ATLANTA, Aug. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As students prepare to crack open new textbooks, U.S. Security Associates (USA) is partnering with colleges and universities to crack down on campus violence. Every year, 20 - 25% of female students in higher education institutions experience sexual assault. Even more students are targeted through dating violence, stalking, or domestic violence. Because less than 5% of these crimes are officially reported at many schools, gender violence claims untold numbers of new victims every semester. To counter this trend, USA is developing and enforcing campus security measures to combat crime, improve crime response and reporting, and equip women to defend themselves.
USA provides security service to a number of prestigious colleges and universities, where the company's campus security experts take a tactical approach to sexual violence prevention—enabling students to fend off attackers, even behind closed doors. At several universities, USA has sponsored Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes for students and community members. These free classes, led by certified RAD instructors, enhance awareness and reduce risk through the presentation of realistic scenarios and self-defense methods.
Additionally, USA security officers are building an environment of accountability at the schools they serve. Under the Jeanne Clery Act, educational institutions are required to release an annual report of all criminal activity on campus. USA has committed to understanding electronic and manual Clery reporting systems to help schools keep their students informed. On-site security officers track crime reports and trends in the areas surrounding the campuses they protect and adjust security strategies accordingly. USA personnel maintain relationships with community law enforcement and train officers to observe and report effectively to support law enforcement efforts.
Due to insufficient security services or peer intimidation, many cases of rape or attempted rape go underreported as students stay silent. USA takes a serious approach to targeting this problem, and security officer training provides in-depth education on rape response procedure, proper reporting of assault, enforcing no-contact or restraining orders, and other vital areas of risk reduction. By training security officers to prevent crime and manage incidents effectively, USA establishes a watchful presence on campus and in surrounding areas.
USA's physical security programs are informed by the expertise of our Consulting & Investigations (C &I) professionals, who regularly perform campus security assessments for a variety of school facilities. The C &I team members evaluate access control, security monitoring, and crisis management plans for classroom buildings, residential halls, and student centers, establishing a campus-wide framework of safety for each school they assess.
As committed defenders of public safety, USA strives to protect every student in every situation. Through vigilance and education, USA drives security solutions to reverse the epidemic of violence against women and give students the peace of mind they need to learn, live, and interact with confidence.
ABOUT U.S. SECURITY ASSOCIATES
U.S. Security Associates (USA) is North America's security solutions leader, with 160 locally-responsive offices providing premier national security services and global consulting and investigations. The company provides career paths for over 46,000 security professionals serving several thousand clients and a range of industries. Innovative applications of leading-edge, proprietary technology enable USA to rank annually among the world's best training companies, meet the globally recognized ISO standard for quality management, and underscore world-class customer service with unparalleled accountability. USA's rise as one of today's largest security companies is a natural byproduct of these differentiators together with a commitment to investing in employee reward and development, giving back to local communities and relentlessly striving to be the best security company delivering Solutions for a Safer WorldTM. For more information, visit www.ussecurityassociates.com.