Chris Harris & Alison Cares Department of Criminal Justice
& Criminology
Slide 2
Slide 3
Gender Differences in Violent Victimization Male > Female
Female students < Female non-students Male students = Male
non-students Victimization Characteristics Almost all
victimizations off-campus Most at night (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) Most
perpetrators are strangers
Slide 4
Reporting Most violent victimization go unreported to police
College Students < Non-Students College Students = low reporting
rates
Slide 5
Total Criminal Offenses On UML Campus 200620072008
Murder/Manslaughter000 Sex Offenses143 Robbery050 Aggravated
Assault9104 Burglary214729 Motor Vehicle Theft479 Arson114
Slide 6
Fear of Crime Reality of Crime Behavior
Slide 7
Estimates of student victimization Gauge perceptions of safety
and fear of victimization on campus Evaluate behavior related to
victimization and fear of crime Measure knowledge and perceptions
of campus support services
Slide 8
Funding provided by UMass Presidents Office Web-based survey
April of 2008 Students who were on campus students in Fall 2007 and
Spring 2008 Students invited via email with a web link Half of
students also were mailed a letter 26% response rate = 1670
Respondents
Student DemographicsPercentages Class First Year20.5
Sophomore22.9 Junior22.7 Senior18.5 Graduate student15.4 Time on
Campus (undergrad) Full time95.3 Part time4.7 Residence On
campus40.9 Off campus59.1
Slide 11
UML Campus Safety Survey
Slide 12
Student Reports of Victimization for Fall 2007 Violent
Victimization10% (174) Harassment/Stalking5% (81) Physical
Assault5% (76) Threat of Physical Harm1% (20) Sexual Assault1% (19)
Property Victimization13% (213) Stolen/Damaged Property10% (163)
Break In (or attempt)4% (62) Identity Theft2% (27) Any
Victimization20% (335) N=1670
Slide 13
Violent Victimization Physical Assault: Men > Women Sexual
Assault: Women > Men Stalking: Women > Men Threats of
Physical Harm: No Gender Difference Property Victimization No
Gender Differences
Slide 14
Location of Victimization Type of VictimizationOn CampusLowell
Violent Victimization Harassment/Stalking53% (43)10% (8) Threat of
Physical Harm50% (10)30% (6) Physical Assault45% (34)33% (25)
Sexual Assault32% (6)11% (2) Property Victimization Stolen/Damaged
Property79% (129)15% (24) Break In (or attempt)65% (40)36%
(22)
Slide 15
Violent Victimization Physical Assault22% (16)
Harassment/Stalking9% (7) Threats of Physical Harm5% (1) Sexual
Assault0% (0) Property Victimization Break In (or attempt)65% (40)
Stolen/Damaged Property41% (66) Identity Theft37% (10)
Slide 16
UML Campus Safety Survey
Slide 17
How safe do you feel on campus? Very safe32.2% Somewhat
safe56.5% Somewhat unsafe9.2% Very unsafe2.1% N=1555
Slide 18
How safe do you feel in these locations at night? Locations
(%)Very Safe Somewhat safe Somewhat unsafe Very unsafe Lecture
halls55.235.96.82.5 Libraries53.137.77.41.8 Dining
halls60.634.33.51.5 Dorms47.240.89.12.9 Gathering
places46.042.68.33.2 Bus stops12.436.637.613.4 Parking
lots9.833.438.018.9 Walking around12.636.633.717.1
Labs58.533.36.02.2 Music rooms60.530.95.33.4 Art
studios58.730.86.14.4
Slide 19
How afraid are you of becoming a victim of crime on the UML
campus? Very afraid7.1% Somewhat afraid28.1% Not afraid45.5% Not
afraid at all19.4% N=1475
Slide 20
How worried are you that in the coming semester, someone will
Crimes (%)Very worried Somewhat worried Not worried Not worried at
all Steal/damage your property 11.640.237.110.2 Assault
you7.124.844.723.4 Sexually assault you5.315.334.944.4 Steal your
personal info8.126.346.519.1 Threaten/harass you5.722.748.722.9
Threaten/assault you (hate crime) 4.010.736.848.6 N=1475
Slide 21
How often have your activities on campus been affected by fear
of crime? Most of the time1.8% Some of the time10.6%
Occasionally25.3% Never62.2% N=1437
Slide 22
Since last semester, have you . Yes (%) No (%) Asked someone to
watch your property while unattended68.831.2 Asked someone to walk
you somewhere after dark33.666.4 Avoided certain areas of campus at
night b/c of safety concerns 31.568.5 Avoided certain areas of
campus during the day b/c of safety concerns 3.896.2 Avoided
parking your car in certain lots b/c of safety concerns 27.696.2
Avoided classes b/c of safety concerns3.696.4 Avoided classes b/c
someone made you feel threatened3.496.6 Avoided certain campus
events b/c of safety concerns3.396.7
Slide 23
During last semester, did you every carry any of the following
items on campus to defend yourself or get others attention in case
of an incident?* Yes (%)No(%) Keys in a defensive manner31.168.9
Whistle5.294.8 Mace1.598.5 Pepper spray2.297.8 Knife6.693.4
Gun**0.499.6 Other (typically cell phone)3.896.2 None of the
above63.636.4 N=1328 *Students could indicate multiple items **
n=5