In 1990, the United States Congress enacted the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act, which requires postsecondary institutions to disclose campus crime statistics and security information. The act was renamed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act in 1998 in memory of Jeanne Clery who was slain in her dormitory residence in 1986.
The Clery Act requires Tulane University to:
- Publish a Daily Crime Log.
- Collect data on the frequency of Clery Act crimes that occur within Clery geography and publish that data in an Annual Security Report.
- Identify and train Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) on their reporting obligations under the Clery Act.
- Send Crime Alerts and Emergency Notifications when a situation poses a danger to the campus community.
- Provide resources and protections to victims of crimes as stipulated by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Meet the Tulane University Clery Act Coordinator
Margaret E. Martin serves as the Clery Act Coordinator for Tulane University. As the Clery Act Coordinator, Margaret is the designated official with responsibility for coordinating the University's compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and other federal and state laws such as the Violence Against Women Act and Title IX. Margaret is an alumna of Tulane University where she earned both her Juris Doctorate and Bachelor of Arts. Prior to returning to campus in 2021, Margaret worked as a federal and state prosecutor in Louisiana.
Margaret E. Martin, JD - Clery Act Coordinator
Phone: 504.988.9898 | E: mmarti24@tulane.edu
6823 Saint Charles Ave., 113 Diboll Complex, New Orleans, LA 70118
Campus Security Authority Training:
At Tulane, all faculty, staff, and employees are considered Campus Security Authorities (CSAs). The Clery Act mandates that all Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) receive training annually on their reporting obligations Each year, CSAs will receive notification of their role as a CSA, training, and a request for crimes reported to them. Trainings are provided in-person and online depending on the needs of the department.
More Information on the Jeanne Clery Act
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Clery Qualifying Crimes?
- Murder/Non-Negligent Manslaughter
- Negligent Manslaughter
- Sexual Offenses:
- Rape
- Fondling
- Incest
- Statutory Rape
- Dating and Domestic Violence
- Stalking
- Robbery
- Aggravated Assault
- Burglary
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Arson
- Alcohol, Drug and Weapons Offenses
- Hate Crimes (The Clery Act defines Hate Crimes as any of the above when motivated by bias or prejudice based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin or disability. In addition the following offenses are counted when determined to meet the aforementioned criteria):
- Destruction of Property/Vandalism.
- Intimidation.
- Larceny/Theft.
- Simple Assault.
What is Clery Geography
Only crimes that occur on Clery Geography are included in the Annual Security Report. Clery Geography is comprised of:
Campus Property: Any building or property owned or controlled by Tulane that is within the reasonably contiguous geographic area of the University, including private food or retail vendors. Examples include:
- The Lavin-Bernick Center
- Howard Tilton Memorial Library
- Yulman Stadium
- Diboll Parking Garage
- Reily Recreation Center
- Residence Halls
- Academic Buildings
Public Property: All public property including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities that is within the Tulane University campus, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. This includes the sidewalk, street, and opposite sidewalk immediately adjacent to Tulane Property. Examples include:
- The sidewalk bordering Zimple and the Greenbaum Residence Hall.
- Janet Yulman Way
Non-Campus Property: Any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by Tulane University, or any University owned or controlled property that is used for educational purposes, frequented by students and not reasonably contiguous to the main campus. Examples include:
- Any recognized fraternity or sorority house.
- Off-campus research facilities.
What is a Campus Security Authority (CSA)?
The University is obligated under the Clery Act, to identify and train Campus Security Authorities (CSAs). CSAs are required to report any Clery qualifying crimes that they become aware of to the Tulane University Police Department for inclusion in the annual disclosure and daily crime log. It is Tulane's institutional policy that all faculty, staff and employees are designated as CSAs. The following 4 categories of employees are statutorily mandated as CSAs:
- Sworn law enforcement officers of the Tulane University Police Department.
- Non-sworn campus security personnel, such as, but not limited to, private security guards and those working at:
- Dixon Concert Hall
- McAllister Auditorium
- University Athletic Events
- Staff in offices designated as 'reporting options' under Tulane policy
- Office of Institutional Equity
- Office of Title IX
- Tulane University Police Department
- Officials with significant responsibility for student and campus activities outside of normal classroom instruction, such as, but not limited to:
- Deans and Department Heads
- Program Directors and Associate Directors
- Academic Advisors
- Staff in Student Affairs and Student Support Roles
- Study Abroad Personnel
- Resident Advisors and Housing and Residential Life Staff
How can a CSA report an incident?
If there is an immediate risk to life, safety or property, please call 911. CSAs may report a non-emergency incident by calling the Tulane University Police Department at 504.865.5381 or, by using the Tulane University Campus Reporting Form.
Does someone have to be convicted of a crime before it is reportable under the Clery Act?
No. Crimes are counted when they are reported regardless of investigation or prosecution.
Will reporting a crime/incident to a CSA mean the police will get involved?
Not necessarily. Although we strongly encourage vicitms of any crime to seek assistance from law enforcement whenever possible, a report from a CSA will not necessarily result in a police investigation. There are many reasons why a report might not result in law enforcement action. For example, in many cases the Tulane University Police Department cannot initiate an investigation without victim assistance. As another example, if a report is about an incident that occurred outside of TUPD jurisdiction, the matter would be referred to the appropriate authority (New Orleans Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, etc.).
What are Timely Warning and Emergency Notifications?
Emergency Notifications are used to notify the campus community when a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students, faculty, staff or visitors is occurring on or near any of our campuses. However, if in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, issuing an emergency notification would compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to or otherwise mitigate the emergency, the notification may be delayed. In those cases, an emergency notification will be issued immediately once the potentially compromising situation has been addressed.
Timely Warning Notifications are used to notify the campus community of any Clery Act crime that poses a serious or continuing threat to the campus community, except in those cases where issuing the crime alert would compromise law enforcement's efforts to address the crime. These warnings will be sent as soon as the information is available to enable the community to make informed decisions regarding their personal safety.
All available information, both public and confidential, will be taken into consideration when determining if a serious or continuing threat exists. Those considerations include, but are not limited to:
- Whether an arrest has been made that mitigates the threat to the community.
- The amount of time that has passed between the commission of the crime and TUPD being notified of the crime.
TUPD may not necessarily issue a crime alert for every Clery Act criminal incident that is reported since that specific incident may not pose a continuing threat to the community. TUPD may also issue Safety Notifications for non-Clery Act crimes, crimes occurring outside Clery geography, or to report crime trends to the community. Safety Notifications are not mandated by the Clery Act.
Below is a hypothetical example of a Timely Warning Notification that may be sent by TUPD:
Hypothetical Timely Warning Notification
Subjet: Timely Warning Notification - Robbery - Uptown Campus, Outside Howard Tilton Memorial Library
Offense: Robbery
Date: January 1, 2023
Content Warning: This notification includes information pertaining to a crime of violence, the taking of personal property, and use of force upon another.
On January 1 2023, Tulane University Police Department responded to a student who reported a robbery outside the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library.
The victim reported he was leaving the library around 3am when he was approached by an unknown male who demanded his backpack. The unknown male began verbally threatening the victim and forcibly removed the backpack from the victim's person. The suspect fled from the library towards Broadway Street.
Suspect description as provided by the victim: White male, approximately 6ft tall, in his late twenties, wearing dark clothing.
You are receiving this notification in compliance with The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or 'Clery Act'.
If you have any additional information about this incident, please contact TUPD at 504.865.5381.
Please remember these safety tips:
- Immediately report any suspicious person or activity to law enforcement.
- Always be alert and aware of your surroundings.
- If possible, walk with others to your destination.
- Stay in well-lit areas away from alleys, bushes, or entryways.
For counseling and other supportive measures, click here.
To learn more about campus safety services and programs, click here.
What are the penalties for not complying with the Clery Act? Who enforces it?
The United States Department of Education (ED) is tasked with enforcing the Clery Act and may level fines and other civil penalties such as restriction from participating in federal student aid programs.