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
- Tallahassee Campus Neighborhood Crime and Safety
- Off-Campus (Florida State Affiliated) Crime and Safety
Overall Crime Stats: 644 Incidents Reported
Florida State University reported 644 safety-related incidents involving students on or near campus or other Florida State affiliated properties in 2019. Of the 3,990 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 3,897 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 41,005 that works out to about 15.71 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 2,852 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Florida State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Crime and safety incidents fall into four broad categories. Disciplinary actions represented 43.6% of all incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 39.4% of all incidents. Violence against women represented 1.9% of all incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 15.1% of all incidents.
Reported Incidents by Location
84.8% of all incidents occurred on-campus. 12.7% of all incidents occurred in the Tallahassee neighborhood surrounding the campus. 2.5% of all incidents occurred off campus but while on school affiliated property.
On-Campus Crime Stats: 546 Incidents Reported
Florida State University reported 546 safety-related incidents involving students while on campus in 2019. Of the 3,990 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 3,876 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 41,005 that works out to about 13.32 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 2,863 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Florida State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented 51.3% of all on-campus incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 30.6% of all on-campus incidents. Violence against women represented 2.2% of all on-campus incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 15.9% of all on-campus incidents.
Tallahassee Neighborhood Crime Stats: 82 Incidents Reported
Florida State University reported 82 safety-related incidents involving students while on Tallahassee public property near campus in 2019. Of the 3,990 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 3,958 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 41,005 that works out to about 2.00 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 3,492 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Florida State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 100.0% of all campus neighborhood incidents. Violence against women represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents.
Florida State Affiliated (off campus) Crime Stats: 16 Incidents Reported
Florida State University reported 16 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, 1,781 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 41,005 that works out to about 0.39 reports per thousand students. In 2019, 1,436 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Florida State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented 6.2% of all off-campus incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 31.2% of all off-campus incidents. Violence against women represented none of all off-campus incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 62.5% 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 Florida State 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 Florida State?
