DeKALB – NIU has released its annual safety and security report. The report highlights the crime statistics for the 2021 year at NIU and provides information regarding safety and security for the 2022-23 academic year.

This report details different forms of crime that have taken place at NIU’s campuses, as well as crime statistics from 2019 and 2020 for comparison.

“Our dedicated and diverse police force works 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said NIU President Lisa Freeman in the report. Freeman also mentioned the presence of other safety measures on campus, such as the Office of Prevention Education and Outreach, which aims to coordinate training “devoted to the prevention of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking.”

The safety report is broken down into four different categories: criminal offenses, VAWA (violence against women attacks) offenses, arrests and judicial referrals.

The number of burglaries in 2021 increased from three to eight and the number of rapes that occurred increased from six to seven in comparison with the 2020 statistics. On the other hand, the number of aggravated assaults decreased from seven to zero in 2021.

Domestic violence against women increased from four in 2020 to twenty-eight in 2021. Dating violence and stalking against women decreased to zero for both in 2021 from fourteen and three incidents respectively in 2020.

Arrests for weapons decreased from five incidents in 2020 to two in 2021, whereas arrests related to drugs and alcohol increased from eight in 2020 to ten in 2021.

Judicial referrals for weapon, drug and alcohol charges have all increased in 2021. Weapon charges increased from zero to nine, drug charges increased from two to twenty-one, and alcohol charges increased from thirteen to twenty-five in comparison with the 2020 crimes.

Crime prevention and security awareness programs are also offered on campus. “Programs are offered year-round. During the 2021 calendar year, the NIU Police Department conducted 31 programs,” according to the report.

The safety report states that NIU is offering counseling. By emailing [email protected] or calling 851-753-1206, anyone can get help if affected by any of these crimes.