2019 annual Crime and Fire report shows increases in stalking and motor vehicle theft

The report, which is normally released in October, was released on Dec. 22 of 2020. Due to COVID-19, the US Department of Education gave higher education institutions an extension until the end of the year. Overall, total reported crimes have been going down the past three years.

The report, as well as the Daily Crime and Fire Log, is mandated through the Clery Act, which requires that all colleges and universities report crimes that occur on or around campus. 

Director of Public Safety Sara Westbrook said that although there are good intentions behind the law, the report loses some of its meaning because of how different crimes are classified state-to-state.

“The report itself I think is so generalized it's not helpful. I mean they try, they really try... it takes days and days to accomplish that report,” Westbrook said. “But the trouble is each state has its own set of laws... (For example), what we call harassment here in Oregon is assault in Washington.”

In the report, sexual assault includes rape, forcible fondling, incest and statutory rape. In 2019, there were seven reported rapes for the second year in a row. There were three cases of forcible fondling, down from nine in 2017, and zero cases of both incest and statutory rape. 

Liquor and drug law violations also fell in 2019, from 315 to 299 for liquor law violations and 46 to 14 for drug law violations.

“I think the intention of (the Clery Act) is really good,” Westbrook said. “Which is to mandate that all colleges and universities across our country are transparent about what crimes are occurring on their campus.”

William Seekamp is the Sports Editor for The Beacon. He can be reached at seekamp22@up.edu.