An annual report on security policies and the 2001 statistics for specified crimes at UC Davis, its medical center in Sacramento and related facilities reflects significant increases in several categories.
The report indicates that reports of forcible sex offenses increased 167 percent from a year ago; aggravated assaults (which include domestic violence) increased by 92 percent; and burglaries increased 70 percent. The report also shows that reports of robbery decreased by 37 percent and arson reports dropped by 20 percent.
Reports of forcible sex offenses increased from 18 reports in 2000 to 48 last year. Of those, 28 occurred on campus and the rest were reported adjacent to the campus, at "off-campus properties," or at the medical center in Sacramento. Reports of aggravated assaults also increased in 2001; 25 reports were taken last year compared with 13 in 2000. There were 112 reports of burglary in 2001 compared with 66 in 2000. Drug-related arrests increased from 42 in 2000 to 117 last year. Most of those arrests occurred at the medical center in Sacramento.
Five robberies were reported in 2001, three fewer than were reported in 2000. The Clery report documented eight cases of arson in 2001, two less than reported in 2000.
"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. "Our Campus Violence Prevention Program has received federal grants to develop a comprehensive program to prevent and respond to violence against women. We believe the increase in reporting of these crimes reflects the success of that 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 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.
Study follows trend in sex crime reporting
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."
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 colleges and universities to report statements of security policy and statistics for the specified crimes reported for defined locations on and near a college's campus, the school's other properties and the properties of registered student organizations. 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.
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.
Methodology of Clery, FBI reports differ
Clery statistics are compiled under substantially different reporting requirements than those imposed by the FBI for compiling statistics made public in the spring. The reports differ in criteria for verifying that an offense occurred, definitions of crimes, locations covered and other reporting requirements. It is not possible, therefore, to make comparisons between the Clery and FBI statistics.
"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."
Report data will be available Monday at http://police.ucdavis.edu.