Crime Data

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Crime Data Comparison

By Jennifer Cruz

CJS/231

9/14/15

Chris Byland

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Comparing data for Dallas, Texas and San Antonio, Texas

     Information will be used from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCR) to make comparisons of the murder and non-negligent manslaughter statistics of two major cities in Texas. This paper will then highlight which area is more prone to reported murder incidents, what the rates of murder were for both cities, the changes of those incidents from 2005 to 2012, and factors that could explain the differences throughout the seven year span.

        Population Rates

     In 2005, Dallas Texas held a population of approximately 1,230,203 compared to 1,241,549 in 2012, an 11,346 increase, while San Antonio Texas held 1,256,584 people in 2005 and 1,380,120 in 2012, a 123,536 increase. Similarities in the population rates is the reason for choosing these cities so that the rates in murder can be compared more accurately.

Murder Rates

     After utilizing the Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCR) it is confirmed that in 2005 Dallas, Texas had 205 reported murder and non-negligent manslaughter reports with a population of 1,230,203 people, and in 2012 154 reports of murder and non-negligent manslaughters were reported, a decrease of 51 reports to police even with 11,346 people added to the population.

     In San Antonio, Texas the Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCR) reported 86 murder and non-negligent manslaughter reports in 2005 with a population of 1,256,584 people, while 89 murder and non-negligent manslaughter reports were collected in 2012, even with the immense increase of 123,536 in the population.

Finalizing the Report

     It is concluded that between 2005 and 2012, Dallas, Texas overall had higher murder and non-negligent manslaughter rate reports when compared to San Antonio, Texas, even with a lesser population. Possible factors that can explain the decline in murder and non-negligent manslaughter reports (per population) in both cities from 2005 to 2012 is the increase in law enforcement officials, with Dallas, Texas employed with 3,518 officials in 2005 and 4,028 officials in 2012. San Antonio, Texas also had an increase of law enforcement officials with 2,883 officials in 2012, compared to 2,482 officials in 2005. Dallas Police officials credit the decline in murder rates (and all crime rates overall) in developing better crime fighting and crime preventing polices. Upgrading police technology and installing more surveillance cameras is also said to have aided in deterring crime. It is also noted that the development of better social

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services to those who need it can be credited also. (Balko, 2012). In San Antonio the Police Chief William McManus gave credit to the work of the homicide detectives, police presence in the streets and analyzing for the declining murder and crime rates. (Mondo, 2013). While experts cannot fully agree as to why the decline in crime and especially murder continues, they have come up with many theories such as the legalization of abortion, resulting in fewer unprepared parents, limiting exposure to lead, which has been linked to increased aggression, the aging of the baby boomers, technology advancements such as the development of debit cards to replace cash, the deceased demand for crack and heroine, increased incarceration rates, and increased immigration as possible factors.

Conclusion

     To conclude, we utilized the Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCR) to determine the reporting rates of murder and non-negligent manslaughter in Dallas, Texas and San Antonio, Texas, and found that Dallas, Texas had the highest ratings throughout the seven year span despite the fact that their population was lower than San Antonio, Texas throughout the seven year span. We also learned that in both cities the murder and non-negligent reports continuously dropped throughout the years. We found that creating smarter crime fighting and prevention polices and laws, offering social services to those in need so that they are less likely to engage in criminal lifestyles, limiting lead exposure in the air, advancing technology and therefore providing more options for people then being on the streets all seem like common sense explanations for the decline, yet some criminologists are still unconvinced that it’s that simple. It is evident that much more research needs to be conducted in order to gain perspective of the declining crime and murder trend, as many experts believe that a spike in crime is underway.