Students are going to the BYU campus early this fall semester. BYU police released this year’s annual safety and fire reports showing a decrease in some crimes on the Provo campus. (Dallin Wilks)
BYU police released this year’s annual safety and fire reports. Provo’s campus report compares crimes and fires on campus from 2018 to 2020. It also shares crime prevention travel, campus safety guidelines, and other local emergency resources.
The crimes recorded are those reported to BYU police on campus and in dormitories. Separate publications are available for the Salt Lake Center, London Center, Jerusalem Center, and Barlow Center.
The incidents of stalking at BYU also decreased. Thirty were reported in 2018, 33 in 2019, and 14 in 2020. No stalking incidents were reported at BYU-I or USU for 2020. (Created with Canva by Gabrielle Shiozawa)
This report was produced in response to the Clery Act, which was enacted in 1990 to help prospective students make more informed decisions about attending universities based on school crime rates. The act is named after Jeanne Clery, a 19-year-old Lehigh University student who was raped and murdered in her dorm room in 1986. All American colleges are required to provide crime data and annual safety reports. You must also share warning notices and safety guidelines on campus in a timely manner.
In the press release, BYU Police chief executive Chris Autry said he encouraged all university students to read the safety report.
“Personal safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we need your help in making our campus a safe environment,” said Autry.
In 2020, four rape incidents were reported on campus or in dormitories. By comparison, six incidents were reported at BYU-Idaho and none at Utah State University.
BYU had 10 reports of petting in 2020 compared to five for BYU-I and zero in the state of Utah.
No reports of domestic violence in on-campus accommodations were reported in 2020; five were created at BYU each year in 2018 and 2019.
In 2020 there was one arrest in connection with a violation of the weapons law, after zero in the two previous years versus zero at BYU-I and USU.
The number of arrests for drug law violations decreased from eleven in 2019 to three in 2020. In comparison, there were nine violations of drug law at BYU-I in 2020 and five at USU.
This graph shows the number of fires at BYU, BYU-Idaho, and Utah State University over the 2018-2020 period. (Made with Canva by Gabrielle Shiozawa)
Stalking incidents also decreased. Thirty were reported in 2018, 33 in 2019, and 14 in 2020. For 2020, neither BYU-I nor USU reported stalking incidents.
In response to the 2018-2020 decline in crime on campus, BYU Police Lt. Jeff Long one word: COVID. With fewer people on campus last year, crimes automatically decreased, he said.
From 2018 to 2020, eleven residential fires were reported on campus: five in 2018, three in 2019, and three in 2020. These include the Foreign Language Student Dormitory, Helaman Halls, Heritage Halls, and Wyview Park. Ten of these incidents were accidental boil fires.
BYU-I had 15 fires by comparison: six in 2018, two in 2019 and seven in 2020.
USU had eight fires: two in 2018, three in 2019 and three in 2020.
The report also includes fire evacuation procedures, campus maps, contact information for the university’s drug prevention services, and other resources.
“We hope you find this report valuable,” said Autry in the press release. “Thank you for taking the time to read this annual safety report and help make BYU campus a safe place to prepare students for lifelong learning and service.”
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