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It is an exciting time for millions of recent high school graduates and returning students as they head off to colleges and universities. These will be new experiences for many as colleges and universities introduce new places and new people. Students and parents across the country have big concerns about their students’ personal safety and security.

National statistics on campus crime, reported in the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2015 Resource Guide, showed the following rates of crime on campuses nationwide:

• An estimated 81.6 percent of crimes reported to campus police in 2012 occurred on campus, and 18.3 percent occurred off campus.

• Of aggravated assaults reported, 63.3 percent occurred on campus, and 37.7 percent occurred off campus. 
• Of murders reported, 16 occurred on campus, and 21 occurred off campus.
• Of the sex offenses reported, 88.1 percent occurred on campus, and 11.9 percent occurred off campus.
• Of the robberies reported, 40.9 percent were on campus, and 59.1 percent were off campus. Of the burglaries, 93.8 percent were on campus, and 6.2 percent occurred off campus. Of motor vehicle thefts, 56.8 percent occurred on campus, while 43.2 percent were off campus.

Sexual & aggravated assault

Sexual offenses , according to the Resource Guide, are the number two college campus crime. The rising sexual assault statistics on campuses have recently warranted increased advocacy and the creation of the White House Task Force, which focuses on addressing this issue.

One in five students experiences some form of sexual assault while attending college, according to an April 2014 report by the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. This includes rape, stalking, and sexual harassment.

Things you can do to safeguard yourself, provided by Academic.net:

• Do not let anyone into your residence hall that you do not know. Ask to see ID or call dorm mates to see if someone is expected. Use the peephole if there is one. Do not open the door to a stranger; ask them to identify themselves first.
• Keep doors and windows locked at all times, even when you are heading down the hall for a shower.
• Use the buddy system when going out at night, or to a party, or to a study session in the library. When you walk or jog, go with a friend.
• Use the campus escort system if you do find yourself alone at night. Do not be afraid to call them. They are there to help you get home safely, so call.
• If you end up working alone in a lab, call campus police,and let them know you are alone and that you would like an escort back to your dorm.
• Trust your instincts. If you think you are being followed, do not ignore that warning from your instincts. Get yourself to a safe environment as quickly as you can. This can be a well-lit place or an area where groups of people are hanging out. Make a scene if you think you are in danger, scream, run, yell or honk your horn if you are in the car.
• Many colleges offer self-defense classes and some have special self-defense classes for women. Take advantage of this and attend the class. 

US News reported in 2014 that some schools have stand-alone programs, agreements with local taxi services or they expect students to rely on local transportation, such as a city bus or subway system, if they are out late or leave the campus for community activities. Students should know the service's operating hours and how far outside campus it picks up students. 

The consumption of alcoholic beverages on most campuses is high. Being under the influence, may lead to violent crimes. Most of these situations, according to Colorado.edu police, can be avoided by doing the following: 

• Consider not drinking.
• If you do drink, do it responsibly and legally.
• Pay attention to what is going on with your friends. Do not leave a friend behind if they have had too much to drink.
• Remember that people, even close friends, who have had too much alcohol often use very poor judgment.

Campus responsibility for safety

In 1990, the Clery Act, a consumer protection law, was passed. The law requires all colleges and universities receiving federal funding to share information about crime on campus, and their efforts to improve campus safety, as well as to inform the public of crime in or around campus, according to clerycenter.org. The provisions of the law require colleges and universities to:

Publish an annual security report by October 1st – This report, which must be made available to all current and prospective students and employees, details the past three years of crime on campus.

Maintain a public crime log – This document must record the “nature, date, time and general location of each crime” within two days of its occurrence. It must be readily available to the public during normal business hours.

Disclose crime statistics for incidents within a set area – Schools must track, record, and report on crimes that occur on campus, near campus, and at off campus facilities.

Report on seven major crime categories – The following major crime categories are covered under this legislation:

• Criminal Homicide
• Sexual Assault
• Aggravated Assault
• Robbery
• Burglary
• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Arson

Issue timely warnings of Clery Act crimes – Schools must develop a method by which they can quickly notify all students and employees of an incident which qualifies for reporting in the Annual Security Report.

Implement an emergency response, notification and testing policy – If a situation poses an imminent threat to members of the campus community, a school must have procedures in place to notify all individuals as soon as possible.

Compile and publish an annual fire safety report –Applicable only to institutions with on-campus housing, this requirement stipulates that schools must record and publish all instance of fires in on-campus housing.

Enact policies and procedures to handle reports of missing students –Because the first moments after a student goes missing are so critical in helping to find the individual, all schools must have a process in place to deal with missing person cases rapidly and effectively.

“If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of another person’s actions, please contact the lawyers at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to determine your rights,” said Naples Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey.

Naples Injury Attorney Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A .in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.