Campus Safety: Crime Statistics, Crime Reporting

The “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” (20 USC §1092(f)) is a federal law originally known as the Campus Security Act. It requires colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to disclose information about crime on/around their campuses.

The Clery Act is named after Jeanne Clery, a 19-year-old Lehigh University freshman, who was raped and murdered in her campus residence hall in 1986. Her parents said if they had known about the crime on campus, they never would have allowed their daughter to attend that college. In response to this tragic incident, the Clery Act was established. 

The Clery Act has undergone many changes since it was signed into law in 1990. Some of these changes included additional requirements about the rights of sexual assault victims, sex offender notifications, emergency response and protection for whistleblowers.

Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are MD Anderson workforce members who are responsible for:

• Accurately reporting crime information to MD Anderson's Clery Act Coordinator in a timely manner, or
• Supporting the individual who reports crimes to them, and providing the individual with options and resources.

CSAs are not responsible for determining if a crime took place, finding and/or apprehending the alleged perpetrator, or convincing the victim to contact law enforcement.

CSAs are a critical first step in a process that was designed to support victims and protect the larger campus community.

In accordance with the Clery Act, MD Anderson has identified individuals designated as CSAs. A comprehensive list of MD Anderson's CSAs may be found on the UT Police website.

By October 1 of every year, MD Anderson distributes to all enrolled students and current employees its Annual Security Report. The report contains important information about campus security and personal safety, including:

• crime prevention;
• campus law enforcement authority;
• crime reporting guidelines;
• disciplinary procedures; and
• other matters related to security and safety on MD Anderson’s campus.

The report also contains statistics related to reports of certain criminal offenses defined under the Clery Act for the previous three calendar years. The offenses include crimes that allegedly occurred on campus; on non-campus property owned or controlled by the institution; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. 

Paper copies of the report are available upon request in person at UT Police, 7777 Knight Road, Houston, TX 77054.

Crimes that occur within MD Anderson’s Clery Act geography qualify for reporting under the Clery Act. This includes incidents that occur:

1. on campus;
2. on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus; and
3. in or on non-campus buildings or property that MD Anderson owns or controls. 

The Clery Act includes the following categories of crimes:

1. Criminal Homicide (including murder/non-negligent manslaughter and manslaughter by negligence)
2. Sex Offenses (including rape, fondling, incest and statutory rape)
3. Robbery
4. Aggravated Assault
5. Burglary
6. Motor Vehicle Theft
7. Arson
8. Domestic Violence
9. Dating Violence
10. Stalking
    
11. Arrests and referrals for disciplinary action for liquor law violations, drug law violations and/or violations of weapon laws
    

In addition, if you believe one of the following crimes was committed, even in part, because of bias against the person’s race, gender, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity or national origin, then it is considered a “hate crime” and must also be reported:

1. Larceny/Theft
2. Simple Assault
3. Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property
4. Intimidation

We are also required to report the following crimes, even if the victim does not consider himself or herself to be a victim:

• Domestic violence
• Dating violence
• Stalking

We are also required to report referrals for campus disciplinary action that violated a law (even if an arrest was not made):

1. Liquor Law violations
2. Drug Law violations
3. Illegal weapons possession

CSAs can help victims by providing information and resources to the person reporting the incident.

You and/or the victim may consider contacting one or more of the following resources for additional assistance:

• MD Anderson Employee Assistance Program (713-745-6901)
• University of Texas Employee Assistance Program
• UT Health Services
• UTHealth Crisis Information

In addition to providing information and resources to the alleged victim, a CSA must also report the incident by using the online reporting tool or by contacting:

Charles Dunn, Inspector | cdunn@mdanderson.org
William Adcox, Chief of Police | wadcox@mdanderson.org
Sheri Wakefield, Clery Act Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator | sbrownlo@mdanderson.org