Crimes reported in calendar year 2006 on property owned or controlled by UC Davis increased in four of six key categories — forcible sex offenses, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft, according to statistics prepared in compliance with the federal Clery Act.

The number of robberies last year decreased by four, and no arson was reported last year. In addition, the number of drug arrests declined, while liquor disciplinary actions increased from 180 in 2005 to 312 in 2006.

The number of total sex offenses (forcible and non-forcible) increased from 50 in 2005 to 68 last year. UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef said he does not believe the numbers signal a higher incidence of sex assault on the Davis and Sacramento campuses. Rather, he credited the "greater prominence, visibility and scope" of the 28-year old Campus Violence Prevention Program (CVPP), and its success at making victims feel as comfortable as possible when making such reports.

"UC Davis wants to get more women to come forward if they are victimized," Vanderhoef said. "The multiplier effect kicks in as these women talk to more women, and they begin to trust the campus programs that take sex assaults reports."

According to CVPP Director Jennifer Beeman, "Increased awareness does lead to an increase in reporting. This increase in reported sex offenses does not necessarily mean that there has been an increase in sexual assault, domestic violence or stalking. Instead these higher numbers reflect that the system is working and that victims feel confident enough to come forward and seek assistance."

At UC Davis, approximately three-quarters of the sex offenses in 2006 were reported confidentially to the Campus Violence Prevention Program. Beeman says that by combining campus resources and grant funding from the federal Office on Violence Against Women, UC Davis has been aggressively addressing the issues associated with sexual assault, dating and domestic violence and stalking by providing services for victims.

Beeman pointed out that college campuses across the nation that have received federal grants to establish and operate violence prevention programs have noticed similarly high numbers of reports of sex offenses, especially when compared with schools without such programs.

Indeed, Sandy Ortman, director of special programs for the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said it is not unusual for college campuses to see dramatic increases in sex offenses once they have created a concerted, coordinated effort to address the issue.

"Because the (federal) grants are designed to reduce violent crimes against women on campus, it seems contradictory because the numbers increase," Ortman said, "but that does not mean the violent crimes are increasing. The services you are providing are allowing more women to come forward."

In fact, UC Davis will use a newly announced, nearly $1 million federal grant to help the UC's 10 campuses improve their response to violence against women. Davis will lead the effort to develop a systemwide strategic plan to enhance prevention programs and victim support services. The project will be informed by the experience of UC Davis' own nationally recognized violence prevention program, which has already received $1.9 million from the Justice Department since 1999, and other campuses that have been awarded similar grants.

During the last 28 years, UC Davis has developed a comprehensive system of innovative risk-reduction, prevention education programs, protocols and policies, along with confidential reporting options, to help women report any sex offenses. Beeman says just fewer than three percent of college women become victims of rape (completed or attempted) in a given nine-month academic year.

"At first glance, the risk seems low. However, when calculated for a one-year period, the percentage translates into the disturbing figure of 35 such crimes for every 1,000 female students," said Beeman. "Sexual assault awareness means increasing public awareness of this 'silent' crime. It means asking ourselves and our communities how we can work together to eliminate sexual violence and respond to survivors in a way that enables them to heal and regain control of their lives."

Patrol, education efforts

Extra patrol and education efforts are credited for the decrease in robberies and the increase in drug and liquor disciplinary actions, according to the UC Davis Police Department that patrols both the main campus and the medical center in Sacramento.

"The department will continue to put forth extra patrols along with out newly reinstated Bike Patrol," said UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza. "Our hope with this program is to help bring down our vehicle thefts. But once again, education and partnering with the other units on campus is going to be paramount to our efforts."

The majority of the increased number of alcohol-related disciplinary cases is the result of the Student Housing Resident Advisors finding minors in possession of liquor. For example, if 10 underage students are in a residence hall room and one beer is present, all 10 students will be referred to the Student Judicial Affairs Office on campus for disciplinary action.

The Clery Act liquor statistics are focused only on minors in possession of alcohol.

"In a collaborative effort, the UC Davis Health Center, the UC Davis and Davis city police departments are helping to educate the student population on safe partying," said Lt. Nader Oweis, a spokesman for the UC Davis Police Department. "Officers and health advisors make an all-out effort to provide students living in the residence halls, sororities and fraternities with information about maintaining safe parties."

The safe party project targets high-risk drinking, including binge drinking and underage drinking, especially at off-campus parties, to prevent alcohol-related violence and property damage both on campus and in the local community. The project supports alcohol-free events, provides "safe host" and "party safety" guidance, and promotes increased visibility for police enforcement of alcohol related laws.

The Clery report also showed a drop in drug arrests — from 102 in 2005 to 81 in 2006. Most of those arrests took place at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. No hate crimes were reported last year.

UC Davis' 2006 report, prepared in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, includes six categories of crimes against persons (non-negligent manslaughter, negligent manslaughter, forcible sex offenses, non-forcible sex offenses, robbery and aggravated assault) and three against property (arson, burglary and motor vehicle thefts).

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 adjacent to their campuses, their off-campus properties, and the properties of registered student organizations. Universities and colleges report the information to the U.S. Department of Education and must make the information and annual statistics available to students and employees each fall.

Clery Act data for 2006 is available at http://police.ucdavis.edu/clery/index.htm.