Niner Choice Off Campus Safety Program July 11, 2012 Presented by: University Area Off Campus Taskforce

University Area Off Campus Taskforce Developed in partnership between: UNC Charlotte Dean of Students Office Off Campus Outreach Office of Student Conduct UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department – University City Division CRD

Housing Overview UNC Charlotte enrolls approximately 25,000 students The University can house approximately 5,200 students on campus There are over 53 multi-family communities in Response Area 2 There are 6 apartment communities and 8 condominiums that lease by the bedroom There are 6 new properties in development or construction stage in Response Area 2 Botz CMPD began looking into crime in the R2 area regarding Priority 1 crimes – saw University Village, 901 Place & University Club at top 3 in Priority 1 crimes Part 1 crimes = homicide, rape, murder, robbery, aggravated assaults, larceny, arson, B&Es R2 boundaries – Old Concord to County Line, 85-Harris Blvd

Off Campus Housing Focus Areas - CMPD Apartments - property management companies University Club University Village 901 Place The Edge University Walk The Flats at Mallard Creek Condominiums – landlords; individually owned Shannon Green I University Terrace & University Terrace North Alexander Town Colville I & II Campus Walk College Station Botz

Issues of Concern for the Taskforce Crime statistics in off campus Focus Areas Practice of placing: non-students with student renters felons and probationers with student renters Lack of consistent safety measures Code and fire safety violations Off campus complexes utilizing names that associate them with the University (Campus Walk, Campus Edge, University Village) and not being cognizant of their business practices Sean * Talk about what we saw when we drove through some of these areas when considering going through with the Off Campus Bus Tour

2011 Calls for Service 47,683 Citizen & Officer Initiated Calls for Service in Response Area 2 Botz

533 Part 1 Crimes in Multi-Family Housing in 2011 Crime Data 533 Part 1 Crimes in Multi-Family Housing in Response Area 2 Botz

16,608 Citizen & Officer Initiated Calls for Service in Response Area 2 Botz 2012 – only tabulated to June

231 Part 1 Crimes in Multi-Family Housing in 2012 Crime Data 231 Part 1 Crimes in Multi-Family Housing in Response Area 2

Crime Data Comparison 2011 Part 1 Crime January 1-June 10, 2011 Incident Type Frequency Larceny-Other 29 Residential Burglary Larceny from Auto 22 Auto Theft 8 Larceny from Building 6 Armed Robbery 3 Aggravated Assault-Knife 2 Aggravated Assault-Gun 1 Aggravated Assault-Other Weapon Arson Commercial Burglary Total 103 Incident Type Frequency Residential Burglary 27 Larceny-Other 23 Larceny from Auto 19 Auto Theft 7 Armed Robbery 6 Larceny from Building 3 Aggravated Assault-Gun 2 Larceny of Bicycle Larceny-Pocket Picking Aggravated Assault-Knife 1 Aggravated Assault-Other Weapon Larceny-Shoplifting Rape Total 95 Botz

2011 Probationers Overlay

2012 Probationers Overlay

Student Victims by Response Area for 2011 Division/Response Area Number of Student Victims Percentage University City/RA2 343 54.88% University City/RA3 75 12% Central/RA2 54 8.64% University City/RA1 36 5.76% Central/RA1 29 4.64% Providence/RA1 23 3.68% Steele Creek/RA3 20 3.2% Steele Creek/RA2 17 2.72% Independence/RA1 11 1.76% South/RA1 9 1.44% North Tryon/RA1 8 1.28% Total Number of Victims 625 Botz University City Division had a total of 454 Student Victims (72.64%) *rough data UNCC, CPCC, Kings College, Queens University, The Art Institute of Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith University, and Johnson & Wales University

Student Victims by Response Area for 2012 Division/Response Area Number of Student Victims Percentage University City/RA2 137 53.72% Central/RA2 24 9.80% Steele Creek/RA2 21 8.23% Central/RA1 18 7.05% Independence/RA3 17 6.6% University City/RA3 16 6.27% Independence/RA1 13 5.09% Metro/RA2 9 3.52% Total Number of Victims 255 BotzUniversity City Division had a total of 153 Student Victims (60%) *rough data UNCC, CPCC, Kings College, Queens University, The Art Institute of Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith University, and Johnson & Wales University

Niner Choice Program An educational safety program in partnership with: UNC Charlotte Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department University City Division Charlotte Fire Department Neighborhood & Business Services (code enforcement) Lowe’s Home Improvement Christine Modeled, with permission, after the University of Alabama Crimson Choice program Goals: To promote increased security measures in University Area off campus properties; To increase relationships and communication between off campus properties and the University; and To help students and their families make informed decisions regarding off campus living options by providing them with criteria to consider

Niner Choice Proposed Designation Criteria Completion of Security Assessment: Windows must have functioning lock Front door must be solid core construction Sliding glass doors must have functioning locks Deadbolt locks on front door Working smoke detectors Labeling individual bedrooms with letters/numbers Individual bedroom doors can be secured Well maintained landscape (shrubbery) Handrails for stairways Lighting (walkways, parking lots, entrances and exits) Gated communities must have working gates Christine & Sean We will also consider the reported crime rate at the property

Niner Choice Proposed Designation Criteria Lease agreement includes the following: A Drug and Crime Free addendum An unauthorized occupants addendum Policies addressing noise complaints, parties, parking, towing, alcohol in common areas Business Practices: Perform background checks and provide statement regarding what criminal threshold they utilize in determining whether a tenant may reside in the unit If rent to non-students: place students with other student renters Hired security company Complex will rekey doors at request (tenant may incur expense) Tenants and landlords must abide by lease agreements Property/landlord have following agreements with CMPD: Authority to Act as Agent Alcohol Authority Christine & Sean We are looking at a point system for designation purposes – with certain areas as mandatory compliance, and other areas as optional (ie. Hired security) where a property can earn more points

Off Campus Property Inspections A Niner Choice Inspection Team will be created in partnership with Off Campus Outreach, CMPD, and PPS and staff members. Inspections will be conducted on a yearly basis: Inspections schedules will rotate on a monthly basis; Re-inspections within a calendar year can be done based upon complaints or reported issues. Participating properties: 10% of units in large scale properties will be inspected (ie. properties with over 20 units) Individually owned condos/townhomes/houses will be inspected. Violations of fire and/or code regulations found by the Inspection Team will be reported to appropriate agency. Christine How does the Inspection Team get into the apartments – do they need permission from tenant?

Niner Choice Designation Off campus properties can volunteer to participate and receive the Niner Choice designation (yard signs, ability to include in marketing materials, lobby certificate). Properties that contract and advertise with Off Campus Partners (OCP), a property locater website within the Off Campus Outreach program unit, will be placed in a “Niner Choice” designated area of the OCP website. A property can lose the Niner Choice designation if it fails annual inspection or if reported issues are not appropriately addressed. The University Area Off Campus Taskforce will manage Niner Choice inspections and property designations.

Niner Choice Disclaimers A Niner Choice designation does not guarantee the safety and security of participating properties. UNC Charlotte cannot guarantee that accidents or criminal activity will not occur at Niner Choice designated properties. Niner Choice is a safety education program designed to provide information to students and families in an effort to help them make informed decisions about off campus living options. Rental owners remain solely responsible for the operation, physical condition, safety and security of off campus properties. Property reviews conducted are limited in nature and do not proclaim to find every potential hazard or violation; and are based upon the condition of the property at the time of inspection. Christine

Niner Choice Marketing An electronic letter will be sent to Response Area 2 property owners via the distribution list maintained by CMPD. A meeting will be hosted by the University Area Off Campus Taskforce, Off Campus Partners, and Lowe’s Home Improvement to discuss the details of the Niner Choice program and address questions from property owners. Sean Langley will reach out to individual properties within two weeks after the meeting to discuss interest in Niner Choice. Sean will be the main contact point for the program. Place Niner Choice information on the Off Campus website. Promote through media stories (Campus News, Charlotte Observer). Develop Niner Choice designation insignias (stickers, certificates, yard signs, etc). Goal = Fall semester roll out

University Area Off Campus Taskforce Future Initiatives Preferred Tenant Program Offering off campus students a series of educational classes designed to provide students with fundamental knowledge and resources about living off campus. Completion of program offers incentives (discount in rent) to the preferred tenant from participating landlords/property managers. Off Campus Welcome Team Volunteers from UNC Charlotte and CMPD will visit area apartment complexes and neighborhoods welcoming off campus students and distributing information. Student Resource Guide – produced by CMPD A guide to information surrounding safety, off and on campus resources, and tenant rights. Preferred Tenant program – modeled after University of Wisconsin-Milwuakee Off Campus Welcome Team – modeled after Syracuse University