A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      Contact:  Jane Glickman (202) 401-1307    May 2, 1994                       Stephanie Babyak (202) 401-2311

CAMPUS CRIME DATA AVAILABLE

College students and their parents are entitled to receive campus crime data under final regulations published by the U.S. Education Department.

"Consumers have a right to know what they're buying," said U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, "and campus crime statistics and safety procedures provide critical information for any parent or student when selecting a college. If consumers can find out the safety records of motor vehicles, surely they should have access to the same information for college campuses."

Colleges and universities are now required to distribute an annual security report to all current students and employees. Any prospective student or employee will receive a summary of this report and, upon request, the complete report.

The report must include:

statistics on the number of on-campus murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts, and arrests for weapons possessions and liquor and drug abuse violations;
policies regarding security, access to campus residences and other facilities, and campus law enforcement;
procedures for reporting crimes and other emergencies;
information on campus sexual assault and rape awareness programs, procedures to follow when a sex offense occurs, disciplinary action procedures, counseling opportunities, and notification to students that the school will make reasonable changes of a victim's academic and living situation;
policies on the use, possession and sale of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs; and
a description of programs informing the campus community about alcohol and drug abuse education, crime prevention and campus security practices.

Campus staff with "significant counseling responsibility" will be expected to provide statistical data for the report, but may continue to honor the confidentiality of victims. These staff persons are not included in the definition of "campus security authority" and are not required to report crimes to law enforcement officials.

The final regulations, which appear in the April 29 Federal Register, do require institutions to make timely reports to the campus community on crimes that are considered a continuing danger to other students and employees.

These regulations implement Title II of the Student Right- to-Know and Campus Security Act (P.L. 101-542). In accordance with the law, the secretary will compile campus crime statistics from colleges and universities and submit a report to Congress in 1995.

In the near future, the department will publish a booklet to help colleges and universities increase campus safety and respond appropriately to victims of crime. Campus Security Programs: A First Look at Promising Programs will outline a comprehensive campus security program and offer examples of effective programs across the country.

In addition, the department will provide close to $14 million this year to colleges and universities to help them develop campus-wide programs to curtail the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol in particular has been found to be a frequent correlate to violent crime, especially violence against young women.