Audit: Some SUNY colleges still underreporting campus crimes

[hrmjustin]

Jessica Bakeman

ALBANY—Some SUNY schools are still not in compliance with federal laws that require annual reporting of on-campus crime statistics, in many cases underreporting offenses including drug arrests and underage drinking, according to an audit from the state comptroller's office released Friday.

The audit, which looked at campus crime reports for 2012, found that in required disclosures to students and employees, the University at Buffalo underreported 11 drug arrests; and Morrisville State College underreported 45 crimes on campus, including aggravated assaults, burglaries and liquor arrests.

In addition, auditors found that SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Canton and Empire State had reporting deficiencies in crime data, including sexual offenses, weapons arrests and burglaries.

Under the federal Clery Act, colleges and universities are required to disclose on-campus crime statistics each year to the U.S. Department of Education as well as compile annual security reports (A.S.R.'s) and make them available to students and employees.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/08/8551282/audit-some-suny-colleges-still-underreporting-campus-crimes?top-featured-3

[hrmjustin]

1. DiNapoli: SUNY improves crime stats reporting, but more needs to be done

By Gazette staff writers

The State University of New York's 29 state-operated colleges made improvements in reporting crime and safety statistics, as they are legally required to do, but auditors still found inconsistencies and problems at some campuses according to an audit released Friday by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

"College students and their parents have the right to know how safe their college is and get an accurate picture of campus crime," DiNapoli said. "While SUNY has improved its compliance with reporting crime statistics, problems at some campuses still exist and administrators need to do more to improve the way they report crimes."

http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-08-25-88977.113122-DiNapoli-SUNY-improves-crime-stats-reporting-but-more-needs-to-be-done.html