The Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 requires all colleges and universities to disclose campus crime statistics. While many parents want this information in order to help their son or daughter select a campus where he or she will be safe, many college and university administrators are concerned that statistics can be misleading. This article examines the benefits, concerns, and challenges regarding the Campus Security Act and provides suggestions for how its implementation can be improved. Her brutal murder received nationwide media coverage, heightening national concern for crime on campus. This manuscript examines some apprehensions and benefits associated with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990.
Safety is a primary concern for parents, students, faculty, and student affairs professionals.
Pennsylvania Congressional Representative William F. Goodling sponsored the legislation as the Campus Security Act. Since September 1991, colleges and universities have collected data on the number of murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, and motor-vehicle thefts on campus. Additionally, data is collected on the number of arrests made on campus for violations of drug, alcohol, and weapons laws. The Act requires colleges and universities to publish and distribute an annual report which includes statistical data and detailed information on crime prevention polices. In addition, when specific incidents of crime are reported to campus security or local law enforcement, information must be immediately circulated to the college community.