Crime Trends in Arizona - Assignment Example

 Abstract Crime trends in Arizona have consistently ranked above the rest of the nation and several reasons have been out forward to explain this phenomenon. Some of these are (a) the population explosion (b) rising poverty levels in the state and (c) increased drug use. Situational crime theories may serve to explain the proliferation in crime in the state of Arizona. There has however been a decline in crime rates in recent years, but this may not be significant because the same phenomenon is also replicated across the country. Juvenile crime rates in Arizona have however declined more than the rest of the nation and Community based prosecution may have contributed to these successful outcomes. Crime Trends in Arizona On an overall basis, Arizona is ranked No: 1 in crime and specifically in the areas of property crime and motor vehicle theft. It ranks second in the nation in larceny, fourth in burglary and fifth in murder (Vanderpool, 2005). The number of violent crimes being reported in Arizona is on the rise. In the year 1990, 221,335 crimes were reported, in 1990, this increased to 286,705, while in 2000, there was a further increase to 298,613 and the figures in 2005 show that 306,937 violent crimes were reported.(www.azcjc.gov, p 1). When compared to the rest of the United States, Arizona’s crime rates have consistently been higher. Several reasons have been put forward to explain why Arizona ranks at the top of the nation in exploding crime rates. One of these is the population explosion; in Arizona the population has grown at triple the national rate during the period 1993 to 2003.(Vanderpool, 2005). But to offset this rise in population, there has not been a corresponding rise in law enforcement officers or number of prisons to accommodate the rising number of criminals. A second factor responsible for high crime rates in Arizona is the poverty levels of the population, a factor that is exacerbated by the proximity of the State to the Mexican border. A third factor that contributed to rising crime rates is increasing drug use, especially the use of Meth.(Liverpool, 2005). With budget cuts eliminating federal funding for anti-drug efforts by States, the net result was that crime rates increased. The rational choice model, put forward by Cornish and Clarke (1985) proposes that free will plays a role in the motivation to commit crime, however this model also takes into account certain background and situational factors that are likely to play a role in the decision to commit a crime. Situational factors that may play a role would include being persuaded by friends, or consumption of drugs and alcohol which would temporarily loosen a person’s normal moral inhibitions and lead people who are normally moral, into seizing what appears to be an opportunity to commit a crime and get away with it. Where situational factors are concerned, such offences are usually unplanned and arise out of situations where opportunity suddenly presents itself. This theory can also be applied in the context of rising crime rates, which can be attributed to situational factors, such as rising poverty, the availability of drugs and the explosion in the population. Under such conditions, it appears likely that when opportunities present themselves, criminals are likely to seize them due to the desperate nature of their circumstances. These situational factors may serve to explain why crime rates in Arizona have consistently been higher than the rest of the United States. On the basis of situational factors, Hirschi argues that crimes result when “the individual’s bond to society is weak or broken” (Hirschi, 1969, p 16). This bond to society is comprised of four elements (a)attachment to others opinions (b) a commitment to conform (c) involvement in conventional activity and (d) a belief in legal rules. Those individuals who have a high degree of self control are unlikely to break this bond easily, but crime is likely to be committed by those who are “impulsive, insensitive, physical……risk-taking, short sighted and non verbal” (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990, p. 90). In an environment such as Arizona, dealing with overcrowding, poverty and increased drug use, the moral bond to society is more likely to be broken and individuals are more likely to seize situational opportunities to commit crimes. Although the actual numbers of violent crimes reported have increased, the statistical figures also show that the rate of crime per 100,000 people has registered a decrease of 36 percent from 1980 to 2005. Similarly, a drop has also been registered in the rates of juvenile crimes, although the actual incidents of reported crime have been higher. The number of reported violent crimes shot up from 27,187 in 2000 to 28,198 in 2003, but the percentage of violent crimes cleared by juvenile arrest dropped from 14.4% in 2000 to 12.5% in 2003.(www.juvenile.state.az.us). In respect to property crimes, there was a decline in clearances involving juveniles, from 23.4% in 2000 to 19.3% in 2003. There has been a decrease in the comparative rates of crime, i.e, in the year 2000, Arizona’s crime rate was 41% higher than the national average, but by 2005, this number had dropped to 32%. (www.azcjc.gov). But this decrease may not be significant in specific reference to Arizona, because crime rates all over the United States have registered a decrease. In explaining why crime rates have been declining, some of the general factors which have contributed to such declines across the nation are as follows (Marowitz, 2000, p v,vi): (a) the increased levels of proactive community policing, whereby members of the community also play a role in tackling low level crimes such as boisterous conduct or drinking in public (b) the development of computerized mapping systems to identify the high crime areas and introduce enhanced law enforcement measures in those locations (c) Faster action and intervention by lower order courts in the case of first or second time offenders, through community service sentences and drug treatment programs designed to break the cycle of crime (d) changing attitudes of citizens towards crime and their increased cooperation with the police (e) changes in trends set by the big cities (f) fewer changes in the proportion of youth over the past decades, so that there were lower levels of youth fueled crime, while older criminals died or aged (f) improved economy provided more legitimate job opportunities, which produced a shift away from illegal activities such as dealing in drugs (g) Cultural renewal, such that juveniles were not incited to violence by violence in the media (h) legal assistance in domestic violence and responsibilities assumed by educational institutions which have contributed to a decrease in crime (i) decreased use of crack cocaine producing a reduced level of criminal activity and criminal gangs desisting from violent activity after noting the undesirable outcomes of such gang violence (j) reduced levels of carrying of hand guns, either of their own volition or due to law enforcement efforts to take away such guns from them. (Marowitz, 2000, p vi). All of these factors have applied to the entire nation and contributed to an overall decrease in crime rates during the 1990s and early 2000s. Arizona, which occupied the top position overall in crime, may also be demonstrating trends prevalent all over the nation, which may explain why crime rates have been declining over the past two decades, despite the increase in the number of crimes that are being reported. Where juvenile crime is concerned however, the declining trends in Arizona are higher than the rest of the United States. Thus, unlike other crimes, there has been a greater decline in juvenile crime in Arizona as compared to the rest of the nation. A survey was carried out to explore why the rates of juvenile crime in Arizona were declining faster than the rest of the nation – law enforcement and justice departments were questioned on the possible reasons for such a decline (www.azdjc.gov). Police departments suggested that new programs, which placed a greater emphasis on schools and truancy, and increased community based efforts to reach the youth at risk, have resulted in a reduction in the number of juvenile arrests. Law enforcement officers are attempting to intercede in junior high schools to address disciplinary problems at the initial stages before they evolve into crimes. Justice departments and courts were of the view that the policy of having violent and chronic juvenile offenders face charges in adult courts has improved outcomes, while also freeing up more resources for tackling those juveniles who could be corrected through remedial measures. (www.azdjc.gov). Community based prosecution was also held to contribute to successful outcomes, since County prosecutors were encouraged to appear in classrooms and interact with community service groups in order to address issues of juvenile crime. Juveniles were held more accountable for their actions while also providing opportunities for further education of school and police officials.(www.azdjc.gov). On the basis of the above, it may thus be noted that Arizona has differed from the rest of the country in terms of its overall top ranking in crime during the 1970s and 1980s. reasons attributed for such increase in crime are the exploding population, rising levels of poverty and increased drug use. But during the 1990s and early 2000s, there has been a decline in crime rates across the nation, which is also demonstrated in Arizona. The reasons for such a decline may be the improved state of the economy, which has provided better paying legitimate jobs. Changes in demographics may also account for these results, since older criminals have been dying or ageing, while the youth population has not been increasing at a significant rate. The decline in supply of crack cocaine and the reduction in inter gang rivalry in favor of a shift to more stable drug trade may also account for such declines. Arizona however, differs from the rest of the nation in that its rates of juvenile crime have been declining at a higher rate, which may be largely attributed to more active community involvement and a more proactive approach in dealing with juvenile crime, even to the extent of sentencing chronic juvenile offenders in adult criminal courts. The policy of the State has been to focus on early intervention measures with youth at risk, to prevent them from taking to crime. It is however important to note that as compared to a consistent decline in crime rates over the past two decades, there was a rise in violent crimes like murder and manslaughter from 2005 to 2006; a trend replicated all over the United States and this could possibly be the beginning of a trend towards increased crime, which may also be demonstrated in Arizona. (www.azcjc.gov). References: * “Arizona Crime Trends 2007: Fact Sheet”, Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Retrieved August 6, 2008 from: * Arizona Juvenile Crime Trends”, Retrieved August 6, 2008 from: www.juvenile.state.az.us/Offices/Research/Statistics/AzJuvCrimeTrends.pdf * Cornish, D and Clarke, R, 1986. “The Reasoning Criminal”, New York: Springer- Verlag * Gottfredson, M and Hirschi, T, 1990. “A General Theory of Crime”, Stanford: Stanford University Press * Hirschi, T, 1969. “Causes of Delinquency”, Berkeley: University of California Press * Marowitz, Leonard A, 2000. “Why did the crime rate decrease through 1999?” CJSC Research Series, Retrieved August 8, 2008 from: http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/publications/misc/why/rpt.pdf * The decline in Arizona of juvenile crime”, Retrieved August 8, 2008 from: www.azdjc.gov/Offices/Research/Publications/PdfFormat/DeclineInArizonaJuvenileCrime1104.pdf * Vanderpool, Tim, 2005. “Arizona battles to-of-the-chart crime rates as Meth use increases”, The Christian Science Monitor, August 18, 2005. Retrieved August 7, 2008 from: http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0818/p02s01-ussc.html Read More