Highline’s 2020 Annual Security Report paints a picture of a relatively calm campus over the past few years.
Mandated by federal law as part of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, the report summarizes criminal activity from the past three years that has taken place on campus and in the surrounding area.
It is published by the Department of Public Safety at the end of each year, and can be viewed online along with prior years’ reports.
2020’s report contains statistics from 2017, 2018, and 2019, and shows a consistent trend of incidents totaling only a few in each category.
On-campus crimes reported under the Clery Act include robbery, aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, arson, burglary, and criminal homicide, as well as several sexual assault offences.
No homicides, assaults, arsons, or sex offenses were reported for 2019, and no other category saw more than three incidents.
2019’s statistics were largely consistent with those of previous years: Instances of robbery, for instance, fluctuated from three in 2017, to one in 2018, then to three in 2019.
Other categories similarly showed only minor fluctuations from year to year. The only notable exception was a rise in instances of drug law referral to four from zero in both 2017 and 2018.
Collectively, the statistics show a steadily low volume of campus crime over the three-year period.
Associate Director of Public Safety Francesca Fender said this pattern is reflective of what goes on in the local area.
“The surrounding neighborhood of the college does seem to have similar crime trends along with ebbs and flows,” Fender said. “The college tends to be a microcosm of the neighborhood and crime that is happening within the vicinity can spill over onto campus.”
This year’s report looks to be on track to disclose a similar pattern as 2020’s. Fender said 2020’s crime numbers haven’t deviated from past years’.
“Crime stayed consistent through 2020 with minimal property crimes being reported,” Fender said.
But despite the fairly low volume of crime, Fender said the community needs to remain cautious to maintain safety.
“Safety can be very subjective,” she said.
“While you may look at the statistics and see relatively low crime stats which depict to you a fairly safe campus environment, another person may look at the three listed robberies and feel unsafe walking to their vehicle after a night class.”
Even as many live their lives primarily from home, reducing the opportunity for crime to occur is as important as ever, Fender said.
“While the Public Safety team is dedicated to mitigating crime, it also takes the entire community to be vigilant,” she said. “Place valuables out of sight in your vehicle, refrain from walking around parking lots or near bus stops on your cell phone.”
Fender stressed that in order for Highline and its community to continue its pattern of safety, everyone has to do their part.
“It is important to remember that the college is not immune to crime and safety is a shared responsibility of all of us,” she said. “If you see something, say something.”
