Exercise of Extended Jurisdiction by Officers of the Indiana University Police Department

Scope

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Policy Statement

The Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) encompasses all police divisions on all university campuses. All IUPD officers are authorized and expected to perform their assigned duties to protect the safety of the university community and the security of university assets, in accordance with all applicable state laws and university policies, under the direction of their superior officers.

1. Authorization for extended jurisdiction. Under the authority granted to university governing boards by Title 21, Article 39, Chapter 4 of the Indiana Code, IC 21-39-4-1 et seq., the Indiana University Board of Trustees authorizes Indiana University police officers who have been certified by the State of Indiana as required by Indiana Code 21-39-4-6(a)(2) to exercise their police powers throughout the State of Indiana, subject to the terms and restrictions outlined in this policy.
2. Purposes for exercising extended jurisdiction. IUPD police officers may exercise jurisdiction beyond the primary jurisdiction as established by Indiana Code for the following purposes:
   1. To eliminate or minimize a threat to the safety and security of the university community or university assets,
   2. To eliminate or minimize a threat to the safety and security of the general public,
   3. To pursue an investigation or apprehend suspects whose alleged crimes were committed within the primary jurisdiction as defined by the cited Indiana Code,
   4. To provide security or ceremonial escort to IU organizations or officials while traveling,
   5. To respond to a request by another law enforcement agency to assist in a specific law enforcement activity.
3. Conditions for exercising extended jurisdiction.
   1. Except in situations where immediate action is required, including to protect persons or property, a supervisor for the officer’s division, or the relevant campus divisional chief of police, or the Superintendent of Public Safety (or their designees) should make reasonable efforts to approve the exercise of police powers beyond the primary jurisdiction. In such situations, documentation of an action should occur and will serve as notice to the divisional chief and/or superintendent.
   2. If IUPD officers appointed under Indiana Code 21-39-4-6 exercise their police powers outside of the county in which the division (institution) is primarily located, the officer shall notify the local sheriff or police chief as soon as practicable. A divisional chief is authorized to enter into jurisdictional agreements with the cities or counties in which IU property is located in order to relieve IUPD of some or all of the notification requirements above, in such cities or counties. Such agreements must be approved by the Superintendent of Public Safety.
   3. All exercise of police powers beyond a city or county in which IU owns or operates facilities must be consistent with the terms of applicable Indiana statutes.
   4. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the Superintendent of Public Safety is authorized and shall be responsible for ensuring that all external reporting obligations in Indiana Code 21-39-4-6(a)(2)(B) and this policy are satisfied.
4. Identification of IUPD Officers. To ensure that officers from the IUPD are easily recognizable as such outside of the primary jurisdiction and as indicated by Indiana Code 21-39-4-2(2)(3 and 4), the Indiana University Superintendent of Public Safety will ensure that all members of the Indiana University Police Department adhere to a common uniform standard and that all marked police vehicles display a common standard marking scheme.
5. Awareness. Campus police chiefs will ensure that all officers under their command are aware of the requirements of Indiana Code 21-39-4-1 et seq. and this policy.
6. Internal Reporting. In addition to the requirements of Indiana Code 21-39-4-6, IUPD police officers shall document incidents following every exercise of police powers beyond their primary jurisdiction.
7. Nothing in this policy prohibits an officer from taking appropriate action in accordance with the law, mutual aid obligations, training and in good faith to ensure the safety of the general public. The requirements in paragraphs 2-6 are intended solely for the internal management of IUPD and do not restrict IUPD officers’ exercise of their lawful authority.

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Reason for Policy

Criminal actions occasionally originate from, migrate to, or in some other way affect the safety of Indiana University campuses, and occasionally time sensitive investigations by Indiana University police officers require that they pursue investigations beyond the primary jurisdiction assigned by Indiana Code.

Local and other state law enforcement agencies often call on Indiana University police for assistance in their law enforcement activities, and Indiana University police rely on local or other Indiana law enforcement agencies for similar assistance.

In addition, Indiana University police officers may be asked from time to time to provide escort to groups or individuals associated with Indiana University traveling within the State of Indiana.

Indiana Code 21-39-4-6 establishes the primary jurisdiction for police officers employed by Indiana universities and colleges as the physical property of their campuses including the streets passing through and adjacent to campus property. The statute also authorizes college and university governing boards to expand that jurisdiction to the entire State of Indiana.

This policy extends IUPD jurisdiction, specifies the circumstances under which expanded powers can be exercised, and recognizes and satisfies the Indiana Code requirements associated with such an action on the part of the Indiana University Board of Trustees.

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Definitions

Primary jurisdiction The area within which Indiana Code 21-39-4-6 allows Indiana University police officers to exercise police powers, which is defined as the physical property of Indiana University campuses and also on the streets passing through and adjacent to Indiana University property.

Extended jurisdiction Any areas within the State of Indiana beyond the primary jurisdiction in which the Indiana University Board of Trustees has authorized university police to exercise police powers. Such an action is permitted to the governing board under Indiana Code 21-39-4-6.

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Sanctions

Violations of university policies, including the failure to avoid a prohibited activity, will be dealt with in accordance with applicable university policies and procedures, which may include disciplinary actions up to and including termination from the university.

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History

Jurisdiction agreements with cities and counties were previously in place; however, changes in the applicable Indiana statute in 2011 necessitated creation of this policy. The Board of Trustees approved a resolution on October 14, 2011, authorizing extended jurisdiction according to the terms of the Indiana statute.

This policy was reviewed and revised in 2017.

A substantive review of the policy was conducted by the Office of Public Safety with no substantive revisions made to the policy. Non-substantive updates to the policy contact were made on October 12, 2023.

Previous Versions:

Effective Dates: 10/14/2011 - 09/26/2017

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