The doctrine of respondeat superior holds the institution vicariously liable for acts committed by a security officer when those acts were committed:

• A. Outside the scope of his/her employment
• B. By a supervisor
• C. Within the scope of his/her employment
• D. Off duty

Answer: (C)

Respondeat superior means an employer can be held responsible for harm caused by an employee when the act occurs within the employee’s work duties. If the security officer commits an act while performing his job—carrying out patrols, enforcing procedures, responding to incidents—that action is within the scope of employment. In that situation, the institution can be vicariously liable for the officer’s conduct because the officer is acting on behalf of the employer in the course of his duties. If the act were outside the scope of employment or off duty, the employer typically wouldn’t be liable under this doctrine.