October 20, 2005

UP issues annual report

University Police has issued its annual report on crime statistics.

The report for the calendar year 2004 — “Campus Safety: A Shared Responsibility” — is online at www.northwestern.edu/up/about/NUSafety05.pdf.

A printed copy may also be obtained at a police office.

The report, which provides statistics for the last three years, includes:

• How to report crimes and other emergencies

• Who to report crime to

• The role of University Police

• Information on campus security procedures and crime prevention

• Information about sexual assault and the University’s response to sexual assaults

• Policies regarding security of residences and facilities

• Crime Statistics for the three previous years

• Information about the Univer-sity policy on drugs and alcohol

Evanston Campus

There were four arrests for liquor law violations, one more than 2003, while the number of drug law arrests dropped from 33 to 28.

The referrals for those two offenses – cases where students involved were referred to Student Affairs – dropped significantly from 2003 to 2004. There were 366 referrals for liquor law violations, compared to 654 in 2003, and there were 14 referrals for drug law violations, compared to 39 the year before.

Crimes against persons also fell sharply, dropping from 52 in 2003 to 29 last year. Most of the reports involved simple battery but the number of those fell from 32 to 15.

There were also fewer crimes against property/state, a total of 483, eight fewer than the previous year. More than half – 274 – were thefts. The majority of other crimes were burglary, burglary from motor vehicle, criminal damage, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.

There were no bias type crimes, those manifesting prejudice, for the second straight year.

The report also includes crimes in areas near the campus. The number of crimes against persons dropped from 111 in 2003 to 81. Slightly more than half of the 81 incidents were simple battery.

Crimes against property/state off-campus decreased from 834 the previous year to 724 in 2004. More than half of the 724 incidents (390) were thefts, an increase of 46 incidents over the previous year.

The off-campus crimes are reported from the area west of campus bounded roughly by Church Street west to Green Bay Road, Green Bay north to Eastwood, and Eastwood north to the north city limits.

Chicago Campus

There were three robberies and no bias crimes on campus property in 2004. There were 140 crimes against property/state, 96 of which were thefts.

The crimes against persons in areas near the campus totaled 77, three fewer than in 2003. The 77 included 47 simple battery incidents. There were 336 crimes against property/state, 123 more than the previous year. Thefts accounted for 238 of those incidents.

The off-campus crimes are reported from portions of neighboring streets, including Chestnut, Pearson, Chicago, Superior, Huron, Erie, Ontario, Inner Lake Shore Drive, Fairbanks and St. Clair.