A Study of Crime Rates from the Past Decade – By Willson Buchanan

 Population has increased from 180,697 in 2000 to 221,675 in 2009  Persons below poverty level in 2008: 13.8% or 30,591 people ◦ 13.4% or 28,557 people ◦ Average in NC: 14.6% ◦ Median income in 2008: $51,292

 Highest Property Crime Rate in the State ◦ Burglary ◦ Larceny ◦ Motor Vehicle Theft ◦ Arson  One of the Highest Violent Crime Rates in the State ◦ Murder ◦ Rape ◦ Robbery ◦ Aggravated Assault  Highest Overall Crime Rate in North Carolina ◦ Not the highest amount of crimes, just the most per person

Index RateViolent Rate Property Rate 8, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,317.10

Year Murder Rate Rape Rate Robbery Rate Assault Rate Burglary Rate Larceny Rate MVT RateArson Rate , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lenoir CountyAvery County

MecklenburgGuilford

 The Police?  Unemployed Persons?  Self-Improvement?

 Increase of 46,392 people in Durham from 2000 to 2009, a 20.8% increase ◦ North Carolina averaged 26.6%  Total Employees, Fulltime sworn policemen and civilians, increased from 555 to 608  Result? ◦ In 2000 there were 478 citizens for every sworn police officer ◦ In 2009 there were 586 Citizens for every sworn police office ◦ Crime has decreased with fewer police officers per citizen…

 Increased from 3% to 5% from 2000 to 2003  Decreased to 3.5% by 2007  Increased to 8.5% by 2009  Result ◦ Crime has decreased during a time of economic depression.

 The status report in 2007 suggested that the city had been able to: ◦ create 5000 new jobs ◦ create$1 billion dollars in investments ◦ grow tax revenues ◦ improve downtown entertainment ◦ increase road circulation ◦ create new county government facilities  Result ◦ The city has been able to continually improve upon itself during the economic crises. ◦ There are, however, towns and cities that have a decreased amount of crime and are not employing the same techniques as Durham…

 There has been an overall decrease in crime in Durham ◦ Fewer Police ◦ Fewer Jobs ◦ But a City model for improvement  There are many more factors that exist in determining the crime decrease ◦ Could it be that the bad guys are in jail?  Canada had a similar unexplained effect without an increase in cops or people in jail…  There isn’t a great explanation yet or proof that points one way or another

 U.S. Census Bureau - tml tml   Durham Police Department Crime Mapper - p_entryform.cfm p_entryform.cfm  Durham Downtown Master Plan - sp?tab_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/l auncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_94796_1%26url %3d sp?tab_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/l auncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_94796_1%26url %3d  e-crime-mystery/ e-crime-mystery/