Add as a preferred source on Google

Crime on Campus

  • By Deb Moore
  • 05/15/16

On May 4th the 18th edition of Indicators of School Crime and Safety, a joint publication of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) was released. The report is compiled from a number of statistical data sources supported by the federal government and provides us with the most recent data available.  While improvement was seen on some fronts, ground was lost on others where increases of 100 percent or more were seen.

Criminal Incidents: In 2013, there were 27,600 criminal incidents on campuses at postsecondary institutions that were reported to police and security agencies, representing an 8 percent decrease from 2012.

Residence Halls: In 2013, more on-campus crimes overall were reported at institutions with residence halls than at institutions without residence halls – 24.2 vs. 6.2 per 10,000 students.  For example, more burglaries were reported at institutions with residence halls than at institutions without residence halls (13.9 vs. 2.9 per 10,000 students), and more forcible sex offenses were reported at institutions with residence halls than at institutions without them (4.6 vs. 0.5 per 10,000 students).

Drug Law Violations:  The number of disciplinary referrals for drug law violations reported by postsecondary institutions increased between 2001 and 2013 from 23,900 to 54,100 – a 127 percent increase.  Arrests for drug law violations increased by 70 percent, from 11,900 in 2001 to 20,100 in 2013.

Liquor Law Violations: The number of disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations increased from 130,000 in 2001 to 190,900 in 2013 – a 47 percent increase.  The number of arrests for liquor law violations in 2013 (26,600) was lower than in any year between 2001 and 2012.

Weapons Possession: The number of disciplinary referrals for illegal weapons possession was lower in 2013 (1,400) than in 2006 (1,900), but it was higher than the number of such referrals in 2001 (1,300). The number of arrests for illegal weapons possession reported by postsecondary institutions was 3 percent lower in 2013 than in 2001 (1,000 vs. 1,100).

Sex Crimes: Between 2001 and 2013, the number of reported forcible sex crimes on campus increased from 2,200 in 2001 to 5,000 in 2013 – a 126 percent increase.  (Also of Note:  A 2015 study conducted by the Association of American Universities shows that when it comes to crimes of sexual assault or sexual misconduct only 28% or less of the most serious incidents are reported to and organization or agency.)

To find out more go to http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/index.asp.

Featured

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • concentric silhouettes of a human head

    How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

    Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.

  • University of West Florida Opens New Laboratory Facility

    The University of West Florida recently announced that renovation work is complete on a new lab building for its campus in Pensacola, Fla., according to university news. Building 80 will serve as the home to the university’s civil engineering program and the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Program.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

Digital Edition