Surveillance Camera Guidelines

Purpose

Hamilton College is committed to providing a safe campus environment for the students, faculty, staff and guests of our community. One component used to enhance security at Hamilton is the utilization of surveillance cameras. Surveillance cameras in public areas are intended to deter crime and assist in protecting the safety of community members and property of the College.

These guidelines address the College’s safety and security needs while respecting individual privacy of those attending, working or visiting Hamilton College. These guidelines pertain to the viewing, retention, dissemination, and destruction of recordings.

Scope

These guidelines apply to all installations of surveillance cameras on the Hamilton College campus.

Revision History

Last revised, December 2015.

Installation Procedures and Locations

The use of cameras is limited to areas that do not violate a person's reasonable expectation of privacy.  All cameras, will only be installed with the advance approval of the Director of Campus Safety and appropriate College officials. The College’s use of surveillance cameras for monitoring or recording must be used in a professional, ethical, and legal manner.

The College will limit camera positions and views of certain areas. Any view within a residential area will be no greater than what is available with unaided vision. Surveillance cameras will not view private bedrooms, bathrooms, locker room dressing/shower areas, or private offices. All new installation of surveillance cameras must connect to the College's main LITS system.

Viewing

Only authorized personnel, as determined by the Director of Campus Safety and Associate Dean of Students for Health and Safety will be involved in, or have access to, surveillance monitoring. The existence of this policy does not imply or guarantee that cameras will be monitored in real time 24 hours a day, seven days a week, however the College reserves the right to do so.

Retention and Release of Information

Images obtained through surveillance monitoring or recording will be retained for a length of time deemed appropriate for the purpose of monitoring, but not to exceed 45 days, unless such images have historical value, or are being used for a criminal and/or judicial investigation in accordance with this policy. Surveillance recordings will be stored in a secure location with access by authorized personnel only.

College personnel are prohibited from using or disseminating information acquired from surveillance cameras except for official purposes. All information and/or observations made in the use of surveillance cameras are considered confidential and can only be used for official College and law enforcement purposes. Information and results obtained through surveillance monitoring or recording will only be released when authorized by the Director of Campus Safety and the Associate Dean of Students for Health and Safety.

Note: Portions of these guidelines were adapted from those at Carleton College.