COMMUNITY SAFETY

What Was Measured?
The California Department of Justice publishes a yearly Crime Index Report that compiles criminal data from California counties.  The overall, adult, and juvenile crime rates from 1984 through 1993 in San Mateo County were obtained using this report.  The overall reported crime rate comprises both violent crimes, such as homicide and sexual assault, and nonviolent crimes, such as theft or vandalism.  The adult and juvenile crime rates are broken down by violent, felony, and misdemeanor arrests.  The number of domestic violence-related calls for assistance was also measured between 1987 and 1994.

Why Is It Important?
Personal safety is crucial for maintaining a strong sense of community, high quality of life, and healthy families. Criminal activity negatively affects our physical and psychological well-being and results in fear and personal suffering.  High crime rates force the community to channel its resources to law enforcement and detention programs, draining the human and financial resources of governments and community programs.  A high juvenile crime rate reveals deep problems in a community.  Youths who continue criminal behavior don't develop into emotionally stable and productive individuals.  This will affect the long-term well-being and stability of the community.

What Was Found?
After a 1987 high of 5,072 overall reported crimes per 100,000 people, that figure dropped by 18 percent to 4,150 during 1993.  Violent crimes dropped 28 percent during this same time period.  The rate for all other crimes peaked in 1989 with a rate of 4,491 and dropped to a 10-year low during 1993 at 3,646, a 19 percent decrease.

Adult felony arrests followed this pattern and dropped 22 percent from 1989 to 1993.  Violent crime arrests were 281 per 100,000 people in 1990 compared to 264 in 1993.  Adult misdemeanor arrests have shown a large drop during the I 10-year period, with a 28 percent difference between 1983 and 1994.

While adult felony and misdemeanors are on the decline, juvenile arrest rates are rising. juvenile felony arrests during 1984 were 177 per 10,000 people, compared to a high of 272 in 1993, an increase of 54 percent.  Violent crimes in those same years increased 162 percent.

Between 1990 and 1993 only, there has been a 27 percent increase of violent crime arrests, with 52 arrests per 10,000 juveniles in 1993. juvenile misdemeanor arrests peaked in 1993, with 549 per 10,000 juveniles, an increase of 16 percent from the previous year.

Domestic violence-related calls for assistance increased steadily between 1989 and 1994, reaching a peak of more than 3,500 calls made during 1994.

What Is The Trend?
Although the overall and adult crime rates have been decreasing in recent years, there has been a significant upswing in juvenile crime during the past 10-year period, with violent crimes increasing by 162 percent.  Domestic violence-related calls are also rising, though this may be attributed to increased education and training on reporting domestic violence, as opposed to an actual increase in domestic violence in the county.

Source: California Criminal Justice Profile 1993, San Mateo County, California Department of Justice; Domestic Violence-Related Calls for Assistance, 1987-1994, California Department of Justice.

Researcher: Carla Bagneschi