Campus Crime Initiative Cleared By Committee

Crimes and other urgent matters on college campuses wouldn't go unnoticed, under a new bill approved Monday by a New Jersey Assembly panel.

The legislation would require the president of a public college or university to report campus crime statistics to the institution's governing body. The president or designee would include all crimes, fires and other emergencies that occurred on campus.

"This bill would add an additional layer of scrutiny and responsibility to how schools respond and report criminal activity," said Assembly Democrat Celeste Riley, who chairs the Higher Education Committee.

"No victim, whether of sexual violence or any other crime, should feel inhibited from reporting a crime or be denied justice by the very people charged with protecting them," added fellow bill sponsor Pam Lampitt (D).