Tarleton told of $137,500 fine for inaccurate crime reporting
By JULIE VRAZEL
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: News
Tarleton State University's failure to disclose information about campus burglaries and drug and sex offenses has prompted the U.S. Department of Education to propose a $137,500 fine for violating The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.
It is believed to be the first fine levied against a Texas university under the Clery Act.
In a prepared statement released this week, the university said it had "recognized that unintentional mistakes had been made in its reporting under the Clery Act."
The Clery Act is a federal law that requires universities to annually disclose information about serious crimes, such as murder, robbery, sex offenses and burglary.
A Department of Education report, released following a request by The J-TAC under the Texas Public Information Act, states that Tarleton underreported the number of forcible sex offenses, drug law violations and burglaries between 2003 and 2005.
Tarleton's spokeswoman Liza Benedict said the university is appealing the fine.
"We are going to dispute … and appeal because we feel [Tarleton officials and police personnel] had incomplete knowledge of the Clery Act," Benedict said.
Any fine Tarleton might eventually be required to pay "will come out of the university's budget, so it will affect the entire campus," Benedict said.
"The University Police Department has gone to great lengths to ensure accuracy in the annual security report, as mandated by the Jeanne Clery Act," Tarleton's Chief of Police Justin Williams said. "The overall reporting process has been redesigned to improve both correctness and accountability. Tarleton State University remains dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for its students, staff and faculty," he added.
Tarleton journalism students first reported the violations in spring 2007. Their stories were based on records obtained from the university under the Texas Public Information Act with help from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas' Light of Day Project. The Light of Day Project trains student journalists how to access and use government records to keep the public informed.
Tarleton's "failure to distribute accurate and complete crime statistics resulted in incorrect information being given to Tarleton's current and prospective students, employees and the public," an education official wrote to Tarleton's President F. Dominic Dottavio. "Tarleton did not provide its students, employees, and potential students and employees and the public with an accurate picture of crime at Tarleton."
The violations took place before Dottavio was named president in 2008.
The J-TAC previously reported that none of 10 sex offenses reported to police were disclosed in an annual crime report available to the students, employees and the public.
Tarleton also underreported the number of burglaries on campus. The Education Department said from 2003 to 2005, there were 29 reported burglaries when there were actually more than 60.
To prevent any further inaccurate reporting by Tarleton, the university implemented a new process that includes multiple reviews before the annual report is submitted.
"We are committed to not ever letting this happen again," Rick Richardson, vice president of institutional advancement, said.
All documents related to the Department of Education fine notice and Tarleton's response.
It is believed to be the first fine levied against a Texas university under the Clery Act.
In a prepared statement released this week, the university said it had "recognized that unintentional mistakes had been made in its reporting under the Clery Act."
The Clery Act is a federal law that requires universities to annually disclose information about serious crimes, such as murder, robbery, sex offenses and burglary.
A Department of Education report, released following a request by The J-TAC under the Texas Public Information Act, states that Tarleton underreported the number of forcible sex offenses, drug law violations and burglaries between 2003 and 2005.
Tarleton's spokeswoman Liza Benedict said the university is appealing the fine.
"We are going to dispute … and appeal because we feel [Tarleton officials and police personnel] had incomplete knowledge of the Clery Act," Benedict said.
Any fine Tarleton might eventually be required to pay "will come out of the university's budget, so it will affect the entire campus," Benedict said.
"The University Police Department has gone to great lengths to ensure accuracy in the annual security report, as mandated by the Jeanne Clery Act," Tarleton's Chief of Police Justin Williams said. "The overall reporting process has been redesigned to improve both correctness and accountability. Tarleton State University remains dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for its students, staff and faculty," he added.
Tarleton journalism students first reported the violations in spring 2007. Their stories were based on records obtained from the university under the Texas Public Information Act with help from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas' Light of Day Project. The Light of Day Project trains student journalists how to access and use government records to keep the public informed.
Tarleton's "failure to distribute accurate and complete crime statistics resulted in incorrect information being given to Tarleton's current and prospective students, employees and the public," an education official wrote to Tarleton's President F. Dominic Dottavio. "Tarleton did not provide its students, employees, and potential students and employees and the public with an accurate picture of crime at Tarleton."
The violations took place before Dottavio was named president in 2008.
The J-TAC previously reported that none of 10 sex offenses reported to police were disclosed in an annual crime report available to the students, employees and the public.
Tarleton also underreported the number of burglaries on campus. The Education Department said from 2003 to 2005, there were 29 reported burglaries when there were actually more than 60.
To prevent any further inaccurate reporting by Tarleton, the university implemented a new process that includes multiple reviews before the annual report is submitted.
"We are committed to not ever letting this happen again," Rick Richardson, vice president of institutional advancement, said.
All documents related to the Department of Education fine notice and Tarleton's response.
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