Crime report shows increase in campus liquor violations
There has been a higher incidence of liquor violations.
Published Sept. 30, 2008
Crime throughout campus remained steady in 2007, but liquor violations went up, according to the MU Police Department's annual crime report.
While liquor violations increased by 12 percent, arrests were down and incidents handled by Residential Life officials increased.
The 2007 Campus Safety and Crime report showed that all other crimes remained relatively steady compared to past years.
The report stated there were 283 liquor-related arrests in 2007, down from 317 in 2006. The Department of Residential Life reported 631 liquor referrals in 2007, up from 496 in 2006.
A referral occurs when university staff members internally handle student liquor violations in the residence halls.
Federal law requires the MU Police Department to publish the annual report that organizes crimes by category on the MU campus, non-campus buildings and property and public property for the previous three years.
MUPD collects information about residential liquor arrests and referrals from Residential Life and the Office of Judicial Services at the university.
Kristen Temple, associate director for Residential Academic Services, said the increase in on-campus residential arrests and referrals was the result of residents "happening to draw more attention to the behavior and staff happening across more situations this year than another."
The referral information comes from staff members who report violations of the student Standard of Conduct, Temple said.
"Residential Life staff address the common incidents in the halls and contact MUPD when the situation is more extensive or individuals are uncooperative," Temple said. "MUPD is also attentive to behaviors around the facilities that may indicate a liquor violation is occurring."
In a referral situation, Temple said, the Office of Judicial Services refers the student to the conduct process. Once a student is referred, he or she must meet with a judicial officer or have the case heard by a Student Conduct Committee.