Crime Data Comparison Michele Foreman-Boggus
CJA/314
April 9, 2012
Prof. Rutkowski
Crime Data Comparison There are several ways to determine the statistical measurements of crime rates across the nation. Examples include, household surveys, hospital records, and individual law enforcement agencies. Data from resources are compiled and presented to FBI where the committee on Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) generates a statistical perspective on crime rates in America. The implementation of the UCR was first used in 1929 and created by the International Association of Chiefs of Police of providing reliable crime statistics from their individual departments for the nation's records (Schmalleger, 2012). Each year, statistical publications are produced and all the researched information is compiled and recorded into a standard crime report database. This type of analysis allows criminologists, law enforcement and communities to determine where crime is prevalent, what crimes are committed and what can aid in the development of prevention tactics for the future. The information is also helpful to both local and federal governments when developing social policies and deciding where limited funding should be distributed. The UCR is a valuable tool available to law enforcement and government, the information gathered will shape the future of the criminal justice system.
California is a state that has areas of dense population as well as extremely rural areas, rich farmland, costal landscapes and mountain ranges. The geographical aspect of the state is not the only diversity that will be found. The population in 2010 reached 37.3 million out of a total U.S. census of 308.7 million. The overall population in California grew 10% from 2000-2010, while nationally the population increased by 9.7% ("U.S. Census Bureau", 2012). California continues to grow alongside the nation, with population changes it is expected that crime rates will fluctuate. The gathering of information regarding these fluctuations will help the state and communities better deal with issues of crimes in specific areas.
Sacramento is the capital of California, in 2006 it reached a population of 458,773 and had 196 rapes that were reported to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report ("City-Wide Statistics and Data Extracts", 2012). In the four years following 2006, the number of reported rapes fell as the population gradually rose. In 2007 the population was 467,120 and reported rapes were 194; 2008 the population was 474,925 and reported rapes were 168; 2009 the population was 481,356 and reported rapes were 179; 2010 the population was 486,189 and reported rapes were 164(Uniform Crime Report, 2010). Over this five year period there were a total of 801 reported rapes in Sacramento and a total increase in population of 27,416. In 2010 Sacramento employed 696 uniformed officers which equates to about one officer to every 700 people. The gathering of this information is vital to the community and its awareness of forcible rape in Sacramento. It will help inform community and law enforcement of areas that are prone to this type of crime, in the hopes of continuing the decline in the reported rate.
San Francisco California is a densely populated urban city approximately 200 miles southwest of Sacramento. In 2006 the population was 817,844 and reported 154 rapes to the FBI for the Uniform Crime Report (SFPD Compstat, 2012). The four years after recorded the following statistics for population and the crime of rape: 2007 population 830,096 and reported rapes were 125; 2008 reported a population of 844,278 with 167 rapes; 2009 grew in population to 851,674 with a rise in reported rapes to 179; 2010 population reached 859,658 and reported rapes fell to 147 (Uniform Crime Report, 2010). Reported rapes from 2006-2010 totaled 772, while the population increased by 41,814. In 2010 the San Francisco police department employed 2250 uniformed officers; this is