Public Safety Releases Crime Statistics Reported Sex Offenses Up, Crime Down Overall

Author: Daniel Phillips

The results are in: reported forcible sex offenses at Middlebury College have risen over the past two years, while crime as a whole - robbery, burglary, arson and liquor law violations - has decreased, according to the Department of Public Safety's annual security report.

The definitions of on-campus crimes reported range from criminal homicide to larceny- the unlawful taking, carrying, leading or riding away of property from the possession of another- and have recently been compiled for the period of January 1 through June 30, 2003.

The new numbers are published alongside the data from the complete years 2000-2002, and are recorded by geographic location on campus.

The most disconcerting data are from sex offenses, which nearly jump off the page with eight forcible sex offenses reported on campus and in residential facilities from the start of 2002 until June 30 of this year, as compared to the total of three from 2000-2002.

There have been no records of robbery, motor vehicle theft or aggravated assault since 2001, and liquor law violation arrests on campus and on public property have fallen steadily over the past two years.

Offenses pertaining to judicial referral also reflect the decline in liquor law violations, while drug violations continue to rise sharply and consistently, climbing from 15 in 2001 to 64 in 2002, with 27 drug violations already recorded for the 2003 period until June 30.

The crime statistics are assembled by the Dean of Student Affairs Office and the Middlebury Police Department and released annually in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The Clery Act mandates the definitions of crimes listed, which are reported using the definitions described by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting program. The Middlebury Police Department provides Public Safety with "statistical information regarding crimes occurring on all public and privately held properties adjacent or contiguous to the campus as defined by federal law," notes the Safety and Security Handbook 2003, which can be obtained from Campus Security or online from an e-mail sent out to the College community on Monday.

The Department of Public Safety actively seeks out reports from College officials, athletic coaches or advisors with "significant responsibility for students and campus activities," who are required by federal law to notify Public Safety of crimes defined under the Clery Act.

And in accordance with years past, the College community will be glad to know that no crimes have yet been reported on the Bread Loaf campus.