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Chris Harris & Alison Cares Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology

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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

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Reporting Most violent victimization go unreported to police College Students < Non-Students College Students = low reporting rates

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Total Criminal Offenses On UML Campus 200620072008 Murder/Manslaughter000 Sex Offenses143 Robbery050 Aggravated Assault9104 Burglary214729 Motor Vehicle Theft479 Arson114

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Fear of Crime Reality of Crime Behavior

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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

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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

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Student DemographicsPercentages Gender Male50.0 Female49.7 Transgender00.3 Race White81.3 Black3.5 Hispanic4.8 Asian/Pacific Islander12.2 Other3.3 Age 18-1927.4 20-2132.5 22-2319.5 24+20.6

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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

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UML Campus Safety Survey

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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

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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

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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)

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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)

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UML Campus Safety Survey

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How safe do you feel on campus? Very safe32.2% Somewhat safe56.5% Somewhat unsafe9.2% Very unsafe2.1% N=1555

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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UML Campus Safety Survey

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Service (%)AwareUsedWould Emergency/Blue lights87%3%n/a Online campus safety advisories 47%29%67% Student disciplinary system52%7%n/a Property engraving23%