Public Safety / Security - Crime Statistics

Miscellaneous Notes:

Includes incidents reported to College authorities and to the local law enforcement (Renton Police Department). A change to federal law requires that the incident count for certain crimes be reported by geographic category beginning in 1999.  Counts for other classifications not required by federal law include only incidents on college facilities unless otherwise designated.

ONC: On-Campus.

This category includes incidents that occurred on the main campus of the College.

OCC: Off-Campus Contiguous.

This category includes incidents that occurred on property immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

NON: Non-Campus Facilities.

This category includes incidents that occurred on property other than the main campus, was owned or controlled by the College and used in support of our educational purposes.

Sex Offenses Definitions: As per the National Incident-Based Reporting System Edition of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program

Sex Offenses-Forcible:

Any sexual act directed against another person, forcibly and/or against that person's will; or not forcibly or against the person's will where the victim is incapable of giving consent.

Sex Offenses-Non-Forcible:

Unlawful, non-forcible sexual intercourse.

Crime definitions are taken from the Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook

Aggravated Assault:

an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. It is not necessary that injury result from an aggravated assault when a gun, knife, or other weapon is used which could or probably would result in a serious potential injury if the crime were successfully completed.

Arson:

Any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling, house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property, etc.

Burglary:

The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft. For reporting purposes this definition includes: unlawful entry with intent to commit a larceny or a felony; breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny; housebreaking; safecracking; and all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned.

Motor Vehicle Theft:

The theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. (Classify as motor vehicle theft all cases where automobiles are taken by persons not having lawful access even though the vehicles are later abandoned-including joy riding).

Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter:

The willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another.

Manslaughter by Negligence:

The killing of another person through gross negligence.

Robbery:

The taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force, violence, and/or causing the victim fear.

Weapon Law Violations:

The violation of laws or ordinances dealing with weapon offenses, regulatory in nature, such as: manufacture, sale, or possession of deadly weapons; carrying deadly weapons, concealed or openly; furnishing deadly weapons to minors; aliens possessing deadly weapons; all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned.

Drug Abuse Violations:

Violations of state and local laws relating to the unlawful possession, sale, use, growing, manufacturing, and making of narcotic drugs. The relevant substances include: opium or cocaine and their derivatives (morphine, heroin, codeine); marijuana; synthetic narcotics (Demerol, methadone); and dangerous non-narcotic drugs (barbiturates, Benzedrine).

Liquor Law Violations:

The violation of laws or ordinance prohibiting: the manufacture, sale, transporting, furnishing, possessing of intoxicating liquor; maintaining unlawful drinking places; bootlegging; operating a still; furnishing liquor to minor or intemperate person; using a vehicle for illegal transportation of liquor; drinking on a train or public conveyance; all attempts to commit any of the aforementioned. (Drunkenness and driving under the influence are not included in this definition.)

Hate Crimes

Race.

A preformed negative attitude toward a group of persons who possess common physical characteristics (e.g., color of skin, eyes, and/or hair; facial features, etc.) genetically transmitted by descent and heredity which distinguish them as a distinct division of humankind (e.g., Asians, blacks, whites).

Gender.

A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons because those persons are male or female. Gender bias is also a Clery Act-specific term, not found in the FBI's Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines.

Religion.

A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons who share the same religious beliefs regarding the origin and purpose of the universe and the existence or nonexistence of a supreme being (e.g., Catholics, Jews, Protestants, atheists).

Sexual orientation.

A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons based on their sexual attraction toward, and responsiveness to, members of their own sex or members of the opposite sex (e.g., gays, lesbians, heterosexuals).

Ethnicity/national origin.

A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons of the same race or national origin who share common or similar traits, languages, customs and traditions (e.g., Arabs, Hispanics).

Disability.

A preformed negative opinion or attitude toward a group of persons based on their physical or mental impairments/challenges, whether such disability is temporary or permanent, congenital or acquired by heredity, accident, injury, advanced age or illness.

Those considered to be "Campus Security Authorities" are Deans, coaches, advisors, student services staff, college administrators and advisors to student clubs, organizations, and other campus officials having "significant responsibility for student and campus activities," not just police and/or public safety officers.  All must report annual campus crime statistics (professional and pastoral counselors are excluded by law; passages in quotations are taken directly from the applicable Federal Register) (1).

Policy and Procedures for Developing Information for this Report

The Vice-President of Student Services and the Director of Public Safety serve as "clearing houses" in the statistical gathering of crime data from those with "significant responsibilities for students and campus activities" and reports such statistics involving pertinent criminal incidents and arrests or referrals gathered from various "campus security authorities" to the Director of Public Safety on a monthly and/or annual basis.  The Director of Public Safety routinely compares and reconciles, on a good faith basis, the gathered information to minimize multiple postings for the same reported criminal incidents or arrests.

The Individual's Responsibility

Although RTC works hard to ensure the safety of all individuals within its community, students, visitors and employees must take responsibility for their own personal safety and that of their personal belongings.  Simple, common sense precautions are the most effective means of maintaining personal safety and security.

For example - although the Renton Technical College main campus is well lighted and may appear safe, students walking across campus or to parking lots at night, whether male or female, should utilize escort services provided through the Public Safety Department.  All cars should be locked and parked in well-lighted areas with all valuable items locked in the trunk. College employees, students and visitors should immediately notify the college Public Safety Department of any individual present in a building or on campus who appears to have no legitimate business there or who arouses suspicion in any way.

Further information about campus safety can be obtained from the Public Safety Department at (425) 235-7836 as well as the College’s web site:

www.rtc.edu/CommunityResources/Security

Endnotes:

(1) From page 59063, Federal Register/Vol. 64, No. 210/Monday. November 1, 1999/(Final) Rules and Regulations: "For example, a dean of students who oversees student housing, a student center, or student extra-curricular activities, has significant responsibility for student and campus activities. Similarly, a director of athletics, team coach, and faculty advisor to a student group also has significant responsibility for student and campus activities. A single teaching faculty member is unlikely to have significant responsibility for student and campus activity, except when serving as an advisor to a student group. A physician in a campus health center or a counselor in a counseling center whose only responsibility is to provide care to students are unlikely to have significant responsibility for student and campus activities."

The Public Safety Department collects and compiles pertinent information to be disclosed to the public from on and off campus sources, those described above as well as law enforcement agencies with concurrent and neighboring jurisdiction for publishing on an  annual basis.

Renton Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: HRD Director, 3000 NE 4th Street, Renton, WA  98056, 425-235-7873

Any questions or clarifications regarding the data presented on this web site should be directed to the Renton Technical College, Public Safety Department, 3000 N.E. Fourth Street, Renton, WA.  98056 or by sending an email to: emcclain@rtc.edu.