Significant Increase in Campus Crime Rates in Memphis in 2023, According to TBI Report
Surprising data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) indicates a notable surge in crime rates across college campuses in Memphis between years 2022 and 2023. This unexpected rise in crime seems to mirror the city’s overall uptick in criminal activities for the same period, predominantly within the year’s first three quarters.
Understanding the Crime on Campus Report
The TBI’s annual Crime on Campus report is an essential source of data on student-safe environments, offering a trending perspective on safety metrics afresh each year. Derived from the Tennessee Incident-Based Reporting System (TIBRS), the report has captured crimes that occur on the campuses and student housing facilities of Tennessee-based colleges and universities since its establishment in 1989.
Crunching The Numbers
From the TBI’s data, an approximate 10.2% increase in reported crimes across major higher-education campuses in Memphis was manifested, leaping from 555 to 594 reported crimes. The affected campuses include the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Baptist Health Sciences University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Southwest Community College, and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Memphis. Out of the near-600 reported offences for 2023, a total of 105 incidents were clarified with at least one involved individual arrested.
Note: Information for Christian Brothers University is not included within this analysis due to the institution’s report of zero Group A or Group B offenses on campus between 2021 and 2023. Group A offenses encompass major violent and property crimes, while Group B offenses include lesser crimes such as trespassing and public intoxication.
Crime rates across all Tennessee higher education institutes
Notably, the crime increase on Memphis college campuses is also reflected in a 1.5% rise in criminal incidents across all higher education institutions in Tennessee.
Campuses With the Highest Increase in Crimes
Looking at the raw reported offenses, the University of Memphis experienced the highest increase in reported crimes with 37 more Group A offenses in 2023 compared to the prior year. It is essential to note, though, that the U of M is the city’s largest university, catering to a reported campus population of 22,754 in 2023.
Key Findings
When accounting for population size, the biggest relative increase in reported Group A crimes between 2022 to 2023 was within the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Memphis, which observed a staggering 193% increase. Southwest Tennessee Community College followed with a 37.3% increase, while Baptist University experienced a 21.48% surge.
Mishap at Rhodes College
Contrariwise, Rhodes College saw a 32.6% decrease in reported campus crimes between the years 2022 and 2023, offering a silver lining to an otherwise worryingly increasing trend.
Most Frequently Reported Crimes
Theft and vandalism ranked as the most commonly reported offenses across all the campuses, with some violent and sexual assaults also being reported.
