Charleston’s crime rate shows increases during the university school year, but the rate is blamed more on population size than deviant college students.

Everything from local ordinance violations to broken state laws, criminal offenses are more prevalent during three/fourth of the year when Eastern is in full session.

Police Chief Ted Ghibellini related the drastic population increase to rising crime numbers for a series of crimes, but did not blame the student body.

“When school is in session, there’s more people, more parties, more alcohol and more violations,” he said.

For the most part, those violations are minor. Alcohol-related crimes and other problems are caused by such an extensive population rise.

“During the school year, there is such a big influx of people in town, the activity levels increase,” Ghibellini said. “Because the activity level picks up, minor violations increase.”

According to the August 2002-August 2003 12-month offense trend, crimes with the greatest occurrence here year-round include motor vehicle offenses, traffic violations, city ordinance alcohol violations and criminal trespasses and damages.

“You see more violations just as you see more traffic accidents with more cars on the road,” he said.

When comparing June, July and August 2003 to three-month intervals for the rest of the year, traffic violations, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and obscene conduct all display noticeable increases.

Illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor, possession of a controlled substance and possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis charges are also more prevalent.

Increased city ordinance violations include minor possession of alcohol, purchase and acceptance of alcohol by a minor, misrepresentation of age by a minor and unlawful sale or gift of liquor to minors.

Specifically, from August to October 2002, 356 traffic violations were reported, whereas 273 were reported over June, July and August 2003. Between November and January there were 345 and 412 were reported from February to May.

Likewise, illegal consumption violations numbered 11, 14 and 16 during the school term intervals with only six recorded over the summer months.

Nine minor purchase and acceptance of alcohol violations were listed for summer months while school year interval records displayed 117, 37 and 31.

“With more activities, we see more city ordinance violations and malicious criminal property damages,” Ghibellini said.

Crimes with minimal difference between school-year month and summer month statistics range from criminal sexual assault, domestic abuse, burglary and trespassing to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Alcohol DUIs were reported at 20 for the summer months and 15, 21 and 28 during the Fall through Spring intervals.

Two criminal sexual assaults were on record for each interval, August through September 2002, November 2002 through January 2003 and June through August 2003. Three assaults were reported from February to May.

Many crimes considered more serious offenses show no change while school is in session and city ordinance violations are the primarily increased crimes related to the population influx.

The city adjusts its force to accommodate for school-year crime increases.

Ghibellini said the department responds to denser crime times with “power shifts,” which are 7 p.m. to approximately 3 a.m. shifts with expanded patrol forces.

City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].