URBANA, Ill. – The University of Illinois Police Department this week published its Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which includes statistics about crime and fire incidents and campus policies on safety-related activities.
The report is available at police.illinois.edu/clery.
Publishing the report is a requirement of the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Almost all colleges and universities mush publish such a report every year under the federal law, which is designed to enhance transparency around campus crime policy and statistics.
“We do not publish this report simply to comply with federal law — we also want to ensure that our students, faculty, staff, and visitors have the information they need to look out for themselves and others,” said Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Craig Stone. “An informed campus is a safer campus, and it takes the active participation of all of our community members to enhance security.”
The statistics for 2016-2018 included in this year’s report show that campus crime remained well within ranges that would be expected for a community the size of Champaign-Urbana. There were decreases in reported rapes, burglaries, and motor vehicle theft. There were, however, small increases in reports of fondling, robbery and aggravated assault. These increases occurred mostly on public property adjacent to but not owned by the university.
“Our campus remains a very safe place to live, work and study,” Stone said. “However, no community is completely crime free, and these numbers reflect that. It is important that students and others continue to seek out resources to protect themselves and help us keep campus safe by calling 9-1-1 in emergencies and reporting any suspicious behavior to the appropriate authorities.”
There were ten fires in 2018 versus seven in 2017, but no fire-related injuries have been reported on campus throughout the three years included in the report.
The majority of the report includes detailed information about campus safety policies and procedures, including safety resources, how to report crime or harassment, what to expect from the reporting process, campus safety tips, and more.
In 2019, the report was published for the first time as a website instead of a PDF document. The web version improves the report’s navigation functions and accessibility, and the report is responsive to a variety of different screen sizes. Campus safety officials hope the improved version of the report will make it more user-friendly to further enhance transparency.
“Creating and maintaining a safe community is a responsibility the University of Illinois Police Department, University Housing and Campus Code Compliance and Fire Safety take very seriously,” Stone said Wednesday in a mass email to campus community members. “However, we cannot do it alone. Crime and fire prevention is a community effort, and you are our most valuable public safety resource. By reviewing this report, you are partnering with us to take the necessary steps to look out for yourself and others and to create a safer campus community for everyone.”
