The University Police's recent release of the 2000 Clery Act Crime Statistics shows numerous fluctuations from last year in crimes reported on Grounds, but the largest change came in liquor and drug violations.
According to the report, the number of referrals for on-Grounds liquor law violations increased from 82 in 1999 to over 450 in 2000. Additionally, the number of referrals for drug law violations increased from 10 in 1999 to 53 in 2000. The numbers were compiled by the University's Department of Public Safety.
"I've been working with these figures for some time, and these numbers indicate that the University is serious about handling substance abuse on its campus," said University Police Captain Michael Coleman.
"The resident advisors, the Office of the Dean, Inter-Fraternity Council, and the police department are all doing a better job to enforce the University's policies," Coleman said.
These referrals include not only arrests, but also student violations reported to University officials, including the Dean of Students, the Judiciary Committee and the athletics department.
Because cases are reported to several different organizations within the University community, instances of counting the same incident twice may occur. However, University officials said while there may be some cases of double counting, there is no way to determine the exact number.
Punishment for each student is done on a case-by-case basis.
All of the cases are reported confidentially, so it is impossible to disclose specific information on the nature of the charges.
"The police's new initiatives are cracking down on the students," said Jenny Murrill, vice chair of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team. "These numbers don't necessarily mean more drinking, but better results in stopping the drinking."
Susan Bruce, director of the Center for Alcohol and Substance Education, agreed with Murrill. "According to the health behavior surveys taken in recent years, we have not seen a significant increase in substance abuse," she said. "It sounds to me like simply better enforcement of policy."
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires colleges and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses.
There are other noteworthy numbers from the information released by the police.
The number of forcible sex offenses reported by law enforcement officials, after decreasing from 16 in 1998 to 12 in 1999, increased to 19 in 2000.
The number of aggravated assault offenses went from one in 1999 to seven in 2000.
These are all numbers taken specifically from crimes reported on the grounds of U.Va. The report also includes numbers for the surrounding Charlottesville and Albemarle areas.
For the complete statistics, students can visit www.virginia.edu/uvapolice.
Read More
PBS NewsHour correspondent speaks on bringing humanity to international conflict
By Grace Little | 15 hours agoSchifrin's work exploring Putin’s Russia, his coverage of COVID-19 and his reporting in Afghanistan and Ukraine have earned him various accolades.
Spring meal swipe drive aims to tackle food insecurity at the University
By Nicolas Biernacki | 16 hours agoU.Va. Dine facilitated the drive by converting each meal swipe donated by a student into one pound of food that is then donated to the CFP.
Winsome Earle-Sears talks higher education in first U.Va. event of the campaign
By Ford McCracken | 2 days agoA Jamaican immigrant and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Earle-Sears is the first female lieutenant governor of Virginia,
