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Big Drop In Rapes, Killings
The Jersey Journal
TRENTON(AP) - Jersey City experienced some of the most significant drops in crime in
America last year, according to preliminary figures compiled by the FBI.
Jersey City registered
a 15 percent decline in overall crime, with a 31 percent drop in murder
(eight fewer homicides than in 1997) and a 32 percent drop in rape.
Newark and Jersey City
even made two "top-10" lists for drops in burglary and car
theft among the nation's 225 cities with populations of more than
100,000. New Jersey has four cities with more than 100,000 population:
Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth.
In Jersey City, car
theft was down 30 percent, the fourth-largest drop, behind Austin, Salt
Lake City and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"Our community
police program has added a certain level of police presence that we have
not seen in the recent past," said Jersey City Police Director
Michael Mortarty. "So the combination of those officers engaged in
a problem-solving strategy, along with our regular patrol force and
detectives doing their jobs well, resulted in this dramatic
increase," he added.
Moriarty said much of
the city's crime is perpetrated by teenagers, and police programs have
targeted youth with everything from teen curfews to grant funded
programs that link police with schools.
"We have 900 men
and women in this department, and the large majority is very dedicated
to improving this city," he said.
Jersey City's police
department has grown since 1994 from 828 officers to 904. Through the
civilianization of certain clerical jobs, 50 officers have been freed up
to patrol the streets.
Newark reported a 19
percent decline in overall crime from 1997 to 1998 in the FBI's index
crimes: murder, rape, robbery, theft, auto theft and burglary. In
Newark, murder increased 5 percent, with three more homicides than in
1997, but rape dropped 5 percent.
Among the nation's
larger cities, Newark reported a 25 percent decrease in burglary, the
ninth largest drop in the United States. Manchester, N.H., had the best
drop in burglary, down 39 percent.
Elizabeth reported a 14
percent decrease in overall crime, while Paterson reported a 9 percent
decline.
Final figures for all
New Jersey towns are due out later in the year. In fact, the preliminary
numbers behind the statistical trends reported yesterday could change
slightly as final reports are confirmed.
The figures also have
traditionally come under fire from some criminal justice experts, who
note that not all law enforcement agencies follow the same criteria In
reporting crimes.
For instance, there is
a dispute over Philadelphia police statistics for violent crime, which
could affect regional and national results for large cities.
Journal Staff Writer |
