Campus Safety and the Clery Act

Campus safety is important to everyone - students and their families, faculty and staff and to the whole University community. JPCatholic University is located within the city of Escondido, which is generally considered very safe. However, students must exercise reasonable prudence and caution.

The Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act (Public Law 101-542) went into effect on Sept. 1, 1991. Title II of this act is known as the 'Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990'. This act amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) by adding campus crime statistics and reporting provisions for postsecondary institutions. It requires the disclosure of crime statistics for the most recent three years, as well as disclosure of the institution's current security policies. Institutions are also required to issue timely warnings when necessary. All public and private Title IV eligible institutions must comply with the requirements of this act which is enforced by the US Department of Education (ED).

The 'Clery Act' is named in memory of Jeanne Ann Clery, a 19 year old university freshman, who was raped and murdered while asleep in her dorm room on April 5, 1986. Her parents, Connie and Howard, joined with other campus crime victims and persuaded Congress to enact the 'Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990.' The law was amended in 1992 to add a requirement that schools afford the victims of campus sexual assault certain basic rights, and was amended again in 1998 to expand the reporting requirements. The 1998 amendments also formally named the law in memory of Jeanne Clery. Subsequent amendments in 2000 and 2008 added provisions dealing with registered sex offender notification and campus emergency response, respectively. The 2008 amendments also added a provision to protect crime victims, 'whistleblowers', and others from retaliation.

University Emergency Reponse:

Information and best practices regarding our response to emergencies including fire, active shooter, and earthquake can be found here.

Clery Act Summary:

  1. Institutions must publish an annual report disclosing campus security policies and three years worth of selected crime statistics.
  2. Institutions must make timely warnings to the campus community about crimes that pose an ongoing threat to students and employees.
  3. The U.S. Department of Education centrally collects and disseminates the crime statistics.
  4. Campus community sexual assault victims are assured of certain basic rights.
  5. Institutions that fail to comply may be fined or lose eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs.

JPCatholic - Annual Reports: