Programs to encourage more thorough reporting of campus crime have resulted in significant increases for 2001 in several categories of reported crimes at the University of California, Davis, campus, its medical center in Sacramento and related facilities.

The Clery Act statistics for 2001 indicate that reports of forcible sex offenses increased 167 percent from a year ago (from 18 in 2000 to 48 in 2001.) Of those, 28 of the incidents occurred on campus property. To combat the problem of chronic under-reporting of sex-related crimes, UC Davis has received more than $1 million in federal grants to develop comprehensive programs to prevent and respond to violence against women, resulting in higher reporting of possible offenses.

Aggravated assaults, which include domestic violence, increased by 92 percent (from 13 to 25). Burglaries increased 70 percent (from 66 to 112). And drug-related arrests increased 178 percent (from 42 to 117). Reports of robbery decreased by 37 percent (from eight to five) and arson reports dropped by 20 percent (from ten to eight).

"We expected some of these numbers to increase, specifically in sexual and aggravated assaults, because we have dedicated additional resources to raise awareness of these crimes and we encouraged victims to report," said UC Davis Police Chief Calvin Handy. "We believe the increase in reporting of these crimes reflects the success of our Campus Violence Prevention Program."

In 1999 and again in 2001, UC Davis was awarded a two-year, $543,000 federal grant from the Department of Justice to develop a system that collaborates with community services and other campus departments such as the Counseling Center, the Resident Education Program, Student Judicial Affairs, the Women's Resources and Research Center, and the Sexual Harassment Education Program to serve crime victims more effectively.

The increase in sex-crime reporting is a trend seen at other campuses as well, said Mary Beth Carter, Executive Director of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (Cal CASA), which for the past four years has provided technical assistance and training support to all of the grantee campuses.

"The information and data that Cal CASA has received from more than 40 grantee campuses indicates that, since the inception of these grants, the number of those coming forward to receive services has increased," Carter said. "We see this as a very positive development, because the purpose of the grants was to improve the ability of college campuses to respond to incidents of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. Through these grants, campuses are able to provide a better support network for victims who come forward."

Clery statistics are compiled under substantially different reporting requirements than those imposed by the FBI for compiling statistics made public in the spring. Many of the Clery crimes were not reported to police or formally investigated by police to verify if a crime occurred. Many of the Clery crime incidents were reported to counselors or other campus employees who are not law enforcement officers. The reports also differ in definitions of crimes, locations covered and other reporting requirements. It is not possible, therefore, to make comparisons between the Clery and FBI statistics.

Prepared in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the report considers five categories of crimes against persons (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, forcible sex offenses, non-forcible sex offenses, aggravated assault and robbery) and three against property (arson, burglary and motor vehicle theft).

The Clery Act requires that offenses be reported according to four locations: student residences on campus; other campus buildings or properties; non-campus buildings or properties, including those owned, controlled or leased by the university or recognized student organizations, such as fraternities; and public property adjacent to and readily accessible from the campus, such as parks, sidewalks, streets and public parking facilities. Universities and colleges report the information to the U.S. Department of Education and must also make the information and annual statistics available to current and prospective students, employees and others by Oct. 1 of the following year.

"UC Davis is committed to preventing violence against women and to responding effectively when it does occur, " says Jennifer Beeman, Campus Violence Prevention Program director. "Grant funds have helped support a program of integrated education, public media, training, outreach and comprehensive support services. Through the grant UC Davis has developed intensive, and innovative model programs, interventions and products that are used at colleges and universities across the country."

Editor's Note: The data from this report will be available on the UC Davis Police Department's Web site: http://police.ucdavis.edu/ on Monday, Sept. 30.