The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released the 2008 crime statistics, showing Tennessee state schools’ crime has consistently decreased since 2005.According to the TBI’s overview of reported offenses for all state collegiate institutions, there has been a 6.4 percent decrease from 2007 to 2008 in total offenses, totaling 7,371 in 2007 and 6,900 in 2008. This decrease has been consistent since 2005, with a 1.4 percent decrease to 2006 and a 12.6 percent decrease to 2007.
Larger institutions have cited a “proactive response to crime prevention” as the reason for the steady decrease.
A number of schools have coupled with the Governor’s Highway safety Commission, placing sobriety checkpoints on and around participating campuses.
Tech had a total of 12 alcohol related charges this past year. These charges include DUIs, liquor law violations and public drunkenness. UTK totaled 338. By comparison, 0.95% of UTK students were charged with alcohol related incidents, while 0.12% oof Tech students had the same charge.
Most schools, the TBR said, have implemented differing emergency alert systems to warm students, faculty, staff and visitors of dangerous or important situations.
At 5:30 p.m. on Monday March 23, Middle Tennessee State University alerted students via their text message alert system, similar to Tech’s, that a man was seen running through their university center reportedly carrying a firearm. MTSU advised all students to evacuate or remain docile.
Within two minutes, another alert was sent with a description of the suspect, his vehicle and possible residence. In under an hour, the building had been cleared and students were advised to proceed with caution.
Overall, TBR schools showed little to no weapon law violations last year.
In 2008, larceny/theft violations made up 38 percent of all violations, making them the largest portion of offenses. These types of offense have consistently made up around 35 percent of the total offenses since 2005 and have had a 3.4 percent increase from 2007 to 2008.
An increase of 3.6 percent was seen in overall drug/narcotics violations last year while drug paraphernalia offenses decreased 6.8 percent.
Tech and the University of Memphis reported 10 drug related violations while UTK reported 55.
Reported rapes have decreased from 25 in 2007 to 12 in 2008 for all TBR institutions.
For more information and to read Tech’s crime statistics, crime logs and daily reports, visit www.tntech.edu/police/crimelog, email campus police at police@tntech.edu, or call campus security at (931) 372-3234.
