Clery Act
The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly outline the policies and procedures they have put into place to improve campus safety.
Summary
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Campus Crime Statistics Act, Clery Act, is a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics.
In order to comply with Clery Act requirements, colleges and universities must understand what the law entails, where their responsibilities lie, and what they can do to actively foster campus safety.
You can read the full text of the Clery Act at the Federal Register here.
Requirements
The Clery Act requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to disseminate a public annual security report (ASR) to employees and students every October 1st. This report must include statistics of campus crime for the preceding 3 calendar years, plus details about efforts taken to improve campus safety.
ASRs must also include policy statements regarding (but not limited to) crime reporting, campus facility security and access, law enforcement authority, incidence of alcohol and drug use, and the prevention of/response to sexual assault, domestic or dating violence, and stalking.
Crime Categories
Criminal Offenses
- Criminal homicide: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, manslaughter by negligence
- Sexual assault: rape, fondling, incest, statutory rape
- Robbery
- Aggravated assault
- Burglary
- Motor vehicle theft
- Arson
Hate Crimes (any of the above mentioned offenses, and any incidents of)
- Larceny-theft
- Simple assault
- Intimidation
- Destruction/damage/vandalism of property
VAWA Offenses
- Domestic violence
- Dating violence
- Stalking
Arrests and Referrals for Disciplinary Action
- Weapons law violations
- Drug abuse violations
- Liquor law violations
Crime Reporting Geography
Clery Act crime reporting is not strictly limited to events that occur on campus or within campus buildings and residences. Institutions must include statistics for crime that occur in any of these geographic areas:
- On-campus (anywhere)
- On-campus student housing
- Public property within campus bounds
- Public property immediately adjacent to the campus
- Non-campus buildings and property owned or controlled by the organization that are used for educational purposes and frequently used by students but not a part of the core campus, or those owned or controlled by a student organization officially recognized by the institution.
Below you will find a map of the geographical area in which DePauw University is responsible for reporting crimes.
Daily Crime Log
Under the Clery Act, the DePauw University Police Department is required to maintain and make available a crime log. The crime log provides certain details about crimes that are reported to campus Police which have occurred at any of the areas listed above. These details include the date and time the crime occurred, the nature of the crime, the general location of the crime, and the disposition of the complaint, if known.
According to the Clery Act, institutions may withhold any of the required details of the crime log if any of the following conditions apply:
- The disclosure is prohibited by law.
- If disclosure would jeopardize the confidentiality of the victim, or the safety of an individual.
- If the disclosure would jeopardize an ongoing investigation.
- If the disclosure would cause a suspect to flee or evade detection.
- If the disclosure would result in the destruction of evidence.