Forensic Colleges

Leaving your family and home for the first time and moving into the dorms can be a fun and exciting experience. This is a great time to meet people, make new friends, and experience the college life. While almost all dorms on campus take security measures to ensure the safety of its residents, crimes do occur on campus dorm halls and university housing. Here are 10 tips to help make your experience a safer one:

Don’t let strangers into the dorm- It is very important to not let people you do not know into the dorms. Be careful when coming in that a stranger doesn’t follow you, same goes for holding the door or elevator open for someone you don’t know. You might feel rude or unfriendly, but again, safety in the dorm area is very important.

Be careful with your key- Take good care of your dorm key and do not lend it out. Also, you should not hide it outside the dorm room for someone, or leave your door unlocked- even for a minute, safety is more important that convenience. Lock and secure all doors and windows at all times- even when napping, showering or studying.

Protect your valuables- Never leaves valuables, jewelry, credit cards, or cash in plain view or around your window or door. Be sure to place anything of value and importance to you in a secure place. It is a good idea to mark all your important belongings with property tags or to place locks on them.

Don’t invite unwanted attention- Never dress or change in front of a window or open door. Be mindful of where and when you are getting out of the shower or changing and be sure not to do either in front of a window with the blinds or curtains open. This is sure to cause unwanted and potentially dangerous attention.

Take caution with repairmen- If someone knocks on your door and asks to be let in to repair something in your room, do not be afraid to question them and ask for proper identification. You should also call the office or a resident assistant or manager and verify that someone is supposed to be coming in to repair something. Only allow someone in your room once they have properly identified themselves.

Don’t start a fire- Most campuses have a list of items that are not allowed inside the dorms and they are banned for a reason. Limit the amount of halogen and floor lamps in your room and never drape anything over them. Remember to avoid having too many appliances in one outlet or power cord, monitor cooking and cooking appliances, avoid using candles and smoking in or around the dorm area.

Use your peephole- Most dorm halls have peepholes in the door. If someone knocks on your door and you do not know them or cannot see anything, do not, for any reason open the door. Call a resident assistant or manager to help you assess the situation.

Always monitor your stuff- It is important to keep an eye out for your belongings in public. Whether you stop for a quick bathroom break, go to another room for just a second or grab a quick bite to eat it is important to not leave your things unattended. Always keep your backpack, purse, and keys with you.

Report suspicious people- It is important to report any person or group of people that appear suspicious to a resident assistant, manager, or the campus police. Do not approach the person or group or attempt to take the situation into your own hands.

Drink wisely- If you have a couple of drinks, be careful to take extra precaution while under the influence of alcohol and don’t overdo it. Alcohol can impairment your judgment and leave you in a vulnerable situation that can be unsafe. Do not, under any circumstances allow alcohol to prevent you from taking the necessary tips to stay alert and out of harm’s way.

Human smuggling is the attempted transportation, facilitation, or illegal entry of a person or several people across an international border or borders through deception and often with the use of fraudulent documents. Human smuggling has become a lot more complex and expensive in recent years, due to more compound law enforcement stings and the influx of agents that have been assigned to states were immigration has become an increasing problem. Here are some of the biggest human smuggling busts:

Arizona bust- In April of 2010, Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents, cooperating with several other agencies busted a human smuggling ring that carried thousands of illegal immigrants from Mexico, Central America, and China across the border to cities all over the United States, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. With over 800 agents, possibly the biggest coordination ever by ICE agents, the sting had been a work in progress for over 2 years. After bringing the immigrants into the US, the human smugglers worked with local shuttle companies that would transport them to places all over the US. 47 people were arrested and 10 million dollars in assets, including real estate and property, were seized in the bust.

Victoria, Texas bust- A human smuggling bust in Texas in May of 2003 stands to be the deadliest human smuggling attempt on record in the US. More than 100 male and female immigrants from Mexico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic were stuffed into a tractor-trailer in South Texas headed for Houston, Texas. The trailer was later found abandoned at a truck stop about 115 miles away from Houston; the people inside had clawed away at the insulation inside the trailer, kicked and punch holes in the sides of the trailer, and cried and screamed until they were discovered. Authorities found 17 people dead from suffocation and dehydration in and around the trailer and several dozen were sent to hospitals to be treated, 2 of which later died in the hospital. The driver of the truck was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Los Angeles, California raid- 8 people were arrested in October 2009 after police, ICE agents and investigators conducted a sting operation on a family that illegally smuggled immigrants into the US and housed them until they were transported. The family, which included a couple and their son, who were believed to be the masterminds behind the operation, would charge between 2500 and 4500 dollars to smuggle Mexican immigrants into the US, and charged even double to smuggle Chinese immigrants. The group is responsible for smuggling at least 200 immigrants a year into the US.

Chui Ping Cheng- Chiu Ping Cheng aka, “Sister Ping” was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2006 for her role in organizing a large human smuggling operation that lasted from 1984 and 2000. Cheng was charged with smuggling thousands of Chinese immigrants into the US- charging as much as $30,000 per person. Cheng was also involved in the Golden Venture tragedy in which the ship, which was carrying 300 illegal immigrants from China into the US, ran aground after a rebellion by the smugglers. 10 immigrants died trying to swim to shore, while the rest got away- or were deported or imprisoned.

Taiwan ring- In June of 2009, the National Immigration Agency arrested 74 suspects all in connection with a human smuggling operation that smuggled more than 40 Chinese citizens into the US, making over 3 million dollars, in 2 years. The group of smugglers was responsible for soliciting families that wanted to send their daughters to the US, and would sometimes charge them between 60 and 70 thousand dollars per person. The Border Affair Corps spent more than 8 months building their case leading up to the arrests of the 74 suspects; the main suspect, Ten Weng-shen, who is believed to have directed the operations, remains at large.