Kent State’s main campus had fewer arrests and reports for several types of crimes in 2019 compared to 2018, according to the newest Kent State University Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report.

The Clery Act requires colleges that receive federal funding to disclose the number of fires and crimes that occur on campus and on nearby public property. These crimes can consist of sexual violence, robbery, assault, hate crimes as well as liquor law and drug abuse violations. 

The 2020 report on 2019 statistics came out in December instead of the fall. Community Resource Officer Tricia Knoles said this is because the Department of Education extended the deadline due to COVID-19. 

“[The Department of Education] understood that a lot of people, especially in the university community, were working remotely [and] had difficulties with getting statistics,” Knoles said.

On-campus liquor law violations continue to be the most committed crime with 103 related arrests occurring in 2019. However, there were 159 liquor law-related arrests made in 2018. 

On-campus drug abuse violations, the second most committed crime, have also decreased since 2018. Almost half as many arrests for drug use occurred in 2019 than in 2018.

“I think mainly that’s credited to education putting the word out,” Knoles said. “We do a lot, especially [in] First Year Experience classes. I’m in just about every class, doing drug and alcohol and party awareness presentations.”

However, crimes such as forcible fondling and stalking have increased slightly from 2018 to 2019. Five more forcible fondling cases were reported in 2019 than in the previous year, as well as one more stalking incident.

No fires occurred in the resident halls in 2019.

Madisyn Woodring is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].