USM reported a decrease in most crimes on or near its campuses for 2000, including rapes, assaults and drug and alcohol disciplinary cases.
Each year USM provides reports on campus crime to protect the safety of the campus community and to help prevent similar incidents. The reports are based on crimes that are considered threatening to the community.
“We’ve seen a decrease in alcohol and a modest decrease in the cases that my office handles,” said Steve Nelson, assistant to the vice president, Office of Community Standards. “However, more general has definitely increased. Det. Sgt. Ron Saindon is busier than ever in police work (this year).”
According to the USM Crime Statistics, the Gorham, Portland and Lewiston/Auburn campuses reported no forcible sex offenses for the year 2000; however, in 1999 there were a total of nine incidents reported.
The statistics reflect crimes committed on or very close to campus.
For 2000, Gorham had one reported aggravated assault, taking place on campus, where as in 1999, between the three campuses, there were three incidents reported, all taking place on private property.
The largest decrease in reported crime came in the number of drug and alcohol disciplinary cases.
Between the three campuses in 1999, there were 416 liquor law disciplinary cases and 77 drug cases. In the following year, there were 161 liquor law disciplinary cases and 28 drug cases.
The University is required to post crime statistics because of a 1998 federal law.
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and campus Crime Statistics Act, commonly known as the Clery Act, requires schools to provide three different records: an annual statistics report, a daily campus crime log and “timely reports” regarding crimes that present an ongoing threat to the campus community.
All post-secondary institutions , public and private, receiving federal financial assistance must comply with the statistical reporting requirements.
Colleges and universities are required to publish and distribute an annual security report which contains campus security policies and procedures, the law enforcement authority status of security personal, a description of drug and alcohol abuse, crime prevention and sexual assault education programs available to the campus community, and actual campus crime statistics.
If a institution doesn’t comply with the Clery Act, it risks being fined up to $25,000 for each violation and could lose its federal funding.
USM is also required to “prepare, publish, and distribute” this security report to all current students and employees in compliance with the Clery Act.
According to Nelson this can be done through two different venues. Either the University can put together one whole pamphlet and distribute it, or can put the brochure on-line and inform the community that it’s there.
“USM chose to put the brochure on-line. We then sent everyone a postcard with the exact URL address, which shows only the statistic report. I believe we sent out over 10,000 during the fall,” said Nelson. “Every new student that arrives for every new session must also be informed of the Web site, so we are constantly mailing these postcards throughout the year.”
For many years, USM has been one of a handful of institutions which have voluntarily submitted data to the State and national Uniform Crime Reporting System.
USM and the USM police department have been firmly committed to honest and timely reporting of all campus crime statistics and will continue to report in compliance with the Clery Act, according to Nelson.
To see the statistics go to: www.usm.maine.edu/police/safetyreport.htm.
Staff writer Aimee Risteen can be contacted at: aimee.risteen @maine.edu