The CLERY Update
AUGUST 2026 ISSUE
The Clery Update is West Chester University's Clery Compliance monthly newsletter highlighting Announcements, Upcoming Clery Dates, Clery Facts, Reminders, and more.
Announcements
The Update is back!!! Sort of.
After a hiatus of about a year the Clery Update is back but in a slight different
form. Much is the same, yet some things have changed. The CSA of the Month feature
was removed and replaced with a "Featured Crime" section. EAch edition of the Update
will have a crime selected. The format will go like this: a fact pattern will be given
the applicable definition will be listed, the analysis discussed and then a crime
classification made. I believe this is a great teaching tool for a few reasons.
For anyone who has ever been to an in-person training or done one of my online trainings,
I, by design, do not do a deep dive into crime definitions. This is because as a CSA
I do not want you get too in the weeds about the elements of a crime. Your job, first
and foremost, is to report crimes disclosed to you. The elements of crimes and the
classification that follows are done by me after the report is made.
By seeing how a crime is classified you as a CSA can see the nuances of a Clery crime
definition WITHOUT having to be in a 90 minute training where I go through every crime.
In other words, the Featured Crime section is an gentler, indirect way of teaching.
Of course, if you want to see the definitions themselves then by all means travel
to the Crime Classification page located at WCU's Clery website.
Be Clear on Clery
The publication of the 2026 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report will for the first time include a statistical section on Hazing consistent with the requirement of the Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024.
Upcoming Clery Dates
Clery Fact/Did You Know
The Daily Crime Log actually encompasses TWO jurisdictions. There is an additional
geographic location that applies exclusively to the crime log. In addition to reporting
reported crimes occurring on campus, in or on non-campus buildings or property, or
on public property. Reports of crimes that occurred within the patrol jurisdiction of the campus police or security department must also be entered into the crime log.
A patrol jurisdiction or patrol zone is any property that does not meet any of the
Clery Act geographic area definitions, but is regularly patrolled by the institution's
security or police agency.
Patrols are typically performed pursuant to an agreement with the local or state government.
Does West Chester have a patrol zone? No, West Chester University Police do not have
a patrol zone beyond the boundaries of campus. They will assist the surrounding agencies
(Borough, West Goshen, Westtown-East Goshen, PSP, etc.)
Reminders
As a CSA, you have a continuing duty to report any crime disclosed to you either by
using the CSA reporting form or by calling Public Safety at 610-436-3311.
West Chester University's Daily Crime Log
If you EVER have questions regarding Clery compliance, please email me, or better
yet, stop by my office. The coffee bar is up and running in the Clery Compliance Office!
Test Your Clery Knowledge
Featured Crime
Examples of the Featured Clery Crime in Action
The Clery Tally (Year-to-Date Clery stats as of the 5th of September, 2025)*
| Clery Crime | On-Campus Property | On-Campus Student Housing Facility** | Public Property | Noncampus Property |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rape | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Fondling | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Burglary | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dating Violence | 9 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Stalking | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Arrests for Liquor Law Violations | 58 | 49 | 8 | 0 |
| Arrests for Drug Law Violations | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Disciplinary Referrals for Drug Law Violations | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Disciplinary Referrals for Alcohol Law Violations | 216 | 203 | 6 | 1 |
1 Hate Crime- Intimidation characterized by Gender Identity bias occuring on Public Property
2 Hate Crimes- Destruction/ Damage/ Vandalism of Property characterized by Race occuring
On-Campus and in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility
*The statistics in the tally are only for those crimes where a report has been received,
reviewed and classified as a Clery crime. If a Clery crime is not in the tally it
means there are no reports or statistics associated with it.
These are not the institution's official Clery statistics. These numbers are a snapshot of where
WCU stands as far as Clery-reportable crimes occurring within its Clery geography
as of the date above. These numbers can and will change after internal audits are
conducted prior to their official publication in the Annual Security and Fire Safety
Report.
**This category is a subcategory of 'On Campus' property. The institution is required
to report statistics for incidents occuring in on-campus student housing facilities
as a subgroup of its on campus statistics.
Clery crime definitions