Crime Stats Are Important, But It Is the Community That Counts

  Crime stats refer to statistical, systematic data about crimes. They are based on the number of crimes that were reported in a given period. This can be for several reasons, including data entry from police departments, state departments of corrections, and so on.

When people talk about crime statistics, they refer to those that are released by law enforcement authorities. These stats are compiled to inform people on how crime affects communities in their area, including local laws regarding what can and cannot be done to reduce crime.

What Types of Crimes Are Tracked in North Carolina?

Some crime stats are more general in nature than others. The first type of stats includes all crimes reported to the police department, including thefts and burglary. This includes murder, manslaughter, rape, assault, burglary, larceny, arson, vehicle theft, and so on. Another type of crime stats would consist of violent crimes.

The number of crimes committed daily will differ based on the type of crimes. For instance, there are many different types of crimes, such as car and arson crimes. Car and arson crimes are considered less severe compared to murders and rapes. If the victim is killed in a car or arson crime, it is often classified as a violent crime. On the other hand, murder is a much more severe offense and classified as a criminal homicide. In a criminal homicide case, it is not necessarily a car or arson crime but rather a person's killing.

Crime stats also include incidents. For example, suppose someone was found sleeping in the roadway and is suspected of committing a crime. In that case, the officer will conduct a roadside stop and search for evidence. The officer will collect any and all information about the suspect, including his identification and past record.

Crime stats are not a one-time event. Statistics will show that crime rates are increasing over time. For this reason, people should continue to educate themselves with crime stats, including how to reduce crime in their community.

Crime statistics are used to inform citizens on how to keep their neighborhoods safe. For example, when a city has a population increase in a particular area, crime rates are expected to increase. By monitoring crime stats, residents can look at crime trends and learn the best ways to improve their neighborhoods.

Crime prevention is the name of the game with crime stats.

With crime stats, residents can see patterns in which areas they potentially will be victimized. Crime prevention options that can help prevent crime from occurring in their neighborhood. While crime stats are essential, residents should also understand that prevention is the only way to lower crime.

Crime stats are helpful to residents, but it is not an indicator of whether a community is becoming more dangerous. The numbers can show crime patterns and crime trends, but they cannot tell the whole story. People should continue to do their own research and make decisions based on facts, not on statistics.