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Crime Prevention
Since 1995, the University Police Department has focused attention on crime prevention through increased emphasis on Community Oriented Policing. This is most evident through the award of two Community Oriented Policing (COPS) grants, which provided seven new police positions. Four of those positions were devoted to the creation of a special crime prevention team and three to the creation of a bicycle patrol team. As a result, crimes against persons and against property have shown a steady decline.
Arrest Data
While the data reflects an increase in drug and alcohol arrests/citations, this does not represent an increase in the frequency of these incidents at Texas State University. Through the increase in officers and our crime prevention efforts, more individuals are detected and cited for these violations. Since drug and alcohol violations contribute measurably to crimes against persons and against property, arrests and citations for these violations have contributed to the decline in those crimes.
Interagency Cooperation
UPD cooperates with the San Marcos Police Department, the Hays County Sheriff's Office, other local police agencies and local courts to monitor and record off-campus crime involving members of the university community.
The SMPD forwards their police reports involving students and staff to UPD. Those reports involving drug abuse are in turn forwarded to Student Justice or to the appropriate supervisor of an employee.
Internal Cooperation
Internally, the following officials are designated as “Campus Security Authorities” pursuant to the provisions of the Crime Awareness Act:
Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Dean of Students
Director of Residence Life Director of Athletics and Coaches
Greek Affairs Coordinator Coordinator of Student Justice
Attorney for Students Director of Student Center
These individuals and their assistants are charged with the daily responsibility of reporting to UPD any crimes covered by the act reported to them that they believe have not been previously reported to university police or local authorities.
Comparing Crime Data
The data presented reflect the raw numbers for an urban university of 27,000 students using the system of crime definitions required for the Uniform Crime Report. These definitions do not correspond to those established by state laws. In addition, state and local interpretations may vary in the categorization of some crimes. Thus, Texas State University data should not be compared to data from other institutions without considering institutional demographics including such factors as the size of the student populations, the numbers of students living on the campuses and the size of the communities in which the institutions are located.
When A Serious Crime Happens (Timely Warnings)
In the event there is an extraordinary individual crime or a pattern of crimes representing a threat to members of the university community, UPD will publicize a warning via the E-mail system, the campus newspaper, and with flyers posted in places where potential victims are most likely to congregate.
Crime Statistics
Since 1968, the University Police Department has contributed to the U.S. Department of Justice's Uniform Crime Report, administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and has made crime statistics available to interested parties. . Statistics for this report are compiled from university police reports, incidents reported to public law enforcement agencies where the university owns or controls property or where recognized student organizations reside, and from “Campus Security Authorities” to whom individuals report criminal incidents they have not reported to police. Crimes reported in the FBI Uniform Crime Reports by the University Police Department for the last three calendar years are as follows:
Crime Data 2005-2007
On Campus
Campus Security Authority Reports
Occasionally, there are reportable crimes addressed to Campus Security Authorities other than police personnel. The reports represent descriptions of events provided to civilian employees of the institution not skilled in criminal investigation or crime classification. Since UPD officers do not have an opportunity to interview the reporting party(s), the crime classification provided in this section of the report cannot be verified as accurate. Incidents reported to other Campus Security Authorities not reported to UPD are as follows:
Offenses reported to police or other Campus Security Authorities and not to UPD 2005-2007
All Local Authorities: Hays County, Guadalupe County, and San Marcos PD
Last Updated: 08/02/2007 URL: http://www.txstate.edu/police/cw_crime_stats.htm To send questions or comments, please email the Webmaster.
