Review

This article is dedicated to a comprehensive analysis of the issue of crime in higher education institutions (HEIs), which poses a significant threat to the safety of the educational environment, academic integrity, and public trust in the education system. The purpose of the article is to investigate the problems of detecting and preventing crimes in HEIs and to develop proposals for their resolution. The main types of offenses most frequently encountered in HEIs are identified, including corruption crimes, violence, cybercrimes, illicit drug trafficking, and property crimes. Particular attention is paid to the specifics of each of these crimes, their manifestations, and consequences for students, faculty, and staff of educational institutions. The article analyzes the legal mechanisms for preventing and combating crime in HEIs, specifically examining Ukraine’s national legislation regulating safety issues in the field of education. The role of normative legal acts, including the Law of Ukraine «On Higher Education,» the Law of Ukraine «On Prevention of Corruption,» the Criminal Code of Ukraine, as well as government decrees governing the work of law enforcement agencies in combating offenses in education, is explored. The importance of developing and implementing internal anti-corruption policies in HEIs, introducing systems for monitoring compliance with academic integrity, and increasing the legal awareness of students and faculty is emphasized. The role of law enforcement agencies in detecting and documenting crimes in HEIs is examined. Special attention is given to the activities of the National Police of Ukraine, the Bureau of Economic Security, and the Security Service of Ukraine, which conduct operational and investigative activities, inspect financial operations of HEIs for illegal schemes, and counter threats to national security in the field of education. Mechanisms of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and university administrations, as well as methods of prompt response to potential threats, are described. A separate section of the article is devoted to the use of modern technologies for monitoring and preventing crimes. The possibilities of using video surveillance systems, audio recording, analytical tools, and digital forensics methods to improve the effectiveness of detecting offenses are explored. The role of big data and artificial intelligence in developing risk profiles and predicting potential crimes on HEI premises is considered. An analysis of international experience in combating crime in higher education institutions is conducted. Particular attention is paid to the American Clery Act, which establishes requirements for mandatory reporting of crimes on university campuses, transparency of information about offenses, and safety measures in HEIs. The possibility of adapting the principles of the Clery Act in Ukrainian legislation is explored, including the mandatory publication of crime rate reports in HEIs, the introduction of standard incident response protocols, and the expansion of functions of internal security services in educational institutions. The author proposes a comprehensive approach to detecting and preventing crimes in HEIs, combining the analysis of legal mechanisms, the activities of law enforcement agencies, and modern technological solutions. The importance of interagency cooperation between educational institutions, law enforcement structures, and state bodies to ensure the safety of the educational environment is emphasized.