Can High Reported Crime Be A Good Sign?
Nearly 1/3 of the colleges we analyzed either did not report crime or reported no incidents of crime. Zero incidents of reported crime may be nice to see, but it does not necessarily mean the school is safer, as it could indicate lax reporting. Higher incidents of reported crime could mean the school is stricter about law enforcement and reporting. Remember, just because incidents are not reported does not mean they do not happen.
On This Page You'll Find:
- Overall Crime and Safety
- On-Campus Crime and Safety
- Chestnut Hill Campus Neighborhood Crime and Safety
- Off-Campus (Boston College Affiliated) Crime and Safety
Overall Crime Stats: 1,465 Incidents Reported
Boston College reported 1,465 safety-related incidents involving students on or near campus or other Boston College affiliated properties in 2019. Of the 3,990 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 3,976 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 14,720 that works out to about 99.52 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 3,864 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Boston College.
Reported Incidents by Category
Crime and safety incidents fall into four broad categories. Disciplinary actions represented 95.8% of all incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 0.1% of all incidents. Violence against women represented 0.8% of all incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 3.3% of all incidents.
Reported Incidents by Location
99.7% of all incidents occurred on-campus. 0.1% of all incidents occurred in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood surrounding the campus. 0.1% of all incidents occurred off campus but while on school affiliated property.
On-Campus Crime Stats: 1,461 Incidents Reported
Boston College reported 1,461 safety-related incidents involving students while on campus in 2019. Of the 3,990 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 3,978 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 14,720 that works out to about 99.25 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 3,886 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Boston College.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented 96.1% of all on-campus incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 0.1% of all on-campus incidents. Violence against women represented 0.8% of all on-campus incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 3.1% of all on-campus incidents.
Chestnut Hill Neighborhood Crime Stats: 2 Incidents Reported
Boston College reported 2 safety-related incidents involving students while on Chestnut Hill public property near campus in 2019. Of the 3,990 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 2,930 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 14,720 that works out to about 0.14 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 2,656 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Boston College.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents. Arrests related to possession represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents. Violence against women represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 100.0% of all campus neighborhood incidents.
Boston College Affiliated (off campus) Crime Stats: 2 Incidents Reported
Boston College reported 2 safety-related incidents involving students while off campus but still on property owned or controlled by the school in 2019. Of the 1,916 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 1,366 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 14,720 that works out to about 0.14 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 1,260 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Boston College.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented none of all off-campus incidents. Arrests related to possession represented none of all off-campus incidents. Violence against women represented 50.0% of all off-campus incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 50.0% of all off-campus incidents.
Important Questions to Ask About Safety
- Even in low-crime areas, students still run the risk of encountering violence and unsafe situations. What kind of policies does Boston College have in place to protect students or help students who are victims of crimes?
- How secure are the dorm rooms and other buildings? Would a break in be easy for an intruder?
- What kind of punishments or penalties are in place for students accused of or convicted of crimes?
- One way a student may feel more comfortable might be to take a self-defense or safety class. Are there classes like this offered at Boston College?
