The evolution from night watchmen to law enforcers was influenced by three factors: (1) increased student enrollment, (2) political events external to the campus, and (3) the changing nature of crime on campus. During the 1960's and 1970's, campus administrators realized that campus security had outgrown its security guard origins and upgraded campus security by hiring more educated and fully trained police personnel. There are three generally accepted characteristics of community-oriented policing: (1) the reliance on effective partnerships with the community, (2) the application of problem-solving strategies and tactics, and (3) the transformation of the organizational structure and culture of policing. Recognizing the benefits of working with the campus community to address crime problems and victim service needs, many campus departments have implemented these strategies. The rise of awareness of crime on campuses is due to media coverage of campus crime incidents, civil court decisions, a grassroots movement on the part of the family of a college murder victim, research, and official crime statistics. Victimization surveys include crime reported and not reported to campus police. Campus victimization surveys show that students and faculty are at risk for some types of victimization more so than others, such as theft, simple assault, and sexual assault. The incidence of physical violence against college women is frequent, especially against those women who are in dating or intimate relationships. Colleges and universities participating in the Federal Title IV financial aid program are required by Federal law to provide victim services, especially to those who have experienced a sexual offense. Many schools have developed or expanded their victim assistance programs and established formal ties with off-campus victim assistance programs. A majority of these institutions provide safety/crime prevention presentations to campus groups and published or posted safety reminders. The challenges of campus police include reducing barriers to accessing available victim services, a high incidence of stalking among college women, serving male victims of sexual assault, and funding. 1 figure, 3 tables, 67 references