Low rates of crime have been revealed at all three campuses in the district’s annual crime report.

According to the data, crime has not gone up but has decreased from previous years in some areas, making Skyline a considerable safe zone from serious crimes.

By Oct. 1 of every year, both private and public college institutions are to submit their annual campus security report for the previous year in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act. Signed in 1990, the Clery Act serves as a tool students and parents of students can use to determine how safe a prospective campus may be.

The act came as a result of the 1986 rape and murder of Jeanne Clery, a student at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, who was attacked on campus by one of her peers. Her parents fought for a legal reporting system of major crimes to be available to the public in hopes to prevent cases similar to their daughter’s. The system is regulated by the United States Department of Education, which can fine a campus up to $35,000 for any reporting violations. The statistics are to include the number of crimes on and off campus reported to campus security for each given year.

The violent crimes that are to be reported include murder, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, vehicle theft, arson and sexual crimes both forcible and non-forcible. In recent years, reports must also include hate crimes as well as disciplinary actions and arrests for liquor law violations, drug abuse, and weapon possessions. The crimes are also reported to the FBI. The data, however, does not include details as to whether or not the victim or perpetrator is a student, or if cases reported have been resolved.

Skyline’s data shows that on campus there had been three burglaries reported in 2013, the same as reported in 2012, and two aggravated assaults and vehicular thefts, an increase by one for each since 2012. There had also been one arrest for drug abuse. However, there had been nothing else reported in any other area, which is notably significant in the area of disciplinary actions. In 2011, there had been 19 disciplinary actions reported under drug abuse, which dropped to one in 2012, and to zero for 2013. Off-campus crime is at zero for years 2011-13.

As a whole, the San Mateo County Community College District had less to report. Compared to Skyline, College of San Mateo is also close to crime free, with the exception being two robberies and one forcible sexual assault for 2013. Cañada, which had nine robberies reported in 2012, has reported no crimes for the year.

Although the data reported by Skyline suggests progress in campus safety, a factor to consider is that there may be a lack of reporting being done by students.

According to the 2013 release of the Bureau of Justice Statistics Criminal Victimization report, there has been an estimated decrease in the rate of violent crimes, declining from 26.1 offenses per 1,000 persons in 2012 to 23.2 per 1,000 in 2013. Surveyed were victims of non-fatal crimes which were not reported to the police. The report, which reflects victimization on a national level, speaks to a declining but still present trend of victims remaining silent.

Though Skyline’s campus security was unavailable to comment, students weigh in on campus crime and reporting.

Yesenia Lopez, a full-time student, has attended Skyline on and off since 1999 and considers the campus to be safe. Even so, she acknowledges the possibility of some crimes being under reported by students.

“I think people don’t want to get involved, rock the boat,” Lopez said when asked about students not coming forward after witnessing or falling victim to crime. “People try to mind their own business; that’s what they come to college to do.”

Student Daniela Tavora also views Skyline to be safe in regards to major crimes. However, she did see an opportunity for the Clery Act to be broadened to include statistics around sexual harassment.

“It’s not as severe, but it still makes someone uncomfortable,” Tavora said. “I think a system of reporting that kind of stuff should be implemented as well.”

Though the statistics may show a more accurate view of the campus community if both The Clery Act were to expand their reporting to include lesser crimes and students were to contribute by reporting crimes at Skyline when they occur, students seem to agree with the 2013 report.

“Skyline is a safe campus to attend,” Skyline student Sherry Yee said.

To view Skyline or another campus’ criminal report visit: http://ope.ed.gov/security/index.aspx