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With weekly mass shootings becoming the norm and sexual assault on campuses consistently in the news, students can take comfort knowing that there is at least some relative safety in attending Pasadena City College.

Late last month PCC released its annual Clery Crime Report, which compiles statistics for specific crimes and arrests that happened on and around campus over the last three years. The report, which has been federally mandated since 1990 by the Jeanne Clery Act, includes offenses such burglary, assault, arson, and others from 2012 to 2014.

With the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 2013, the Clery Act was amended to require all higher education schools that participate in federal student aid programs to include statistics on sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and domestic abuse, as well any policies, procedures, and programs the school has in place relating to those crimes.

According to the report, there has been one forcible sex offense—defined as any sexual act directed at a person against their will or when they are unable to give consent—on the main campus each of the last three years.

All other crimes, however, are trending slightly downward. There were 12 reports of burglary and robbery in 2013 but only one the year after.

There has yet to be a single instance of a VAWA crime reported since their inclusion in 2013.

“We’re fortunate, we have a pretty safe campus,” said Sgt. Bill Abernathie of the Campus Police.

Compared to other junior colleges in the area, PCC appears very safe. The latest data available for Glendale Community College shows six burglaries last year, up from the three incidences the year prior. At Mt. San Antonio College, there were 17 reports of motor vehicle theft in the last two years and 12 burglaries in 2014 alone.

Abernathie attributes some of the low crime to the increased visibility of campus police and cadets, who patrol more on foot now instead of in carts.

Where PCC does fall behind these schools, however, is in the abundance and clarity of their programs and procedures.

Both GCC and Mt. SAC provide new student orientation on sexual assault and also offer programs on prevention, education, the bystander effect, and affirmative consent.

Some programs and services that are employed include police escorts between buildings or to cars, the RAVE alert system, and Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) training.

RAD is a women-only safety education program offered several times per year that offers realistic, hands-on techniques and tactics to avoid victimization. The program is offered when there are enough interested parties signed up and the next class is expected to fill in late Oct or early Nov.

A copy of the report, daily crime logs, and information on campus safety programs are available in the B building.

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