Duke Releases Annual Clery Security Report

The annual crime report for Duke shows decreases in offenses such as forcible sex, burglary and motor vehicle theft from 2010 to 2011.

The biggest change in the report, released this week by the university as part of the federal Clery Act, is an increase in liquor and drug law referrals, which is due to enhanced reporting and tracking of incidents, according to university officials.

"The safety of our students, faculty, staff, patients and visitors is our first priority," said John Dailey, Duke's chief of police. "Community safety is a shared responsibility. We enjoy excellent relations with students and staff, and by continuing to work together, we're able to create a safer Duke."

The Annual Campus Security Report is mandated by the federal Clery Act, which requires universities to publish an annual report disclosing campus security policies and three years worth of selected crime statistics based upon definitions and parameters supplied under the Clery Act. The report also includes information about Duke's emergency notification and response and evacuation procedures.

The annual report provides statistics for reported criminal offenses, hate crimes, and arrests and referrals for disciplinary action. According to Duke's report:

• There was no change in robbery incidents from 2010 to 2011.
• Aggravated assaults rose from five to eight last year.
• Reported forcible sex offenses went from 12 to seven. The sex offense category represents a range of illegal behavior from inappropriate touching to rape.
• There were fewer incidents of motor vehicle theft and burglary. Burglary has been on a three-year decline.
• Liquor and drug law referrals increased from 2010 to 2011. There were 174 more liquor law referrals and 76 additional drug law referrals last year.

Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, said that increased training among students and employees has led to the uptick in liquor and drug law referral reports because more Duke community members are being responsible for shared safety across campus. This increased community involvement has led to an increase in incidents reported to and captured by the Judicial Affairs Management System, a tool that allows for all reported incidents to go directly to the Office of Student Conduct.

"I'd expect our trend lines to show more incidents not because more bad behaviors are occurring, but because we're doing a better job at intercepting these behaviors as a community," Moneta said. "Our cooperation with resident assistants, student activity staff, Duke Police and even employees has been getting stronger every year."

The annual report comprises reported incidents by Duke community members and the public in the academic and health system campuses, including Duke University Hospital, as well as satellite facilities and Duke Forest.

Dailey and Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for administration and Duke's emergency coordinator both stressed the importance of a community-wide effort toward safety, which includes taking steps toward traveling in groups at night, utilizing resources like Duke buses and vans and reporting suspicious activities to Duke Police.

"Through the ongoing collaboration of our students, faculty, staff, and numerous departments, Duke continues to be a safe environment," Cavanaugh said. "However, safety is a continuous challenge, and we need to remain vigilant with our collective efforts."