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Clery Act Overview 

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report certain crimes, send timely warnings, and have specific safety-related policies. Crimes which need to be reported under the Clery Act include: aggravated assault, arson, burglary, hate crimes, manslaughter, murder, rape, robbery. Additionally, the Clery Act has a geographic area component which includes the campus, non-campus buildings or property, and public property. The Clery Act applies to students, employees, and prospective members of the campus community. 

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) amended and expanded Clery to include crimes of sexual violence, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. VAWA also requires that that victim’s name stay confidential when timely warnings and emergency notifications are issued. 

Campus security must maintain a written, easily understood daily crime log recording the nature, date, time, and general location of the crime and disposition of the complaint, if known. This information is then used to prepare an Annual Security Report detailing the crime statistics and the institute’s safety related policies. 

CLERY ACT: A BASIC OVERVIEW 

What is Required by The Clery Act 

Each year colleges and universities receiving federal funds must publish and distribute a public annual security report (ASR) to employees and students by October 1. In preparation of the ASR, campus police or security must maintain a written, easily understood daily crime log which records the nature, date, time, and general location of the crime and disposition of the complaint, if known. 

Annual Security Report:

 (1) Statistics of campus crime for the preceding three calendar year; 

(2) Details about the efforts taken to improve campus security; and 

(3) Policy statements regarding 

a. Crime reporting 

b. Campus facility security and access 

c. Law enforcement authority 

d. Incidence of alcohol and drug use 

e. The prevention of/response to sexual assault, domestic or dating violence, and stalking. 

In addition to the ASR, The Clery Act seeks to promote transparency and ongoing communication about campus crimes and other threats to the health and safety of the campus community. Clery states that institutions must issue timely warnings to the campus community and have and disclose emergency response procedures.