Princeton Weekly Bulletin September 13, 1998
Public Safety Department reports on campus crime
The Department of Public Safety offers a comprehensive crime prevention program. Brochures are available, describing the types of crimes most likely to affect our campus; these are distributed to members of the community and visitors. Safety and crime prevention are an important part of orientation programs for both students and new staff members. A Police Blotter published on the Internet keeps the community abreast of police matters on campus. Articles on crime and crime prevention appear in the Princeton Weekly Bulletin and in ads in the Daily Princetonian.
A monthly crime analysis bulletin is distributed on campus, and timely "Crime Alert" notices are posted whenever incidents occur that could threaten the safety of members of the community. Informal meetings can be scheduled at any time for groups with security concerns or interests. The Campus Safety Committee, made up of students and administrators, meets regularly to discuss programs that could make our campus an even safer place.
Theft
Though reporting of thefts is not required, Public Safety feels that the public should know 335 such incidents were reported on the Princeton campus in 1997, compared with 304 in 1996 and 228 in 1995.
Bicycle theft accounts for nearly half of these; the remainder were property taken from common areas. Of the 42 incidents of reported burglary in 1997, only 10 were forced entries. In addition to the sex offenses reported below, seven incidents were reported to other University officials in 1997 (and were therefore not investigated by the Department of Public Safety). Also in 1997, there were no reported incidents of prejudice criminal acts ("hate crimes"), and although disciplinary action was taken for violations of the University alcohol policy, there were no campus arrests for drugs, alcohol or weapons possession. Local police authorities reported seven burglary incidents in 1997 in off-campus facilities owned or controlled by student organizations.
Crime statistics
The following crimes were reported during the past three years. (This statement is required under the Crime Awareness and Campus Safety Act of 1990.)
1995 1996 1997
Murder 0 0 0
Sex offense (forcible) 1 3* 2
Sex offense (nonforcible) 0 1 0
Robbery 0 0 0
Aggravated assault 0 0 6
Burglary 33 43 42
Auto theft 2 2 4
*one incident reported in 1997
Definitions (from the Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook)
Murder: Willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another.
Sex offense (forcible): Any sexual act directed against another person, forcibly and/or against that person's will; or not forcibly or against the person's will where the victim is incapable of giving consent.
Sex offense (nonforcible): Unlawful, nonforcible sexual intercourse (incest or statutory rape).
Robbery: Taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.
Aggravated assault: An unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily harm.
Burglary: Unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft.
Auto theft: Theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle.