The number of forcible sex offenses reported on the ASU Main campus increased 100 percent from 2000 to 2001, according to the annual Crime Awareness Report released Wednesday.
ASU police, using the uniform crime reporting system of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, compiled the statistics.
"It's hard to see why there is an increase since there isn't a specific cause like a serial rapist or anything," said Sgt. Allen Clark of the ASU police. "There aren't necessarily more incidents happening, just more incidents being reported."
There were two reported forcible sex offenses in 1999, six in 2000 and 12 in 2001.
Reported aggravated assaults, larceny/theft and drug abuse increased as well from the year prior, according to the report.
"There are too many variables involved to know why there is an increase in these areas," said Clark.
There was a decrease in the number of alcohol-related offenses reported to the police in 2001 from 2000, though this was probably related to a change in University policy regarding alcohol, according to Clark.
The new policy states that residents may not have party guests under the age of 21 present if alcohol is being consumed.
Residential Life also dealt with more alcohol problems last year without police intervention.
Clark said reporting crimes is a helpful way of preventing future incidents.
"If we continue to make students aware that we are there for them, people will tend to report more crimes than in the past," he said.
Crime Prevention Coordinator Stewart Adams said that the department is doing everything possible to prevent crime.
"We will continue as much as we can, and try getting in residence halls, talking to students and educating them that way," Adams said about the on-campus crime prevention program. "We will keep up the patrols and maintain a high profile on campus."
Reach the reporter at christina.viloria@asu.edu.
