Public Safety

Clery Act Overview

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Public Safety Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998 requires institutions of higher education receiving federal financial aid to report specified crime statistics on college campuses and to provide other safety and crime information to members of the campus community.

Clery Act: Substantive Requirements

1. Compilations and Disclosure of Campus Crime Statistics
The act requires the collection and reporting of annual crime statistics reflecting reports of specified crimes that occur on or adjacent to, a university campus and certain properties associated with the campus. This statistical compilation must be broken down by specific types of crimes and campus referrals, and must indicate if a specific crime is a hate crime, which must be reported by category of prejudice. Campuses must also provide a geographic breakdown of crime statistics reported according to the following geographic areas: “on campus” (including a further breakdown of the number of crimes that occurred in campus student residence facilities), “in or on a non-campus building or property”, and “on public property”.

2. Disclosure of Campus Safety Policies
The Annual Security Report prepared by a campus, in addition to providing required crime statistics, describe specific campus policies concerning reporting criminal activity or other emergencies occurring on campus; policies concerning the security of , maintenance of , and access of campus facilities; campus law enforcement polices regarding the authority of campus law enforcement units and the facilitation of crime reporting; a description of the type and frequency of campus programs to inform student and employees about campus security procedures, security precautions, and the prevention of crimes; statement of policy concerning the monitoring and recording through local police agencies of off-campus criminal activity by students; statements of alcohol and drug policies including education programs, statement of policy concerning campus programs to prevent sexual assaults and procedures to be followed when such an assault occurs; and a statement advising campus community where law enforcement agency information on registered sex offenders may be obtained.

3. Timely Warning Requirements
The campus is required to report to the campus community those crimes considered to be a threat to students and/or employees “in a manner that is timely and will aid in the prevention of similar crimes.” Crime alerts are usually posted for the following crimes: arson, aggravated assault, criminal-homicide, robbery, and sex offenses. Crime alerts may also be posted for other classifications as deemed necessary. Crime alerts are posted through, text messages, electronic mail and the posting bulletins at various locations on campus when a crime has occurred and there is a possibility that an outstanding suspect could be a danger to the campus community.

4. Disclosure of Crime Log Information
The SUNY Niagara Public Safety Department will maintain a daily crime log that contains information on crimes that occur in and around campus. The log will be viewable at our department office, G-106 on our Sanborn Campus and online at niagaracc.suny.edu/security/crime-log/.