Crime rates in Moscow plummeted in 2015. There were 25 percent fewer offenses reported and 40 percent fewer arrests than in 2014, continuing the downward trend of crime in Moscow over the last several years.
Captain Tyson Berrett of the Moscow Police Department heads the campus division and he credits this trend to education and prevention programs, as well as more responsible alcohol consumption.
Berrett said a vast majority of simple assaults are alcohol related. He said thefts and vehicle prowls are largely driven by the economy and availability of jobs. Berrett said nearly all of these are crimes of opportunity, not smash-and-grabs, and hiding valuables and locking doors could prevent that most.
Of these thefts, Berrett said many are committed by non-locals, which means they are often not caught. He said someone might fill up a shopping cart at Wal-Mart and walk out.
“You’ll get video, but they’re not local,” Berrett said. “We don’t know who they are.”
Minor in Possession and Minor in Consumption of alcohol offenses were reduced in severity this summer, as well. On first offense, someone will receive an infraction rather than a misdemeanor. Berrett said he was concerned this would lead to increase in underage drinking because people may perceive the issue as less serious.
“They took any real teeth they had in that code and minimized it,” Berrett said.
Since Washington decriminalized recreational marijuana use in 2014, Berrett said he has not seen a change in marijuana use in Moscow. He said people may see it as less serious now, which could lead to increased usage. He said he will enforce Idaho law in regards to marijuana until the legislature changes it, which he said he doesn’t expect to happen soon.
Brian Dulin, coordinator of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Program (AOD), said Washington’s laws have lead to a lower perception of harm of marijuana, which he said will mean an increase in use. He said marijuana has never been more available.
“Since I went to school the price of tuition doubled, but the price of a bag of weed is the same,” Dulin said.
Dulin said the earlier in someone’s life they begin using marijuana, the more difficult it will be for them to quit or cut back later. He said 9 percent of users become dependent.
The proportion of UI students that said they have never used marijuana dropped from 66 percent in 2013 to 59 percent in 2015. Reported non-prescribed painkiller use rates went from 7 to 5 percent during that time, but reported use of stimulants, such as Adderall, grew from 5 to 9 percent of total students.
“We can talk to students about alcohol and weed and how to stay safe,” Dulin said. “When it comes to prescription drugs, cocaine, there isn’t a way to stay safe.”
Dulin said the focus of AOD is to teach students about the pros and cons of alcohol use and ways to minimize risk while socializing. He said they recruit undergraduates to go into Greek houses, residence halls and classrooms to talk about alcohol and how to look out for friends.
AOD holds many workshops such as “Alcohol 101” which teaches students pouring demonstrations, tracking standard drinks, estimating blood alcohol content and how to identify alcohol poisoning, among other things.
“We’re not saying ‘not use,’ but use responsibly and look out for each other,” Dulin said.
Other programs seeking to reduce crime and risk are available for students, too. Alive at 25, House Party, National Night Out, Take Back the Night and the Red Watch Band all help students learn how to help themselves and others stay safe.
Online services like E-chug and E-toke, allow students to anonymously report their habits and get feedback, such as how they compare to the rest of the population and other data on their habits. The university can look at aggregate data from those reports and develop policy or ideas around it.
Dulin said most crimes in Moscow involve alcohol or other drugs in some way. He said increased drinking means an increased risk of arrest, involvement in sexual assault and alcohol poisoning.
Dulin said while there are increased risks in some living groups, such as Greek houses, there are also protective factors there that mitigate the risk, such as designated risk managers and internal accountability.
In a survey, 67 percent of UI students said they consumed zero to four drinks the last time they partied or socialized, which Dulin said illustrates a responsible drinking culture. Dulin and Berrett both said that drinking in Moscow is going down.
“Students today tend to drink less than students 10 years ago,” Dulin said. “And they drank less than students 10 years before them.”
Berrett said Moscow is one of the safest cities with one of the safest universities in the U.S. Dulin said there hasn’t been a student death for three years. He credits that to students looking out for each other. He said AOD will continue developing strategy and policies to keep students safe.
“UI is a fun school,” Dulin said. “We don’t want alcohol and other drugs to get in the way of that.”
Jack Olson can be reached at [email protected]
*This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of Captain Tyson Berrett.