The Mississippi State University Police Department and Parking and Transit Services collaborated to create a Safe Exchange Zone outside the police department’s building.
Two signs mark the spots, with writing detailing their distinction as Safe Exchange Zones and a phone number to contact MSUPD.
Sergeant James Sanford said MSUPD designated the area for students to meet up with people they met online to trade items or conduct child custody exchanges in a protected space.
There are limits to trades that can occur in the Safe Exchange Zone.
An MSUPD Facebook post said “prohibited items” include weapons, hazardous materials, explosives, illegal drugs and narcotics. If these items are traded in the area, any liable parties in the exchange could be arrested.
Sanford was the primary force that introduced the project to higher parties. He said he was inspired by seeing other colleges, like Auburn University, implement similar efforts for students to make trades without worry. 
MSUPD Corporal and Crime Protection Coordinator Chantel Solis-McCoy also assisted with the project. She transformed the half-hour timed parking spots into Safe Exchange Zone spots and drafted a design for the coordinating signs.
Since the parking spots are directly outside of the police station, anyone who may have trouble can walk in and receive assistance from MSU Police. Additionally, multiple cameras monitor the parking spaces, allowing for 24/7 protection against any unlawful activity or situation.
While these protections are in place, MSU Police will not be physically present by the parking spots. Officers will only appear if someone calls for assistance.
Brentaja Bardwell, a freshman elementary education major, has had experience using Facebook Marketplace while shopping. She said she experienced fear when picking up items that she bought online and will vet the sellers before buying from them to protect herself.
She said the Safe Exchange Zone would make her more comfortable meeting people in person.
“I think that it would build trust,” Bardwell said. “If they agree to meet there, you know that you are safe. If they do not, you should be questioning, ‘Do I want to do business with this person in the first place?’”
Natalie Lovell, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry, has sold items using online marketplaces, like Rumie and eBay. She has also worked with young children who had complicated custody rights. Lovell said using the Safe Exchange Zone for child custody exchanges and trading items would be helpful.
“There is not really a public place on campus with people to help if something goes wrong, and this would create a place for that with those people,” Lovell said.