History of the Clery Act

In April 1986, Jeanne Clery’s life ended tragically when another student raped and murdered her in her residence hall room. Alarmed at the lack of transparency around crime and violence on college campuses, Jeanne’s parents, Connie and Howard, committed themselves to create enduring change.

In 1990, Congress approved the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act. Later renamed in Jeanne’s memory, the Jeanne Clery Act took effect in 1991. It requires that colleges and universities:

·                     keep a public crime log

·                     publish an annual security report that includes crime statistics and security policies

·                     provide timely warnings and emergency notifications to inform the campus community of potential threats

·                     ensure certain basic rights for victims of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.

The U.S. Department of Education enforces the Clery Act, and is responsible for collecting and disseminating crime statistics from colleges and universities each year.