The Clery Act is a federal law designed to ensure that people are properly informed about campus crimes.
Originally named the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, the policy was renamed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) in 1998.
The Clery Act’s name was changed to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act by the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), which President Biden signed into law on December 23, 2024.
Under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, any postsecondary institution that participates in federal Title IV student financial assistance programs is required by law to:
Individuals in certain positions throughout campus are designated as Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) and they are required to promptly report Jeanne Clery Campus Safety crimes of which they are aware so that the incidents can be included in campus crime reports in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. CSAs also help promote campus safety because timely reports allow campus police to issue alerts when others on campus may be in danger.
The intent of including non-law enforcement personnel in the role of CSA is to acknowledge that some community members, particularly students, may be hesitant about reporting crimes to the police; however, they may be more inclined to report incidents to other campus-affiliated individuals.
Contact InformationErnest C. Young Hall155 S. Grant St.West Lafayette, IN 47907-2114Phone: 765-494-5830Fax: 765-496-1295Email: vpec@purdue.edu