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Step 1
View college crime statistics at the Contact Security on Campus's website. This is a non-profit agency founded by the parents of a murdered college student. They helped get the Clery Act passed. This federal law requires colleges to disclose their school's crime statistics.
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Step 2
Contact The Chronicle of Higher Education. They require all colleges with more than 5,000 students to provide information on the number of crimes that have occurred on campus. Go to their website for detailed statistical information.
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Step 3
Visit the campus. Most colleges have tours available for prospective students. Take the guided tour but consider walking around without a guide to see all areas of campus. If possible, stay overnight to see what the campus environment is like during evening hours.
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Step 4
Search for proactive safety measures. A college should make student safety a priority. Look for safety measures such as well-lit walking paths and access to emergency phones. Determine if dorms have any security personal and electronic key cards. Find out if the school has strong anti-hazing polices.
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Step 5
Determine what type of crime prevention and other safety programs are available to students. Get a list of workshops that are offered to students. Look for seminars in date rape prevention, alcohol awareness and self-defense classes.
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Step 6
Identify what cities are near the campus. Colleges which are surrounded by large cities may have more crime. Contact law enforcement agencies in nearby cities and ask for crimes statistics. View the location of registered sex offenders on the Megan's Law website. Read the cities local newspapers to get an idea of the crime level.
