Posted on 02/07/2012 8:14:44 PM PST by dragnet2
There were thousands fewer crimes reported in 2011 than 2010 in areas the LAPD and Sheriff's Department patrol. The trend puzzles some but reinforces a common police view that other factors are at play.
Even since the economy began stalling several years ago, there have been dire warnings that crime would rise.
But in Southern California, crime continues its long decline despite the weak economy.... yet streets in many parts of the region were the safest they've been in decades.
The trend continues to puzzle some criminologists
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said crime rates are determined largely by how well police do their job and the "informal social standards" set by communities — that is, what kind of behavior people are willing to tolerate from others.
"The driving forces on crime," Beck said, are " 'What is the likelihood the police will catch you?' and, 'What would your mother or neighbor think if they knew what you were doing?'"
A spokesman for Sheriff Lee Baca took a similar stand. "Communities seem to be banding together to fight crime," Steve Whitmore said. "We can't take the complete credit."
The city, along with much of the rest of L.A. County, finished the year with thousands fewer serious crimes than in 2010..
Homicides, finished the year nearly even with the historically low rate
Throughout the rest of L.A. County, — a 12% decline from the previous year
The Sheriff's Department, also posted declines in a preliminary count through November. Serious violent crimes were down 13.5%, and property-related offenses dropped about 2%.
To the contrary, the region has watched as a downward trend in crime that began nearly a decade ago has continued largely unabated..This will be the ninth consecutive year of falling crime in Los Angeles.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Without a doubt.
People are just pissed off in general and tolerance for crime, is at an all time low in Southern California.
The long term trend is simple demographics. The baby boomers are getting old, and most violent crimes are committed in youth. Crime trends have always followed the demographics of boomers.
Crime way down in most those areas too.
A more correct headline would be...”Fewer crimes were reported”. That’s different than fewer crimes were committed.
Maybe the thugs have killed themselves off?
You're one of the deniers that crime in S. CA has been dropping for the past 10 years?
Just a wild guess, but I'd bet it a bit hard cover up, or not report a murder, rape, stolen vehicle, bank robbery etc..
Police armed with paramilitary gear provided by DHS probably serve as a deterrent, as well.
It worked in Baltimore.
Naw...Most crime has little to do with that crap. In fact, most of that paramilitary stuff is used after a crime has allegedly been committed anyway.
That has little impact...Like the article suggests, people are just fed up, and have little tolerance for crime when they themselves are struggling just to do things like paying their bills.
Crime statistics attempt to provide statistical measures of the crime in societies. Given that crime is usually secretive by nature, measurements of it are likely to be inaccurate.
Several methods for measuring crime exist, including household surveys, hospital or insurance records, and compilations by police and similar law enforcement agencies. Typically official crime statistics are the latter, but some offences are likely to go unreported to the police. Public surveys are sometimes conducted to estimate the amount of crime not reported to police. Such surveys are usually more reliable for assessing trends. Public surveys rarely encompass all crime, rarely procure statistics useful for local crime prevention, often ignore offences against children, and do not count offenders brought before the criminal justice system.
But you're welcome to come here and try stealing a car, murder someone, or rob and bank etc, and see if it doesn't get reported.
Good luck with that!
This is definitely good. Nice to hear good news out of California for once.
Whenever I see a report like this I just think it must be an election year.
Sorry to be so cynical, but I have caught the media in so many lies that I can’t tell when they are telling the truth.
A more correct headline would be...”Fewer crimes were reported”. That’s different than fewer crimes were committed.
Actually, you’re partially correct. I think it is more accurate to say: “Fewer crimes were reported by the Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, DHS, FBI, CIA, NSA and the LA Times”.
Just like the recent jobs report, it doesn’t matter what the facts are. What matters is what is reported. Fudge the numbers, change the definition of what determines the numbers and it’s a whole new ballgame.
It’s just a big numbers game. Law enforcement, media, unions, the DNC and Mawgli’s administration are all working together to get him re-elected. The fix is in.
EK
“A more correct headline would be...”Fewer crimes were reported”. That’s different than fewer crimes were committed.
—
You’re one of the deniers that crime in S. CA has been dropping for the past 10 years?
Just a wild guess, but I’d bet it a bit hard cover up, or not report a murder, rape, stolen vehicle, bank robbery etc..”
—
Well, I understand that all those illegal immigrants have their non-citizen safety patrols but I didn’t appreciate how effective they are.
In fact, I’d surmise that the shrunken numbers of police are overwhelmed by the number of criminal activities to the extent that they just ignore a lot of citizen calls and never write up a lot of crimes. Additionally, with their budgets under constant assault, I bet the cops are focusing on stopping traffic violators in order to garner fines to provide operating capital.
Nothing left to steal.
Pay closer attention...
The crime reports for the past 10 years, clearly indicate crime in Southern California have been dropping for about decade now.
This is really nothing new.
....yes, demographics do play a role, but so has the internet and redevelopment.
Most of the young are too interested in playing games on their x-box, their computer and their i-phones to do the hard work of crime, even if their families were involved in it. The obesity epidemic has had its effect as well on the criminally inclined. It’s much easier to do business over the internet and by mail than it is to do turf wars and corner drug drops like they did in the 90s.
Redevelopment in downtown and the rest of the county has also had a really positive effect from what I can see. LA really has got the laid back image, even in the criminal class. Do your business over the ‘net and you are much less likely to get hassled by the cops, or get shot at by rival gang members.
Well, I understand that all those illegal immigrants have their non-citizen safety patrols but I didn’t appreciate how effective they are bla bla...
So illegals who commit murder, steal vehicles, rob liquor stores all get brushed under the rug and go unreported eh?
You live in Fantasy Land.
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