Harrisonburg residents enjoy a relatively low crime rate. However, it is the responsibility of every member of the campus community to take reasonable precautions for maintaining personal safety as well as the safety of others. The university's campus safety and security program is an ongoing process that includes the development and enforcement of policies, regulations, procedures and practices.
Definitions of reportable crimes in the Campus Security Act
Reported crime statistics citation 34 CFR 668.46(c)
The Clery Act requires each institution to disclose four general categories of crime statistics:
- Criminal Offenses - Criminal Homicide, including Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter, and Manslaughter by Negligence; Sexual Assault, including Rape, Fondling, Incest and Statutory Rape; Robbery; Aggravated Assault; Burglary; Motor Vehicle Theft; and Arson.
- Hate Crimes - Any of the above-mentioned offenses, and any incidents of Larceny-Theft, Simple Assault, Intimidation, or Destruction/Damage/ Vandalism of Property that were motivated by bias;
- VAWA Offenses - Any incidents of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking.
- Arrests and Referrals for Disciplinary Action - For Weapons Law Violations—Carrying, Possessing, Etc. , Drug Abuse Violations, and Liquor Law Violations.
Crime Definitions
Per the Clery Act, you must classify crimes based on Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook (UCR). For sex offenses only, use definitions from the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) edition of the UCR. Classify hate crimes according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines and Training Guide for Hate Crime Data Collection. Although the law states that institutions must use the UCR for defining and classifying crimes, it does not require Clery Act crime reporting to meet all UCR standards. You must disclose reported offenses, not the findings of a court, coroner or jury or the decision of a prosecutor. Classify and count crimes from the records of calls for service, complaints and investigations.
Offense Definitions Relating to Hate Crimes
A hate crime is a criminal offense committed against a person or property, which is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's bias. Bias is a preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons based on their race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or ethnicity/national origin.
Although there are many possible categories of bias, under Clery, only the following eight categories are reported:
- Race. A preformed negative attitude toward a group of persons who possess common physical characteristics (e.g., color of skin, eyes, and/or hair; facial features, etc.) genetically transmitted by descent and heredity, which distinguish them as a distinct division of humankind (e.g., Asians, blacks, whites).
- Religion. A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons who share the same religious beliefs regarding the origin and purpose of the universe and the existence or nonexistence of a supreme being (e.g., Catholics, Jews, Protestants, atheists).
- Sexual orientation. A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons based on their sexual attraction toward, and responsiveness to, members of their own sex or members of the opposite sex (e.g., gays, lesbians, heterosexuals).
- Gender. A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons based on their actual or perceived gender, e.g., male or female.
- Gender Identity. A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a person or group of persons based on their actual or perceived gender identity, e.g., bias against transgender or gender non-conforming individuals.
- Ethnicity. A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, common culture (often including a shared religion) and/or ideology that stresses common ancestry.
- National Origin. A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of people based on their actual or perceived country of birth.
- Disability. A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons based on their physical or mental impairments, whether such disability is temporary or permanent, congenital or acquired by heredity, accident, injury, advanced age or illness.
For Clery purposes, Hate Crimes are crimes or incidents of violence against persons characterized by bias against race, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin and disability.
Categories of hate crime offenses
- Murder and Non-negligent manslaughter
- Sexual Assault
- Robbery
- Aggravated assault
- Burglary
- Motor vehicle theft
- Arson
- Larceny-theft
- Simple assault
- Intimidation
- Destruction/damage/vandalism of property
To Report a Crime
Contact main Campus Safety and Security by dialing 4911 from any campus phone or 540-432-4911 from off campus or from cell phone. Telephones and emergency telephones are located across campus. Any suspicious activity or persons seen in the parking lots or loitering around residential buildings should be reported to campus security or local police. Dial 911 for emergencies. For non- emergency situations, the Harrisonburg Police Department can be contacted at 540-434-4436. Lancaster campus municipal police 717-291-4676, and the Washington D.C. police 202-727-9099. In addition, report crimes to the following people:
- Campus Safety and Security Coordinator
- Vice-President of Finance
- Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students
- Associate Dean of Students, Housing and Residence LifeAssociate Dean of Students, Student Programs
- Director of Campus Life
- Residence Directors
- Director of Facilities Management
- Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Director of Counseling Services
- Title IX Coordinator
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