Kayla Muñecas, Assistant News Editor
VCU saw a jump in reports of criminal offenses in the last year, particularly in violent and sexual crimes, according to the university’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
In 2025, there were 33 incidents of rape compared to 16 in 2024, 37 incidents of fondling compared to eight in 2024, 22 incidents of domestic violence compared to four in 2024 and 12 reported cases of aggravated assault compared to five in 2024, according to the report.
The report stated that 20 allegations of fondling and domestic violence were reported to have occurred over the span of two years, however because the incidents were reported at one time in 2025, they were included in the 2026 report.
Contrastingly, Jake Burns, spokesperson for VCU Police, instead stated in an email that 10 of the 33 allegations of rape were reported prior to 2025 but were reported to officials in 2025.
The report contains crime statistics from 2023, 2024 and 2025 at the latest. Included are reports of offenses that occurred in areas categorized by the Clery Act as on-campus. This includes on-campus residences, noncampus property which students frequent and is used for educational purposes, and public property which is within, accessible from or adjacent to university grounds.
Clery Compliance Administrator Chad Beights stated in an email that the increased reports do not automatically signal a surge in criminal activity.
“Higher numbers can also reflect greater awareness of reporting options, increased trust in the reporting process and stronger outreach efforts,” Beights stated.
The Student Voices Committee is a board composed of students who advise VCU Police and provide them with a student perspective.
Jacke Burns, spokesperson for VCU Police, stated in an email that the group analyzes the sexual violence prevention strategies the university has in place and where those efforts could be improved.
“These student voices provide key insights on how safety and crime prevention strategies play out from a student perspective.” Burns stated.
Dhabin Haw, a third-year Health, Physical Education and Exercise student said that in the years she has been on campus, this has been the worst in terms of increased crime.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a significant increase, but it is somewhat notable,” Haw said.“I’ve heard more firsthand experiences from people around me about [crimes] this year in comparison to last year.”
Haw said she is primarily concerned about her safety when walking around campus after sunset.
“I will say, most of the unsafe experiences I have encountered or heard about usually happen right off campus, not directly on school grounds,” Haw said.
Adam Hampstead, a first year mathematical science student, said that he has mostly heard about instances of robberies and shootings since starting at VCU.
He explained that despite hearing about violent crime occurring around the VCU area, mainly due to receiving VCU alerts, he personally feels safe on campus and has not had any negative personal experiences.
“I feel safe around campus, but I try to be inside before the sun goes down. If I’m outside past sunset, I try to be sure I’m in a group,” Hampstead said.
VCU Police Chief, Clarence Hunter, stated in an email that the majority of reported shootings have occurred off campus.
“We understand these reports may be unsettling,” Hunter stated. “The best course of action is to take VCU Alerts seriously but understand they are a tool.”
Hunter stated that the department measures their crime prevention efforts through community feedback, citing results from their perception of safety survey.
For the third year in a row, 9 of 10 respondents to the survey reported feeling “safe” or “very safe” on campus. “This is an important detail, but we understand individual incidents throughout the year can cause unease,” Hunter stated.
“We hope VCU students and staff engage with our officers, ask hard questions and connect with our team so we can work together to help keep the environment safe for everyone in our community,” Chief Hunter stated.