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A Publication of United Way of Salt Lake |
Aug. 23, 2007
Most Utah schools will soon be in session—if they are not already—and as the throngs of students navigate the corridors of high schools and junior highs across the state, they will often cross the shadow of one or more law enforcement officers. Sadly, the need for public safety officers in our schools highlights the issue of adult and juvenile crime.
Reports indicate that U.S. crime rates, particularly for violent crimes, are near 30-year lows. Unfortunately, for the state of Utah that is not necessarily true. The most recent data from the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice says Utah’s total crime rate (per 1,000 persons) increased from 41.1 in 2000 to 43.1 in 2004. During the same period, the crime rate for the U.S. overall fell from 41.2 to 39.8. In 2004, Utah’s total crime rate surpassed the U.S. total crime rate, and the overall trend is not promising:
The good news is that Utah’s juvenile arrest rate fell significantly from 98.5 (per 1,000 persons) in 2000 to 87.1 in 2005. During this same period, the juvenile arrest rate also fell in Davis, Salt Lake, and Summit Counties. By contrast, the juvenile arrest rate for Tooele County increased from 89.7 in 2000 to 119.5 in 2005. From 2001 to 2004, Tooele County’s juvenile arrest rate increased dramatically, more than doubling (from 62.9 to 129.9). The rate has since decreased, but it is still much higher than the state average.
UWSL believes that long-term solutions to Utah’s increasing crime rate require more than the construction of more prisons. Instead, we must focus on changing the social and economic conditions that lead to crime, as well as supporting community-based programs that provide prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Such programs are already helping to reduce our crime rate, but we must do more to support these efforts if we are to see Utah’s crime rate fall.
Deborah S. Bayle
President and CEO
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COMMUNITY MATTERS |
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Most Utah schools will soon be in session—if they are not already—and as the throngs of students navigate the corridors of high schools and junior highs across the state, they will often cross the shadow of one or more law enforcement officers. Sadly, the need for public safety officers in our schools highlights the issue of adult and juvenile crime.
Reports indicate that U.S. crime rates, particularly for violent crimes, are near 30-year lows. Unfortunately, for the state of Utah that is not necessarily true. The most recent data from the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice says Utah’s total crime rate (per 1,000 persons) increased from 41.1 in 2000 to 43.1 in 2004. During the same period, the crime rate for the U.S. overall fell from 41.2 to 39.8. In 2004, Utah’s total crime rate surpassed the U.S. total crime rate, and the overall trend is not promising:
- Utah property crime rates are consistently above the national average.
- Utah property crime rates have increased steadily from 2000 to 2004 (from 38.7 to 40.7), while U.S. property crime rates have steadily fallen over the same period (from 36.2 to 35.2).
- Utah violent crime rates have remained steady from 2000 to 2004, while U.S. violent crime rates have fallen (from 5.1 to 4.7) during the same period.
The good news is that Utah’s juvenile arrest rate fell significantly from 98.5 (per 1,000 persons) in 2000 to 87.1 in 2005. During this same period, the juvenile arrest rate also fell in Davis, Salt Lake, and Summit Counties. By contrast, the juvenile arrest rate for Tooele County increased from 89.7 in 2000 to 119.5 in 2005. From 2001 to 2004, Tooele County’s juvenile arrest rate increased dramatically, more than doubling (from 62.9 to 129.9). The rate has since decreased, but it is still much higher than the state average.
UWSL believes that long-term solutions to Utah’s increasing crime rate require more than the construction of more prisons. Instead, we must focus on changing the social and economic conditions that lead to crime, as well as supporting community-based programs that provide prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Such programs are already helping to reduce our crime rate, but we must do more to support these efforts if we are to see Utah’s crime rate fall.
Deborah S. Bayle
President and CEO