Harvard Crime Report Showed Mixed Trends in 2025
Total incidents fell at the university, though reports of hate crimes and certain violent offenses rose.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Sex Crimes
Live Poll
Do you feel that university campuses in your area are becoming safer for students?
The Harvard University Police Department released its annual security report, documenting an 18 percent decrease in total campus crime during 2025. Despite the overall decline, the data showed increases in reported hate crimes, aggravated assaults, and domestic violence incidents.
Why it matters
The report highlights shifting safety metrics at the university, which is mandated by the Clery Act to disclose campus security information. The findings coincide with heightened scrutiny regarding campus environment and legal challenges involving the Department of Justice.
The Harvard University Police Department documented 12 rape incidents in 2025, an increase from seven reports in 2024. Federal legal proceedings remain ongoing as the Department of Justice has filed an appeal following the August 2026 dismissal of its lawsuit.
The players
Harvard University Police Department
This agency is responsible for law enforcement and campus safety protocols across Harvard University campuses in Cambridge and Boston.
Department of Justice
The federal executive department is responsible for the enforcement of federal laws and the administration of justice in the United States.
Anthony Campbell
He has served as the Harvard Police Chief since January 2026.
The details
The report, which now includes a section on hazing prevention to comply with the Stop Campus Hazing Act, noted 46 aggravated assaults and 10 domestic violence incidents for 2025. Additionally, motor vehicle thefts dropped significantly, falling from 175 in 2024 to 112 in 2025.
Timeline
The Clery Act was passed into law in 1990.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act was passed in December 2024.
Anthony Campbell became the Harvard Police Chief in January 2026.
The Department of Justice sued Harvard over campus antisemitism in March 2026.
A federal judge dismissed the Department of Justice lawsuit in August 2026.
Legal Context
This reporting is required by the Clery Act, which forces transparency regarding campus safety metrics at institutions like Harvard. It follows a recent pattern of federal intervention on campus, mirroring the ongoing legal scrutiny from the Department of Justice.
Residents and students should note the rise in specific violent offense reports as they navigate the campus environment in Cambridge. The university has implemented new hazing prevention measures as part of its updated compliance efforts under federal law.
The takeaway
The latest statistics indicate a complex safety landscape for the university as it balances falling property crime rates with rising reports of violent and hate-based incidents. Campus members are encouraged to review official security materials for updated safety protocols.
Further reading
For more context on how universities report safety data, read the latest updates at Cambridge sex-crimes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Harvard Crimson.
Live Poll
Do you feel that university campuses in your area are becoming safer for students?
