Beyond Clery Act statistics: a closer look at college victimization based on self-report data

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Student victimization is a significant concern on college campuses.
• Understanding risk factors is crucial for prevention and intervention.
• Existing data may not fully capture the scope of student experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, activity choices, and victimization among undergraduate students.
• To identify specific factors that increase students' risk for experiencing violence.
• To assess the accuracy of reported victimization rates and challenges in implementing the Clery Act.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 479 undergraduate students.
• Online survey data collection.
• Multivariate regression analysis to identify risk factors for victimization.

Main Results:

• Gender, grade point average, and membership in student organizations (including Greek-letter organizations) were significant predictors of victimization.
• Alcohol use and household income did not show a statistically significant relationship with victimization.
• Reported victimization rates suggest underreporting by students and implementation challenges for the Clery Act.

Conclusions:

• Demographic and social factors play a key role in student victimization risk.
• Accurate data collection is essential for effective resource allocation and victim support.
• Addressing underreporting and improving Clery Act compliance are necessary for campus safety.