Editor’s Note—The information in this story may be triggering for members of the campus community who have experienced dating violence.
The University of Utah released two major safety reports this week—an accounting of overall campus crime and fire statistics required by federal law and a housing-specific analysis dictated by state law.
Under the Clery Act, U.S. higher education institutions are required to gather information about all crimes committed within the main campus boundary, in nearby neighborhoods and on satellite campuses. Incidents reported at University of Utah Health Hospitals & Clinics also are included in the final report. This year, health campus statistics are highlighted in red.
This year, the 2023 crime reports note:
- Rape cases are very high—175* total cases in 2023, compared to 30 in 2022—due to one survivor reporting 150 rapes during the course of a multiple-month relationship plagued by interpersonal violence (IPV). These numbers also appear in statistics for Clery’s “dating violence” category. To understand IPV and nonconsensual sexual contact, read more here.
- Stalking cases also have increased significantly, to 117* from 69 in 2022, because the threshold for stalking in the Clery Act different than that in Utah state code.
- Motor vehicle thefts have declined from 29 in 2022 to seven in 2023.
- Alcohol offenses have declined from 389 in 2022 to 239 last year.
Read the full reports here.
*Both sexual assault and stalking cases are included in the state-mandated housing safety report.
About the Clery Act
Colleges and universities in the United States are required to publish this annual security report under the Clery Act. Named after Jeanne Clery, a student who was tragically murdered on her college campus in 1986, the report provides detailed statistics on campus crime, including incidents of sexual assault, burglary, hate crimes, and other safety-related issues. It also outlines the campus’ safety policies, prevention programs, and procedures for reporting crimes. The purpose of the Clery Report is to promote transparency and ensure that students, parents, and the public have access to accurate information about campus safety, thereby fostering a safer educational environment.