Report 2015-032 Recommendation 6 Responses

Report 2015-032: California's Postsecondary Educational Institutions: More Guidance Is Needed to Increase Compliance With Federal Crime Reporting Requirements (Release Date: July 2015)

Recommendation #6 To: Stanford University

Stanford should review and adhere to applicable guidance related to the Clery Act, including the OPE handbook and the Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook, to ensure that it is accurately reporting its crime statistics.

6-Month Agency Response

Stanford University Department of Public Safety (DPS), in accordance with the audit recommendation, has reviewed the applicable guidance related to the Clery Act, including the Clery Act Handbook and the Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook. It has also conducted refresher training (with a final quiz) for department personnel over the period September through November 2015 to ensure accurate reporting of crime statistics. DPS staff provided Clery training to university staff as well during this time frame to ensure accurate reporting of Clery crimes. DPS staff have attended and are scheduled to attend on-line (webinars) and off-site training that address Clery Act compliance in order to maintain and enhance our skills and knowledge. The Clery Compliance Coordinator also provided ongoing and regular input and guidance to university staff who are closely involved with Clery compliance related matters to ensure accurate reporting.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

The State's audit identified two errors in our crime reporting statistics. We have found that both of these errors occurred as a result of human error.

In response, we have expanded our existing second-level quality control step to include additional staff to review the specifics of each case to minimize the likelihood of error.

In addition, to be specifically responsive to the recommendation to improve our Uniform Crime Reporting knowledge at the institutional level, Stanford DPS is providing additional training for lieutenants, sergeants and deputies on Clery Act compliance and UCR coding.

Stanford will be sending five staff members from the Department of Public Safety to the 5 day D Stafford and Associates Clery Act Compliance Training Academy in October 2015.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2015-032

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.