Crimes decreased in several categories as reported in calendar year 2002 at the University of California, Davis, campus, its medical center in Sacramento, and related facilities.

The 2002 Clery Act statistics indicate that reports of forcible sex offenses decreased by 10 percent from a year ago (from 48 in 2001 to 43 in 2002). Most of the reported offenses did not occur on campus or UC Davis Medical Center property; 14 occurred on public property adjacent to UCDMC, and 10 occurred at off-campus student organization locations in the city of Davis. The number of reported burglaries decreased from 112 to 106, a drop of 7 percent.

Aggravated assaults increased slightly, from 25 to 26, and again, many of these occurred on adjacent public property or at off-campus student organizations (12). And although drug-related arrests increased by 18 percent (from 117 to 138), 42 percent of the 2002 drug arrests occurred on public property or at other non-campus, non-UCDMC locations.

"The numbers of crime reports including forcible sexual assault and aggravated assault demonstrate that UC Davis' outreach, education and services are reaching many of those in need of support and assistance," said UC Davis Police Chief Calvin Handy.

Clery statistics are compiled under substantially different reporting requirements than those imposed by the FBI for compiling statistics made public each spring. Many of these crimes were not reported to police or formally investigated by police to verify if a crime occurred. A substantial number of reports were received by non-police "campus security authorities" such as housing, counseling or judicial affairs staff. The Clery report also differs from FBI crime statistics in the definitions of crimes, locations covered (e.g., public property is not included in FBI statistics), and other reporting requirements. It is not possible, therefore, to make comparisons between Clery and FBI statistics.

In accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, the UC Davis report includes six categories of crimes against persons (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, negligent manslaughter, forcible sex offenses, non-forcible sex offenses, aggravated assault and robbery) and three against property (arson, burglary and motor vehicle theft).

The Clery Act also requires that offenses be reported according to four locations: student residences on campus; other campus buildings or properties; non-campus buildings or properties, including those owned, controlled or leased by the university or recognized student organizations, such as fraternities; and public property adjacent to and readily accessible from the campus, such as parks, sidewalks, streets and public parking facilities.

Universities and colleges report the information to the U.S. Department of Education and must also make the information and annual statistics available to current and prospective students, employees and others by Oct. 1 of the following year.

"UC Davis is committed to preventing violence against women and to responding effectively when it does occur," said Jeanne Wilson, Clery Compliance Coordinator at UC Davis.

UC Davis' 2002 Clery statistics are available online at http://police.ucdavis.edu/clery/2002Clerystatistics.htm.