Protocol on Unannounced Visits From Law Enforcement & Other Government Agencies

From time to time, law enforcement and other government agencies may arrive on campus (with or without notice) for the purposes of obtaining University information or documents.  In response to these visits or requests, faculty and staff should take the following actions:

  1. Ask to see the person’s government credentials and a copy of their business card.  Verify their identity by comparing their government identification and the person presenting the identification. 
  2. If the government official does not provide a business card or declines a request to copy their identification, you should document the person’s name and title, agency, phone number, email, and any other contact information, date and time of visit and the information or action being requested.
  3. Inform the government official that you are contacting the Office of General Counsel and direct them to the Administration Building. Only the Office of General Counsel can determine how to comply with the government request. 
  4. Immediately contact the Office of General Counsel at 703-908-7703 for further assistance.

Overall, faculty and staff are encouraged to be cooperative, but to be firm about the need to review any request for information or documents by the Office of General Counsel. 

Do not provide any information to the government official pending guidance from the Office of the General Counsel.

In some cases, law enforcement and other government agencies may present a subpoena, court order, or search warrant that directs the University to produce certain documents or information.  These requests should generally follow the protocol noted above.  

Watch Video: How to Respond If Approached with a Subpoena, Warrant, or Information Request (YouTube)

Process on responding the a government agent

 

General Counsel FAQs: Subpoenas & Court Orders   /  Search Warrants