Public Safety and Crime Prevention
Staying informed, knowing how to get help, and taking practical precautions can help support a safe campus community. The information below provides safety guidance for students, employees, and visitors at NECC.
Need Help?
In an emergency, call 911.
For Public Safety assistance, or to report crimes, concerning behavior, hazardous conditions, or other safety concerns, call 978-556-3333 or x3333 from any campus phone.
Emergency phones located throughout campus connect directly with NECC Public Safety:
- Yellow Emergency Call Boxes are located directly on campus buildings throughout the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses.
- Blue Parking Lot Phones are located in the Technology Center, Library, and Spurk parking lots on the Haverhill Campus.
Below are some safety tips and resources for students, employees and community members visiting a NECC campus.
Personal & Community Safety
Everyone has a role in helping maintain a safe campus. Staying aware of your surroundings, recognizing concerning behavior, and knowing when and how to seek help can help protect both you and others in the NECC community.
Staying Safe on Campus
A few practical habits can help you stay aware and prepared while on campus:
- If you believe you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
- Public Safety escorts are available to and from vehicles, classrooms, and offices. To request an escort, call 978-556-3333 (x3333 from a campus phone) or text 978-476-9333.
- Trust your instincts. If a situation or location feels unsafe or uncomfortable, move to a safer or more populated area.
- Stay aware of your surroundings and limit distractions, such as cellphones and earbuds.
- Use well-lit, commonly traveled routes when possible.
- Let someone know where you are going if you will be on campus alone after normal business hours.
- Become familiar with building exits and emergency phones.
Recognizing Concerning Behavior
Not every safety concern begins with an emergency. Pay attention to behavior that causes concern for your safety or the safety of others. This may include threats, harassment, stalking or following, repeated unwanted contact, or behavior that appears to be escalating.
Concerning behavior can be reported to NECC Public Safety, even if you are unsure whether immediate action is needed.
Sexual Assault, Consent & Support
Sexual assault is never the fault of the person who experiences it. Consent must be freely given and can be withdrawn at any time. A person who is incapacitated cannot give consent.
If someone is pressuring you or you feel unsafe, move to a safer location when possible and reach out to someone you trust, NECC Public Safety, or 911 in an emergency. Look out for others as well. If you see a situation that concerns you, consider a safe way to intervene or get help.
If You Have Experienced Sexual Assault
What happened is not your fault. Your safety and well-being come first. If you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, call 911.
Support is available whether or not you choose to make a report. Depending on what you need, you may contact:
- NECC Public Safety: 978-556-3333 or x3333 from a campus phone
- NECC Title IX Coordinator: 978-556-3928
- YWCA Northeast Massachusetts Sexual Assault Hotline: 877-509-9922
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673, available 24/7
Medical Care
You may also choose to seek medical care. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) are specially trained to provide trauma-informed medical-forensic care following a sexual assault. For patients age 12 and older, forensic evidence may be collected for up to five days (120 hours) after an assault.
If you think you may want a forensic examination, avoid showering, bathing, or changing clothes when possible. If you have already done any of these things, you can still seek medical care and have evidence collected.
Two nearby Massachusetts-designated SANE sites are:
- Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital: 1 General Street, Lawrence – 978-683-4000
- Lowell General Hospital – Main Campus: 295 Varnum Avenue, Lowell – 978-937-6000
Other designated hospitals are available throughout Massachusetts. Visit the Massachusetts Designated SANE Site Hospitals page to find additional locations.
Additional confidential support, advocacy, and community resources are available through NECC’s Victim Assistance & Resources page.
Looking Out for Others: Bystander Intervention
Looking out for others is also an important part of campus safety. If you witness harassment, threatening behavior, or another concerning situation, there may be safe ways to help. The 4 Ds of Bystander Intervention offer different ways to respond:
- Direct: Address the behavior directly when it is safe to do so.
- Distract: Interrupt the situation by creating a distraction.
- Delegate: Ask someone else for help, such as NECC Public Safety, a college employee, or 911 in an emergency.
- Delay: Check in with the person afterward if you could not safely intervene at the time.
Never put yourself at risk to intervene. Choose the response that is safest and most appropriate for the situation.
Reporting Safety Concerns
When making a report, provide as much information as you can. Helpful details may include what you observed, where it occurred, and information about the people or vehicles involved, such as:
- Clothing or distinguishing characteristics
- The direction a person or vehicle was traveling
- A vehicle’s color, make, model, and license plate number, if available
Do not put yourself at risk to gather information.
Everyday Safety
Campus safety also includes taking simple precautions to protect your belongings and staying aware while traveling to, from, and around campus.
Protecting Your Belongings
Taking a few simple precautions can help reduce the risk of theft or loss. Keep personal belongings with you or secured whenever possible, and do not leave valuables such as phones, laptops, wallets, or bags unattended in public areas.
Lost or stolen property can be reported to NECC Public Safety.
Vehicle & Parking Lot Safety
Whether parking, returning to your vehicle, or leaving campus, staying aware and taking a few precautions can help reduce safety risks.
- Park in well-lit areas when possible.
- Lock your vehicle and keep valuables out of sight or secured in the trunk when leaving it unattended.
- When returning to your vehicle, have your keys ready and stay aware of your surroundings.
- Check the area around and inside your vehicle before getting in.
- Once inside your vehicle, lock the doors.
- If someone threatens you while you are inside your vehicle, call 911 and use your horn to attract attention if needed.
- If you believe you are being followed while driving, do not stop or drive home. Continue to a police station or another safe, populated location and call 911.
Public Transportation & Rideshare Safety
Students, employees, visitors, and members of the public may use transportation services at or near NECC campuses. Keep these safety practices in mind while waiting and traveling:
- While waiting for a bus or shuttle, stay in a well-lit, designated area and be aware of your surroundings.
- Keep personal belongings secure and within reach while waiting and traveling.
- Be aware of approaching traffic and buses when entering or leaving a stop.
- Before entering a rideshare, confirm the vehicle and driver information in the app.
- Ask the driver to confirm your name rather than providing it yourself.
- If you feel unsafe or believe you are in immediate danger, call 911.
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