MSU Police

Assault is defined as an attempt to commit a battery, or an illegal act that caused the victim to reasonably fear a battery.  Aggravated assault is an assault and battery where physical injury occurs requiring immediate medical attention or that causes disfigurement or impairment, according to the MSU Police Department.  Assault as a first offense is a 93-day misdemeanor.  As a second offense, assault is punishable by imprisonment for no longer than one year and is considered a misdemeanor.  However, as a third offense it is considered a felony and is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years, according to the MSU Police Department.

The annual crime rates at MSU are around the same as other Big Ten Universities, said Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor of the MSU Police Department.  However, the total crime rates for MSU may be higher than other universities because the MSU police have been reporting campus crime longer than many other colleges.
"I can tell you that our department has always reported crimes," said McGlothian-Taylor.  "Now we are required to under The Jeanne Clery Act, but we were reporting prior to that act coming about."

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act was originally enacted by Congress in 1990 and was called the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990.  Further amendments were made to the act in 1998 and it was renamed at that time.