Final answer:
The Clery Act does not require that a crime must be reported by a victim or witness for the report to be valid. Institutions must disclose campus crime info and maintain records, even when reports come from third parties.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is false to say that a crime must be reported by a victim or witness for the report to be a valid report under the Clery Act. The Clery Act mandates that colleges and universities participating in federal student aid programs must disclose information about campus crime, regardless of who initiates the report. These institutions are required to publish an annual security report, maintain a public crime log, disclose information about specific types of crimes, and develop emergency response and notification policies. Moreover, crimes may be reported by third parties, and in some cases, victims themselves might deny the abuse even when confronted by authorities. Studies indicate that many crimes go unreported for a variety of reasons, including fear, shame, or distrust of police.
The Clery Act requires colleges and universities that participate in federal student aid programs to disclose information about campus crime. This includes reporting incidents of criminal activities such as homicide, sex offenses, robbery, assault, and more. The Act also mandates the publication of an annual security report and the maintenance of a public crime log that documents each crime on campus.
While it is encouraged for victims and witnesses to report crimes, the validity of a report under the Clery Act does not solely depend on their reporting. Rather, it focuses on the institution's obligation to disclose relevant crime statistics and ensure campus safety.