Violent Crime and Socioeconomic Stressors Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services 1

2 DCJS Study of Risk Factors Violent Crime and Socioeconomic Stressors  Research has identified factors that place someone at greater risk of committing a violent offense. These risk factors do not ensure that an individual will become an offender.  The presence of these factors - economic, family, education, social, biological, and health - increase the risk that a person will one day commit a violent crime. (Wasserman et al., 2003)

3 DCJS Study of Risk Factors  Examples: males are more likely to become violent offenders, and children raised in poverty are more likely than other children to become violent offenders.  Research has clearly demonstrated that risk factors have a cumulative effect.  Youth with 7 or more risk factors were 13 times more likely to join a gang, compared to youth with fewer than 2 risk factors.

4 DCJS Study - Risk Factors  Violent Crime Offenses  Population  Population per 100,000 sq meters of land  % of Labor Force Unemployed  % Age 16+ Unemployed or Not in Labor Force  Median Income for Families with Children  Males Released from Prison per 10,000 Males  % of Children Under Age 18 Living in Poverty  % of Students Receiving Free or Reduced-Price Lunch

5 DCJS Study - Risk Factors  % of Kindergartners Requiring Early Intervention  Reading Initiative  % of Third Graders Failing English SOL  % of Students Failing to Graduate on Time  % of Students Dropping Out of School  Violent & Threatening School Incidents/1,000 Students  % of Population 25+ Who Did Not Graduate High School  Births to Mothers with No High School Diploma

6 DCJS Study - Risk Factors  Births to Unmarried Mothers, as a % of All Live Births  Low Birth Weight Babies, as a % of All Live Births  Teen Pregnancy, Rate per 1,000 Females Age  Children in Foster Care, Rate per 1,000  Founded Reports of Suspected Child Abuse and  Neglect, Rate Per 10,000  Households with Children  Lead Poisoning in Children Under Age 15, Rate/10,000  Asthma Hospitalizations for Children Under Age 6, Rate per 100,000

7 DCJS and 599 Funds  The Code of Virginia § provides for financial assistance to localities with police departments through the "599" program. Currently, 40 cities, 9 counties and 126 towns receive "599" funds.  Calculations to determine the distribution of "599" funds to localities are performed biennially by DCJS. The funds are allocated by a distribution formula which uses population, crime rates, and social services rates.

8 DCJS and 599 Funds Total FY 08 Allocation $215,791,448 Alexandria$6,733,694 Charlottesville$2,518,853 Hampton$8,164,108 Harrisonburg$1,637,925 Newport News$10,940,765 Richmond$17,388,383 Roanoke$6,682,276 Virginia Beach$13,686,769 Big Cities

9 DCJS and 599 Funds Albemarle Co$2,513,773 Arlington Co$7,696,281 Chesterfield Co$9,334,677 Fairfax Co$29,699,707 Henrico Co$10,671,449 James City Co$1,652,591 Prince George Co$1,096,014 Prince William Co$11,498,859 Roanoke Co$2,245,035 County Aid$76,408,387 AmountPercent City Aid$126,654, % County Aid$76,408, % Town Aid$12,728, % TOTAL AID$215,791,448100% Suburban Counties