Why is the HUPD rolling out a data dashboard at this time?
The creation of a crime and workload dashboard was one of the recommendations established in the 21CP report; however, the Dashboard is also an integral part of HUPD’s commitment to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability throughout the Department and with the wider Harvard community.
Why has the HUPD not released this data earlier?
Most of the data released in Phase One has been available to the public in some form or another either on the HUPD website or through reporting to the Massachusetts State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Education. The HUPD feels the community is better served by sharing robust data that is hosted in one location for ease of access and transparency.
Why isn't the HUPD releasing use of force, field stop, and civilian complaint data?
The plan is to start releasing that data in early fall. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed a Police Reform Act in late 2020 that mandates the reporting of use of force and civilian complaint data. The Commonwealth has not published final regulations on data reporting, but as those requirements become known, the Department will ensure that the Dashboard is in compliance with this mandate from the state.
Are third parties reviewing the data before it is released?
During the creation of the Dashboard, members of the HUPD met with several Harvard community members, including faculty and staff members from various departments across the University, and external subject matter experts to review the data and ensure the information is presented in the most organized manner possible.
Why should we trust the integrity of the data?
The Department is committed to the highest ethical standards in all of its dealings with the Harvard community. Our trust and legitimacy is tied to our integrity. Part of that commitment is ensuring that all data presented to the community or sent to a government agency is detailed and accurate. As an additional safeguard, the Department’s data and reporting is subject to audits and reviews by the Massachusetts State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Education.
Why doesn’t the Department release copies of their incident reports?
In the interest of maintaining community members' privacy, the HUPD does not disseminate incident reports to the general public. Since the HUPD is a private police agency, the Department is not required under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Public Record Law to disseminate police reports to the public. The University's Office of the General Counsel has authorized the HUPD to provide both theft and accident victims copies of incident reports, almost exclusively for insurance purposes.
Is race/gender data based on self-report or officer assumption?
Race and gender determinations can be made through a license or other forms of identification, or via self-reporting, but may also be done through officer observations. The HUPD is collaborating with diversity and inclusion subject matter experts at the University to implement training for officers, to ensure that all members of the community as well as visitors are treated with dignity and respect during all interactions.
Where can I find more information about the demographics of the Harvard community?
Gender and ethnicity data on students, faculty, and staff can be found in the University’s Fact Book (https://oir.harvard.edu/fact-book.)
How often will the Dashboard be updated? Who will update it?
Phase Two of the Dashboard, which is projected to include data on field stops, use of force, and civilian complaints, is scheduled to go live in the early fall. Once the Dashboard is fully completed, the plan is to have members of the Department’s Records and Compliance Unit update all data on a quarterly basis, with the goal of monthly updates in the future.
Why doesn’t the dashboard data match the statistics in the Annual Security Report?
The criminal statistic data presented in the Dashboard is based on the Department’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR) submissions to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Although almost all of the UCR crimes are captured in the Clery statistics, the Clery statistics include additional offense types. In addition, the Clery statistics include reports from other police departments and from University officials serving as Campus Security Authorities.
What is the UCR program, and which agencies participate?
Since 1930, the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program has served as the national repository for crime data collected by law enforcement. The UCR Program includes data from more than 18,000 city, university and college, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies. Agencies participate voluntarily and submit their crime data either through a state UCR program or directly to the FBI.
Will the Department release the raw data summarized in the Dashboard?
At this time, the aggregated data is the only data the Department will be releasing.
Why does the Dashboard include only 3-years’ worth of information? Will community members have access to data from prior years?
The Department decided on releasing three years’ worth of data to mirror the reporting requirements of the Clery Act. The Clery Act requires all colleges and universities to publish the previous three years’ worth of criminal statistics in their Annual Security Report released in October. At this time, the Department is only releasing 3-years’ worth of data.
Does the Department have any metrics regarding community outreach?
The Department tracks its community outreach activities, both formal and informal, and has done so for years. Over the last six years, Department employees have engaged the community in contexts outside of requests for service close to 1,600 times annually.
Why does the Dashboard not include more graphics to illustrate the data?
In order to ensure the data presented is accessible to all who wish to view it, we are limited in the amount of graphics we can use at this time. The goal is to utilize more graphics with Phase Two and the updated Phase One data.
Why does the Department receive so many ‘Found/Recovered Property’ Calls for Service? Should another Department on campus be handling this issue?
For the community’s convenience, the HUPD serves as a central collection point for lost and found items, such as keys, backpacks, eyeglasses, and bikes. If students, faculty, staff, or visitors, lose their property or find someone else’s property on campus, community members can contact HUPD to determine if their property was recovered. Currently, there is no other department on campus that serves as a central collection point for lost and found items.
What is the difference between an arrest and a summons?
An HUPD officer may make an arrest with a warrant, without a warrant (if the officer has probable cause to believe the person has committed or is in the process of committing a felony), or for a misdemeanor offense committed in the officer’s presence. In instances where an arrest is not made at the scene, an officer may seek a criminal complaint at a later date from a district court via a written application outlining the act(s) that constitutes the crime(s).
