Maryland
University of Maryland sees rise in indecent exposure, says UMPD
WASHINGTON – The College of Maryland has seen an increase in indecent exposures, in line with the College of Maryland Police Division.
The rise comes as knowledge reveals decrease crime charges on campus in comparison with earlier years.
The College of Maryland says there have been 17 indecent exposures reported to this point this 12 months, with solely 9 of these taking place on campus. However that quantity is greater than double the quantity from final 12 months when there have been six reported exposures.
Investigators consider individuals could also be feeling extra empowered to report instances as of late.
Proper now, it’s not clear who the perpetrators are, whether or not it’s college students or random individuals from off campus.
Advocates are stressing these indecent exposures are a type of power-based violence, which is when somebody tries to manage one other individual to trigger hurt, and the sufferer mechanically loses energy because the suspect sometimes exposes themselves with out the opposite individual’s consent.
“As a result of this type of crime doesn’t really contain any bodily assault in any manner, it’s straightforward to downplay how extreme these sorts of crimes could be and the way a lot they will have an effect on a sufferer,” mentioned Victoria Stavish, an information reporter for The Diamondback, the college’s student-run newspaper, who first reported this story.
If this occurs to you, police say the most effective factor to do is get away to a protected location and never have interaction with the individual exposing themselves.