Rutgers New Brunswick: Safe Campus?

Rutgers University-New Brunswick has been ranked as one of the safest campuses in the U.S. by ADT, which noted that campus safety was always nearby and praised the public safety escorts program. However, crime statistics for the college campus and surrounding areas show that there were 547 incidents related to crime and safety in 2019, with a rate of 10.90 incidents per 1,000 students. The types of crimes include arrests for major crimes, arrests for possession, violence against women, and disciplinary actions. While the university takes measures to ensure student safety, such as the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) and the Rave Guardian mobile safety app, students have expressed concerns about their safety, especially when walking alone or at night.

Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD)

The Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) is committed to ensuring the safety and security of the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus community. The RUPD operates a fully staffed police headquarters 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and works closely with local law enforcement agencies to maintain a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff.

In an emergency, students are advised to dial 9-1-1, and for non-emergencies, they can call 732-932-7211 or press 2-7211 from any campus phone. Additionally, the RUPD has designated police officers on each of the five campuses (Busch, College Avenue, Douglass, G. H. Cook, and Livingston) to provide a familiar and reliable point of contact for students.

The RUPD also offers a range of resources and services to enhance campus safety, including the Rave Guardian mobile safety app, which allows users to stay connected and access important safety resources. The department encourages students to report any suspicious activity or individuals immediately and to utilise the university's transportation and walking chaperone services, such as the Knight Mover Shuttle service and on-campus walking escorts.

Furthermore, the RUPD provides educational resources and safety guidelines to help students stay safe, such as advising them to stay alert and aware of their surroundings, avoid alcohol and drugs, and keep their dorm doors locked. The department also encourages students to sign up for text alerts to receive emergency updates and stay informed about campus safety matters.

In addition to the efforts of the RUPD, Rutgers University – New Brunswick has been recognised as one of the nation's safest universities by ADT. The ranking, which considered campus crime statistics, highlighted the university's commitment to public safety and its safety escorts program.

Crime statistics

Rutgers University-New Brunswick reported 547 incidents related to crime and safety in 2019. Since the number of students at the school that year was 50,173, that amounts to 10.90 incidents per 1,000 students.

Of these 547 incidents, 458 took place on campus, 27 on affiliated off-campus properties, 269 in residence halls, and 62 in the surrounding New Brunswick neighbourhood.

On a per-1,000-student basis, these figures translate to 9.13 incidents on campus, 0.54 incidents on affiliated off-campus properties, 5.36 incidents in residence halls, and 1.24 incidents in the New Brunswick neighbourhood.

The types of crimes are divided into the following categories: arrests for major crimes, arrests for possession, violence against women, and disciplinary actions. Disciplinary actions account for 26.0% of all crime and safety incidents at the school. Around 43.0% of incidents resulted in arrests for possession, 16.8% were arrests for major crimes, and 14.3% were acts of violence against women.

Rutgers University-New Brunswick has been recognised as one of the safest campuses in the US. ADT, an authorised premier provider of security tools, ranked it as the third safest campus in the country. ADT's report noted the presence of nearby campus safety officers and praised the public safety escorts programme.

Safety measures

Rutgers University-New Brunswick has been recognised as one of the safest campuses in the U.S. by ADT. ADT's ranking was based on campus crime statistics mandated by the U.S. Department of Education and the FBI Uniform Crime Report. The report noted that campus safety was always nearby and praised the public safety escorts program.

However, Rutgers students have reported feeling unsafe on campus. In 2004, The New York Times reported that students had been the victims of rape, robbery, and assault. In 2023, a student on Reddit wrote that she didn't feel safe walking alone on campus during the day. She added that she gets notifications about sexual assault and crime "nearly every weekend".

Rutgers has implemented several safety measures to protect its students, faculty, staff, and guests. Here are some of the key measures:

• The Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) operates a fully staffed police headquarters 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Emergency and non-emergency numbers are provided for each campus.
• The Rave Guardian mobile safety app connects the Rutgers community to campus safety resources.
• The Knight Mover Shuttle service and on-campus walking escorts provide extra security for getting around campus after hours.
• Text alerts are available for emergency updates.
• Security cameras have been installed in campus parking lots.
• Students are advised to stay alert and aware of their surroundings, avoid alcohol and drugs, and follow basic safety guidelines such as locking doors and not leaving property unattended.

Student experiences

Rutgers University's New Brunswick campus is generally considered safe. The Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) operates multiple fully staffed police headquarters 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The RUPD provides police, security, and safety services, and is staffed by commissioned police officers with full investigative and arrest authority, a professional security staff, students trained as community service officers, dispatchers, and technical and administrative employees. The campuses are patrolled on foot, in vehicles, and on bicycles.

In addition to the RUPD, Rutgers has implemented several measures to ensure the safety of its students. These include:

• The Rave Guardian app, which helps students stay connected and access important campus safety resources.
• The Knight Mover Shuttle service and on-campus walking escorts, which provide extra security for students getting around campus after hours.
• Text alerts to keep students informed about emergency updates.
• Emergency phones and alarms in various locations, including buildings, restrooms, parking decks, and outdoor "blue" light phones in New Brunswick and Piscataway.

Rutgers also provides a range of resources to support students who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, or other crimes. The Sexual Assault Services and Crime Victim Assistance staff offer advocacy, crisis intervention, counseling, and referrals to students, faculty, and staff.

While the university takes extensive measures to ensure the safety of its students, it is important to note that no campus is completely immune to crime. According to the 2019 Rutgers University - New Brunswick Crime & Safety Report, there were 547 total incidents related to crime and safety, with 458 of those occurring on campus. Acts of violence against women accounted for 14.3% of incidents, while arrests for major crimes accounted for 16.8%.

> "I always felt safe on campus. The police and security presence is very visible, and there are a lot of resources available if you ever feel unsafe. I would still recommend taking normal precautions, like walking in groups at night and not leaving your belongings unattended, but overall, I never felt like I was in any danger." — Jane, Class of 2023

> "As a female student, I was initially worried about safety, especially after hearing about some of the incidents that had occurred on campus. However, I quickly learned that the university takes these issues very seriously. They offer self-defence classes and workshops on personal safety, and the RUPD is very responsive to any reports or concerns. I always felt like they were doing their best to keep us safe." — Emily, Class of 2022

> "I lived off-campus, and while the area felt pretty safe, there were a few incidents of theft and vandalism. I think it's important to be vigilant and take normal safety precautions, but overall, I never felt unsafe during my time at Rutgers." — Michael, Class of 2021

> "I had a positive experience with the RUPD when I had to report a suspicious person near my residence hall. They responded quickly and took my report seriously. It made me feel like they were really committed to keeping us safe." — Anonymous, Class of 2023

> "I used the walking escort service a few times when I had to stay late on campus, and it made me feel much safer. It's a great resource, especially for those who don't have a car on campus." — Sarah, Class of 2022

Surrounding areas

Rutgers University-New Brunswick has been ranked one of the safest campuses in the U.S. by ADT, which considered campus crime statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and the FBI Uniform Crime Report. However, the surrounding areas of New Brunswick have a high crime rate.

New Brunswick is a city where 27% of the population lives below the poverty line. Since 1999, there has been a 20% rise in burglaries and a 16% rise in robberies. Aggravated assaults, which declined from 1999 to 2000, have been on the rise again, with a 14% increase since 2000. The city has also seen a high number of rapes, with 51 reported since 2000, many of whom were students. The actual number is likely to be higher as only an estimated 5% of rapes are reported.

The dispersal of students throughout the city has been identified as a factor that negatively impacts their safety. A report by the federal Justice Department found that students living in off-campus housing are 14 times more likely to be victims of crime than those living in dormitories. Approximately 8,000 of Rutgers University-New Brunswick's 35,318 students live off-campus.

The presence of a large number of "warrant criminals" in New Brunswick—arrested offenders from elsewhere who are wanted for previous crimes—is another concern. These individuals may view students as easy targets.

The area between Douglass and College Avenue, where few students live, has been particularly associated with crime. Hamilton Street, around College Avenue, has a negative reputation, although some students who live there suggest that it is not as bad as its reputation suggests.

Livingston Campus is considered a safe area, located next to the suburban Piscataway area. The College Avenue area can be messy at times, but the downtown area is not considered very scary.

Overall, while Rutgers University-New Brunswick itself is ranked as one of the safest campuses in the U.S., the surrounding areas of New Brunswick have a high crime rate, and students living off-campus or travelling outside the campus perimeter need to take precautions for their safety.

Frequently asked questions