The Office of Safety and Security released the College’s annual security and fire safety report for the 2025-2026 academic year in an email to the campus community on Wednesday. The report revealed a continued decline in liquor law violations as well as an increase in violations outside of student residencies and sexual offenses.

Under the Jeanne Clery Act, any college or university that receives federal funding must disclose specific crime statistics from the past three years to the public by October 1 each year. Colleges may be fined by the Department of Education if they do not comply.

“The report is an effort at transparency and accountability in all aspects of campus safety and security. The report also serves as a reminder of certain safety policies in place to keep everyone safe,” Associate Vice President for Safety and Security Bill Harwood wrote in an email to the Orient.

All statistics were from reports of incidents that the Office of Safety and Security received in the past three years. Colleges must report statistics in five categories: criminal offenses, hate crimes, hazing, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) offenses and arrests and referrals for disciplinary action.

The most significant trend made apparent by the report was the continuing decline in liquor law violations among the student population. Liquor law violations decreased to 51 violations. The number of violations was 57 in 2023, 61 in 2022 and 80 in 2021.

Harwood attributed this trend to an overall decline in alcohol consumption in young adults.

“We have noticed the decrease in liquor law violations for some time now. This is not just a phenomenon at Bowdoin College but has been noted at other colleges as well. This decline has been observed to be particularly prominent in younger adults,” Harwood wrote. “There are many theories about this decline, from more awareness of the adverse health effects of alcohol, to more health-conscious choices and a growing social acceptance of those choices.”

However, there was also an increase in the number of violations outside of student residences. This year, there were 23 liquor law violations outside of student residences, compared to 17 in 2023 and ten in 2022.

Reports of sexual offense violations rose this past year, with fondling incidents increasing to seven, up from three in 2023 and one in 2022. Harwood noted that his office often collaborates with the Title IX Office and the Division of Student Affairs in taking appropriate security measures regarding incidents of sexual offense.

The report also included up-to-date information on the College’s emergency protocols and procedures for issuing timely warnings to the campus community about potential threats.

Part of the goal of the security and fire report, according to Harwood, is to increase transparency on crime on campus, which fosters a campus culture focused on safety.

“Campus and community safety is a shared responsibility,” the report reads. “Always be aware and alert. If you see something or sense something is wrong, say something.”