance. Additionally, several position types may require a pre-employment drug screen.

Students are expected to abide by KCCD Board Policies 5500 Standards of Student Conduct, and BP 3500 Drug Free Environment and Drug Prevention Program. Students should also understand that policies for student conduct are enforced when on campus, in a college operated facility, when off campus where the student is acting in a capacity as a Student Employee or as a representative of the College, when participating in college field trips, etc. Any student that violates these policies is subject to the sanctions process which may include probation, suspension, expulsion, etc. Violations may also result in criminal charges being filed. Additionally, certain college programs may require a drug screen as a condition of admission into those programs or random drug screening while enrolled in the college program.

Drug & Alcohol Abuse Awareness

Several substance abuse education programs are provided to students through the Office of Student Life. More information about these programs and student counseling can be found on the Student Rights and Responsibilities website or by calling (661) 395-4355.

KCCD provides substance abuse resources and counseling to employees through the Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by contacting Human Resources or EAP at 1 (800) 999- 7222.

Crime Statistics

Reporting Crime Statistics

College Safety is responsible for gathering crime statistics within the Clery geography of Bakersfield College. As part of this requirement, Bakersfield College requests crime statistics from local law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction of the properties that comprise our campuses on public property within or immediately adjacent to our campuses and in or on certain off campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Bakersfield College. When the Clery geography is outside of College Safety’s jurisdiction, we request crime statistics from the appropriate local law enforcement agencies. Although these agencies are not mandated to fulfill these requests, we maintain collaborative and working relationships with our partnering agencies so that we can collect this important information.

In certain cases, reported statistics may be duplicates. For example, if a person reports a crime at Bakersfield College and then separately reports the same crime to a local law enforcement agency, this statistic will be included in Bakersfield College’s report and in that local law enforcement agency’s report. Every effort is made to avoid duplication.
 
Additionally, certain statistics may not be reportable by a local law enforcement agency but will be reportable by Bakersfield College. For example, a Clery crime that occurs within the Clery geography will be reported by Bakersfield College, but crimes that are reported to local law enforcement agencies might not be reported by that agency, even if Bakersfield College considers them “Clery reportable”.

Our crime statistics are reported in a simple format, by college campus or center. We hope this will help our communities understand this information better. These statistics are included in this Annual Security Report and can also be requested by contacting College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or collegesafety@bakersfieldcollege.edu.

Criminal Statistics by Location

• Arvin High School
• BC SouthWest
• City Serve
• Job Spot
• Olive Drive Fire Training Facility
• Panorama Campus
• Stockdale High School
• Valley Oaks Charter High School
• Weill Institute
• West High School
• Cesar E. Chavez High School
• Delano Campus
• Robert F. Kennedy High School
• Wonderful College Prep Academy
• McFarland High School
• McFarland Learning Center
• Shafter High School
• Shafter Learning Center
• WESTEC
• Wasco Adult Education Center/Wasco Independence High School

Crime Prevention & Education

Safety Is A Share Responsibility

Our college supports and participates in the national,” If you see something, say something” initiative by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). More information can be found on the DHS If You See Something, Say Something website.

College Safety addresses criminal behavior at the root causes. Our Officers participate in a community-oriented, trust-based program. Not only do we commit to compliance with local, state, and Federal laws, but we also use innovative methods, like community-oriented policing and crime prevention initiatives, for campus security so that we are engaging closely with our college communities.

Each person has a responsibility to contribute to the safety of our college by understanding how to be aware of crime and suspicious activity, reporting that activity to the right place, and actively assisting to prevent future crime.

Our motto at BC is “If you see something, say something, so we can do something about it.” Report any crimes or suspicious activity immediately to College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or 911 using the 5W’s: WHO did you see, WHAT did you see, WHEN did you see it, WHERE did you see it, and WHY is it suspicious.

Crime Prevention

One of the best ways to prevent crime is to be educated and aware. By adopting the safety precautions below, you will be better equipped to avoid becoming the complainant of a crime and to assist in the prevention of future crimes.

The Bakersfield College Safety Handbook is a published resource guide that is a supplement to this report. It can be found on our Health & Safety Resources webpage under Safety Handbook. It is updated annually. The Handbook provides many safety tips that students and employees can reference while conducting their business on our campuses.

Important Numbers

College Safety is a 24/7 operation. Call (661) 395-4554 for all non-emergency, emergency, and after-hours inquiries.

Here are some important numbers you may find useful.

College Safety Duty Cell Phones and text.

• Panorama (661) 747-3808
• BC SouthWest (661) 747-6076
• Weill Institute (661) 747-2037
• Delano (661) 747-1601

Community Emergency Numbers

• Emergency 911
• Bakersfield Police Department (661) 327-7111
• California State University Bakersfield Police Department (661) 654-2111
• Kern County Sheriff’s Office (661) 861-3110
• Delano Police Department (661) 721-3377
• Arvin Police Department (661) 854-5583
• Shafter Police Department (661) 746-8500
• McFarland Police Department (661) 792-2121

Safety Training

Bakersfield College offers many safety awareness and crime prevention training programs designed to inform our campus communities about safety and security policies and procedures. Each year, the College offers training programs on human trafficking, rape aggression defense, sexual assault, intimate partner violence and offenses, active shooters, emergency responders, first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), etc.

All crime prevention and safety awareness programs encourage attendees (students, employees, community members, etc.) to understand how they can assert their own responsibility when it comes to the safety of themselves and others. Programs also provide examples, scenarios, use cases, and ways for attendees to obtain more information. This type of training is provided through scheduled in-person meetings, virtual meetings, self- paced videos, safety emails, press releases and alerts, and social media. Safety training is also provided during the new employee orientations (Classified/Management and Faculty) and new student orientations.

In 2014, Bakersfield College implemented behavioral intervention strategies to help prevent and reduce incidents of disruptive and dangerous behavior on campus. This included the formation of the Students of Concern Team (SOC). SOC is a campus nexus that develops care and threat assessment systems and initiates a team-based response system to students in possible crises.

The following is a list of safety training that was offered in 2022.

• 1/9/22 Emergency Responder Training (Flex Week)
• 1/9/22 Campus Security Authority (Flex Week)
• 1/10/22 Campus Security Authority (Flex Week)
• 1/11/22 Campus Security Authority (Flex Week)
• 1/11/22 Emergency Responder Training (Flex Week)
• 1/17/22 College Safety Tips (Email Campaign)
• 1/23/22 Human Trafficking (Email Campaign)
• 1/24/22 New Management Academy-Safety Overview
• 1/31/22 Classified Academy Emergency Preparedness
• 2/1/22 Classified Academy Emergency Preparedness
• 2/3/22 Management Emergency Preparedness Academy
• 2/7/22 Active Shooter/Assailant Campus Center Office Space Training
• 2/9/22 Active Shooter/Assailant Training Campus Center
• 2/16/22 Understanding Consent (Email Campaign)
• 2/17/22 New Employee Orientation-Safety Overview
• 2/22/22 DHS Warns Colleges of Casualty Attack Threats (Email Campaign)
• 2/23/22 Teen Dating Violence Awareness (Office of Student Life Event)
• 2/23/22 Active Shooter/Assailant Training Campus Center
• 3/11/22 New Faculty Initial Actions Crisis Response
• 3/18/22 Phishing Scams and Identity Theft (Email Campaign)
• 3/23/22 Consent Fair (Office of Student Life Event)
• 4/5/22 TEAL Day & Safety Awareness (Office of Student Life Event)
• 4/17/22 Sexual Assault Awareness (Email Campaign)
• 4/28/22 Decorate Denim SAAM (Office of Student Life Event)
• 5/18/22 Mental Health Awareness (Email Campaign)
• 6/2/22 Active Shooter/Assailant (Email Campaign)
• 6/28/22 Pride Rocks & Safety Awareness (Office of Student Life Event)
• 6/30/22 Evacuation Maps-Assembly Areas Tips (Email Campaign)
• 7/6/22 Defense Against an Active Shooter/Assailant Office of student Life
• 7/14/22 BC Panorama Campus Active Shooter Drill/Office of Student Life
• 7/15/22 First Aid/CPR/AED
• 8/5/22 First Aid/CPR/AED
• 8/8/22 Rape Aggression Defense Instructor Course (Officer Training)
• 8/29/22 Heat Wave Safety (Email Campaign)
• 9/6/22 Bystander Intervention (Email Campaign)
• 9/9/22 First Aid/CPR/AED
• 9/16/22 First Aid/CPR/AED
• 9/21/22 Bystander Intervention (Office of Student Life Event)
• 10/7/22 First Aid/CPR/AED
• 10/12/22 Great California ShakeOut (Email Campaign)
• 10/20/22 Trunk or Treat Safety Awareness (Office of Student Life Event)
• 10/22/22 Trunk or Treat Safety Awareness (Office of Student Life Event)
• 11/4/22 First Aid/CPR/AED
• 11/29/22 Red Bag Building Emergency Training
• 11/29/22 AIDS Healthy Relationships & Sexual Assault Awareness (Office of Student Life Event)
• 12/1/22 Red Bag Building Emergency Training
• 12/2/22 Red Bag Building Emergency Training
• 12/9/22 First Aid/CPR/AED
• 12/12/22 Red Bag Building Emergency Training
• 12/13/22 Red Bag Building Emergency Training
• 12/13/22 Drug Recognition & Fentanyl Overview
• 12/14/22 Report Writing (Officer Training)
• 12/14/22 BSIS Arrest & Control (Officer Training)
• 12/14/22 Red Bag Building Emergency Training
• 12/15/22 Defensive Tactics Review (Officer Training)
• 12/15/22 Student Resources (Officer Training)
• 12/15/22 Customer Service (Officer Training)

Conduct & Discipline

Standards of Student Conduct

At Bakersfield College, student conduct must reflect the standards of appropriate behavior as defined by local, state, and federal law. We maintain that because education is furnished by the people, it is a privilege. Standards of Student Conduct and disciplinary proceedings are detailed in KCCD BP 5500 Standards of Student Conduct, AP 5500 Standards of Student Conduct, AP 5520 Student Discipline Procedures, and AP 5530 Student Rights and Grievances.

The College uses “good cause” to determine offenses of student conduct which are included (but not limited to) those defined in KCCD BP 5500 Standards of Student Conduct. In addition, KCCD Board Policy also addresses specific offenses like harassment, discrimination BP 3410 Nondiscrimination, and abusing computer resources BP 3720 Computer and Network Use.

Student Discipline

When offenses of student conduct occur, one or more sanctions may be imposed on the student, as defined in KCCD AP 5500 Standards of Student Conduct.

• Warning: Verbal notification of the student by a faculty member or administrator that continuation of the conduct may be cause for further disciplinary action.
• Censure: A written reprimand or warning to the student by a faculty member or administrator and/or written referral of the student to a College office or community agency for counseling or rehabilitative treatment.
• Probation: Prohibition of the student by the Administration from participating in designated privileges of College activities for a period of up to one semester or other stipulated requirements to conform to specified standards or conduct.
• Restitution: Reimbursement to the College, as directed by the Administration, for repair or replacement of District property misused, misappropriated, or damaged by the student.
• Temporary Removal: A faculty member may remove a student from his or her class for the day of the removal and the next class meeting.
• Suspension: Exclusion from any or all classes and activities of the College and from use of any District facilities.
• Expulsion: Termination of the student status by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the Chancellor.

Student Conduct charges against a student should be submitted in writing (email or letter) to the Dean of Students in the Office of Student Life or the President of Bakersfield College. Any employee and/or student of KCCD may file misconduct charges. The Dean of Students or College President conducts an investigation to
determine if charges can be resolved at the administrative level. When charges cannot be resolved administratively, a Student Discipline Hearing Panel shall convene. The Student Discipline Hearing Panel follows the process in KCCD AP 5520 Student Discipline Procedures.

Student Grievances

The Student Grievance process is established so that students can resolve difficulties or problems in College- related activities. Student grievances are taken seriously. This means the grievance must be of a compelling, substantive, and verifiable nature.

Grievances typically involve course content, access to classes, verbal or physical abuse by faculty, staff, and/or students, faculty member refusal to confer with students, and harassment. Certain grievances do not follow the Student Grievances Procedures but follow other KCCD Board Policies. These include unlawful discrimination BP 3410 Nondiscrimination, sexual harassment BP 3430 Prohibition of Harassment, assignment of grades BP 4231 Grade Changes.

Grievances can be submitted through a written procedure located on the BC Student Complaint webpage. The Dean of Students or the Vice President of Student Affairs are responsible for the handling of student grievances. If a student requests a formal grievance, a hearing panel is convened to review and provide recommendations for resolutions. Recommendations from the Panel are provided to the College Vice President and the Vice President issues a final decision. The procedures for these processes are defined in KCCD AP 5530 Students Rights and Grievances.

Employee Conduct

Several policies and procedures govern the discipline of an employee, be they faculty, management, classified, or student employee. The policies that pertain are: KCCD Board Policy, Community College Association Contract, and California School Employees Association Contract.

In general, disciplinary procedures focus on changing behavior and improving job performance. Any misconduct is addressed using corrective measures and is applied in a non-discriminatory manner. Disciplinary measures may include verbal reprimand, written reprimand, suspension, demotion, termination of employment, etc.

Employee Discipline & Grievances

The above employee policies and contracts provide the appropriate steps to submit a disciplinary complaint or formal grievance. In general, the process starts at the lowest level possible, usually with the employee and supervisor. Each policy outlines any appropriate progression of the process.

Employee Discrimination & Harassment Complaints

The law prohibits coworkers, supervisors, managers, and third parties with whom an employee comes into contact from engaging in harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. Any person who has suffered harassment, discrimination, or retaliation may file a formal or informal complaint of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.

A formal complaint is a written and signed statement filed with the District or the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office that alleges harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in violation of the District’s Board Policies, Administrative Procedures or in violation of state or federal law.
 
An informal complaint is (1) an unwritten allegation of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, (2) a written allegation of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation that falls outside the timelines for a formal complaint, or (3) a written complaint alleging harassment, discrimination, or retaliation filed by an individual who expressly indicates that he/she does not want to file a formal complaint.

Complaints can be submitted to the KCCD Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, the KCCD Chancellor, or the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.

The District promptly investigates every complaint and claim of harassment or discrimination. The investigation is to be kept confidential and “need-to-know”, to the extent possible.

For more information, the Discrimination and Harassment Complaints and Investigations procedure can be found in KCCD BP 3410 Nondiscrimination.

Emergency Response & Evacuation

Emergency Management

With more than 156 acres of physical space, Bakersfield College’s complex network of campuses, communities, facilities, happenings, students, and staff is comparable to a small city. Emergency management is how we take responsibility and accountability for our capacity to respond to a wide variety of incidents and hazards that could adversely affect the College.

Emergency management is a whole community effort accomplished with several partnerships.

Incident Command System (ICS)

Bakersfield College follows the guidelines of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as set out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We utilize the Incident Command System (ICS), which provides a common organizational structure for incident management that helps facilitate interoperability and collaboration with multiple organizations.

Information on the current ICS structure can be found on our Emergency Preparedness website.

Emergency Responders

In the event of a physical campus emergency or evacuation, Bakersfield College has a team of Emergency Responders that assist the ICS in its emergency management operations. They help ensure all people in our campus buildings have been accounted for and they relay important information to the ICS team.

Emergency Responders participate in annual training facilitated by College Safety. To attend a training, contact College Safety at collegesafety@bakersfieldcollege.edu or (661) 395-4554. We also provide an Emergency Responder Training video to help Emergency Responders understand their role.

Emergency Situations

In any emergency, the first thing you should do is call College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or 911. The following guides from the College Safety website will help you understand how to respond during certain emergencies that could adversely affect the college.

• Active Shooter Scenarios
• Bomb Threats
• Chemical Spills
• Earthquakes
• Evacuating Others
• Explosions
• Fire
• Medical Emergencies
• Severe Wind
• Suspicious Packages
• Utility Failure
• Violent/Criminal Behavior
• Weapons on Campus

Timely Warnings & Emergency Notifications

Empowering people to protect themselves when a serious situation or emergency occurs is a priority for Bakersfield College.

Timely warnings to our college communities are issued when a Clery crime is reported within our Clery geography that, in the judgment of the Executive Director of College Safety, presents a serious or ongoing threat to students, employees, or college communities.

The following crimes typically require the distribution of a timely warning:

• Major incidents of arson
• Aggravated assault
• Murder/non-negligent manslaughter
• Robbery
• Sex offenses

Aggravated assault crimes are considered on a case-by-case basis. For example, if an alleged assault occurs between two students who have a disagreement, there may not be an ongoing threat and a timely warning would not be warranted. Similarly, when a sex offense crime is reported long after the incident occurred, Bakersfield College may not have the ability to distribute a timely warning to our communities.

Bakersfield College is not required to issue a timely warning when crimes are reported exclusively to pastoral or professional counselors. While pastoral and professional counseling is confidential, we encourage those counselors to encourage complainants to report all crimes to College Safety.

Emergency notifications to our college communities are issued immediately when a situation within our Clery geography presents a significant emergency or an immediate threat to the health and safety of our college communities. An immediate threat indicates an imminent or impending threat such as an approaching wildfire or a currently raging fire in one of our campus buildings. The purpose of the emergency notification is to alert our communities of the threat so that they may take steps to keep themselves safe. College Safety Officers are responsible for responding to reported emergencies and confirming the existence of an emergency. This is sometimes done in conjunction with college administrators, local first responders, the national weather center, etc. as deemed necessary.

When a situation presents a serious, ongoing, or immediate threat to our college or communities, the Executive Director of College Safety (or designee) will, without delay, initiate a timely warning or emergency notification to the appropriate segments of the College communities as soon as pertinent information is available. The Executive Director may delay issuing the notification when it is determined that issuing a notification will compromise efforts to assist complainants or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate emergencies. When the Executive Director is unavailable, the Director of Marketing & Public Relations will issue the communication. The Executive Director of College Safety may confer with the Director of Marketing & Public Relations, and other college administrators to determine the content of notifications.

The Bakersfield College follows the Timely Warning & Emergency Notification protocols and requirements as depicted by the Clery Center. Information and updates on this process can be obtained by contacting College Safety at collegesafety@bakersfieldcollege.edu or (661) 395-4554.

Communication Methods

Bakersfield College utilizes the following broad variety of communication methods to distribute timely warnings, emergency notifications, and follow-up information.

• College Website - The College uses the BC Alert System website banner for important notifications. This displays a red banner across all college webpages (bakersfieldcollege.edu), listing important information and notifications.
• College Safety Website: BC Alert System Webpage - Details about an emergency or timely warning notification may be displayed on College Safety’s BC Alert System webpage, giving direction or resources to our college communities.
• BC Alert System Notifications - The BC Alert System utilizes Blackboard to issue phone, text, and email notifications to students and employees in the event of emergency or timely warning notification.
• College Email - The College email system may be used to issue emergency and timely warning notifications and follow-up information.
• ShoreTel Enhanced Paging - The College VoIP phone system may be used to issue emergency and timely warning notifications and follow-up information. This system sends an intercom page through all on-campus ShoreTel/Mitel phones.
• Posters & Flyers - Posters and flyers may be distributed throughout our college campuses to alert our campus communities of emergency or timely warning notifications.
• Social Media - Official Bakersfield College social media accounts may be used to post information about emergency or timely warning notifications. The College operates 4 primary social media accounts:
  • BC on Facebook
  • BC on Twitter
  • BC on Instagram
  • BC on YouTube
• Local Media - Bakersfield College officials will coordinate communications with the local media (TV stations, news organizations, newspapers, etc.) when necessary for emergency and timely warning notifications to the broader college communities.

Technology Failure

Although our technological systems are robust and include several redundancies, failures sometimes happen. In the event of a technology failure, the College may utilize communication methods like notification through our Emergency Responders and other college officials, face-to-face notification, notification through our local media partners, etc.

How To Get BC Alerts

Students and employees should update their contact information with the College on a consistent basis to ensure they can receive BC Alerts, which include emergency and timely warning notifications. To update your information, go to the insideBC webpage, sign in, click MyBanWeb, click MyBanWeb Main Menu, and click the Personal Information tab. Check the “opt out” box on this page means that the user will NOT receive notifications. Keep the box unchecked to receive BC Alert notifications.

Evacuations & Drills

Evacuations are a necessary tool used by Bakersfield College to keep our communities safe. We encourage all employees and students to make themselves aware of our evacuation maps and to rehearse an evacuation strategy in whichever space they are in on our campuses.

Generally, our evacuation maps show the appropriate designated areas in clear graphics. They are included in this document and in each campus building. The two main ways an evacuation can be initiated are alert by our fire alarm system or alert by our Emergency Communication methods (See communication methods listed above).

The Bakersfield College Evacuation & Drills policy is currently under review. Information and updates on this process can be obtained by contacting College Safety at collegesafety@bakersfieldcollege.edu or (661) 395- 4554.

During An Evacuation

When an evacuation has been initiated, all persons inside buildings should immediately vacate using the nearest emergency exit and move to the designated area, as directed. In the case of fire or earthquake, do not use building elevators. Assist those around you with disabilities or mobility impairments. For people with hearing or visual impairments, you may need to write down or show how you are helping them, if it is safe to do so.
 
If you are outside on our campuses, proceed to the designated assembly area so that college personnel can ensure a safe evacuation. Avoid trees, signs, buildings, electrical poles, wires, etc. If the designated assembly area cannot be used, proceed to a clear area that is at least 500 feet away from any affected building and remain there.

College Safety personnel, Building Marshals, Emergency Responders, and/or local law enforcement will begin accounting for employees and students and will coordinate with Bakersfield College’s Incident Command Center to ensure a safe evacuation. Never return to an evacuated building until a College official has communicated it is safe to do so. Employees and students should not leave campus until they have been instructed to do so.

When Evacuation Is Not Possible

In certain situations, a building evacuation may not be possible. For example, if a fire is raging and your exit path includes closed doorways that are hot or warm to the touch or during an active shooter situation.

In the case of a fire, do not open the hot or warm door and use towels or cloth items to seal the door. Hang a white object in a window to alert emergency responders of your presence in that space. Call College Safety at (661) 395-4554 or 911 immediately.

Shelter In Place

Several situations may require you to shelter in place, such as an active shooter situation, hazardous weather, etc. Each situation is different and has its own set of risks. Therefore, there is not one shelter in place protocol. You should review the Emergency Situations section to obtain specific guidance for each.

Some common questions that can help maintain safety are:

• Am I safer inside or outside?
• Where am I safest inside?
• Where am I safest outside?

After An Evacuation

After an evacuation has occurred, College Safety personnel, College officials, and local emergency officials will work together to communicate the status of the situation. This may include an “all clear” that will allow you to return to your space on campus or it may include other directions to continue mitigating the situation. Please follow their directions. The Bakersfield College Incident Command Center and other personnel will convene to debrief ways situations can be prevented or mitigated in the future.

Testing Communication Systems & Drills

Testing of the emergency and timely warning notification systems and performing a campus-wide evacuation are important ways Bakersfield College evaluates its emergency plans and capabilities.

At least one announced test will be performed per year coordinated in conjunction with campus emergency response and evacuation procedures. Unannounced tests may occur but are always scheduled and coordinated with College Safety. Each test is documented and includes a description of the exercise, the date and time of the exercise, and whether it was announced or unannounced.

A test of the BC Alert System (Bakersfield College’s emergency notification system) and evacuation will be announced and performed at least once annually. Additional tests may be performed and may be announced or unannounced. All tests will contain drills, exercises, and appropriate follow-through activities to help keep our staff, students, and communities aware of our emergency procedures. Each test is documented to include a description of the exercise, the date of the test, the start and end times of the test, and whether the test was announced or unannounced. The College also publishes a summary of the emergency response and evacuation procedures via email at least once each year in conjunction with a test emergency exercise and drill. These tests meet the requirements of the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

Below is a list of notification and evacuation drills performed in 2022.

• Unannounced Fire Drill on 6/22/22 at Delano Campus: Campus Wide
• Unannounced Fire Drill on 7/26/22 at Panorama Campus: Gymnasium
• Unannounced Fire Drill on 7/27/22 at Panorama Campus: Child Development Center
• Unannounced Fire Drill on 8/25/22 at Panorama Campus: Campus Center
• Unannounced Fire Drill on 9/3/22 at Panorama Campus: Performing Arts Center
• Unannounced Fire Drill on 9/11/22 at Panorama Campus: Gymnasium
• Unannounced Fire Drill on 9/29/22 at Panorama Campus: Campus Center
• Announced Fire Drill (Great California ShakeOut) on 10/21/22 at Panorama Campus: Center Wide
• Announced Fire Drill (Great California ShakeOut) on 10/21/22 at Weil Institute: Campus Wide
• Announced Fire Drill (Great California ShakeOut) on 10/21/22 at Delano Campus: Campus Wide
• Unannounced Fire Drill on 11/4/22 at Panorama Campus: Dining Commons
• Unannounced Fire Drill on 11/22/22 at Panorama Campus: Dining Commons
• Unannounced Fire Drill on 11/22/22 at Panorama Campus: Child Development Center

Campus Evacuation Maps

Campus Evacuation Maps are available at the College Safety office for BC's Panorama Campus, Delano Campus, Weill Institute, BC SouthWest, and Job Spot. It is also recommended that when in any college building, always pay attention to marked exits, emergency alarms, and other posted signage, especially in the event of an emergency.