Darius Muniz
Professor Horowitz
Deviance and Social Control
September 20th, 2011
Morning Paper
New York murder rates are the lowest they have been in ten years confirming that this east coast state is becoming an increasingly safer place to live. Despite stereotypical beliefs of people living outside this thriving metropolis portraying this state as a dangerous place to live and growing concerns from residents who live here day to day, the numbers don’t lie. Residents can breathe easier knowing that law enforcement agencies in New York State are doing their jobs and doing them well. Statistical data collected state wide from these agencies by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compiled into their Uniform Crime Reports, a cumulative statistics report of crime in the United States, show an undeniable trend of decreasing murder rates throughout New York.
Utilizing data from the UCR data base (http://www.ucrdatatool.gov/) spanning an eleven year period from 1999 to 2009, murder rate statistics were analyzed and compared to determine trends of reported murders that occurred during each year. More specifically, cities in this state with populations of 100,000 or more including but not limited to NYC (the five boroughs), Buffalo, Syracuse, Yonkers, and Rochester, were under particular scrutiny since more crime tends to occur in more densely populated areas. State wide totals were also analyzed with comparisons city by city, regardless of population density, to determine the overall incidence of murder occurring in New York.
Beginning in 1999 the murder total for New York City was around 664 reported murders (see table 1, pg.4), and increased slightly over the next three years for a total of 714 occurring in 2001. Note: deaths occurring from the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the twin towers were not calculated in these statistics. From 2002 through 2006(see table 1, pg.4) , reported murders dropped markedly to the 500 range and have remained steady throughout this five year period demonstrating that the murder rate is on the decline. The 2007 murder totals are even more encouraging reporting totals in the 400 range, increasing slightly in 2008 hitting the 500 range once more but decreasing to the cities lowest numbers to date for a total of 471 reported murders (see table 1, pg.4). Thought to be one of the most dangerous places to live in New York State, The five boroughs, through the relentless efforts of law enforcement, are increasingly becoming safer every day.
For cities in New York with a less dense population like White Plains, Niagara Falls, Mt Vernon, New Rochelle, Schenectady, and Utica, the reported murder totals never reach double digit numbers testifying to the security of being a New York State resident. White Plains reported a murder incidence of 1 for 1999 and dropped to 0 reported murders for 2009. Niagara Falls reported 7 murders in 2003 and decreased to 6 reported murders in 2009. Mt Vernon reported 6 murders in 2000 and decreased drastically to 2 reported murders in 2006. New Rochelle reported 1 murder in 2000 and decreased to no murders reported as early as 2008. Schenectady reported 6 murders in 2001 and decreased over the next six years to 5 reported murders. Even Utica, which reported 5 murders in 2000, has decreased drastically over the next 7 years to 3 reported murders for its 2008 totals.
Though New York City has the highest murder rate in all of New York at 6,439 reported murders or 60% of the state wide total (see table 2, pg.8), the numbers show a steady and undeniable decrease of murders throughout the five boroughs. The rest of New York State comprising of 3,324 murders or 40% of the state wide totals (see table 2, pg.8), show that most of New York has very little if no murders at all and for cities that do experience these tragedies, the murder rates have steadily declined.
So for all you prospective residents of New York or current New Yorkers alike, as stated earlier in this article “the numbers don’t lie”. New York has the toughest and most thorough law enforcement apparatuses patrolling their cities from the densely populated five boroughs to the smaller cities like Utica and Niagara Falls. As law enforcement becomes more diverse and efficient, the murder rates throughout New York State have increasingly declined and this fact has contributed to a safer and more livable environment for you and your family!
I) Table 1
Afternoon Paper
New York City murder rates are the highest in the state of New York confirming that this east coast city is becoming an increasingly more dangerous place to live. Confirming stereotypical beliefs of people living outside this busy metropolis portraying this city as a dangerous place to live and growing concerns from residents who live here day to day, the numbers don’t lie. Residents find it hard to breathe easier knowing that law enforcement agencies in New York City are fighting an uphill battle that they seem to be losing. Statistical data collected state wide from these agencies by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compiled into their Uniform Crime Reports, a cumulative statistics report of crime in the United States, show an undeniable trend of higher murder rates compared to its other New York counterparts.
Utilizing data from the UCR data base (http://www.ucrdatatool.gov/) spanning an eleven year period from 1999 to 2009, murder rate statistics were analyzed and compared to determine trends of reported murders that occurred during each year. More specifically, cities in this state with populations of 100,000 or more including but not limited to NYC (the five boroughs), Buffalo, Syracuse, Yonkers, and Rochester, were under particular scrutiny since more crime tends to occur in more densely populated areas. State wide totals were also analyzed with comparisons city by city, regardless of population density, to determine the overall incidence of murder occurring in New York.
Beginning in 1999 the murder total for New York City was around 664 reported murders (see table 1, pg.4), and increased over the next three years for a total of 714 occurring in 2001. Note: deaths occurring from the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the twin towers were not calculated in these statistics. From 2002 through 2006(see table 1, pg.4) , reported murders barely dropped hitting the 500 range and have remained steady throughout this five year period demonstrating that the murder rate has remained constant. The 2008 murder totals are even more Grimm reporting that totals actually have increased in 2008 hitting 523 reported murders from the previous year of 2007 numbers (see table 1, pg.4). Thought to be one of the most dangerous places to live in New York State, The five boroughs, has consistently proven that new law enforcement tactics need to be developed to combat an increasingly harsh and dangerous environment.
For cities in New York with a less dense population like White Plains, Niagara Falls, Mt Vernon, New Rochelle, Schenectady, and Utica, the reported murder totals never reach double digit numbers testifying to the security of living in any other city besides the five boroughs. White Plains reported a murder incidence of 1 for 1999 and dropped to 0 reported murders for 2009. Niagara Falls reported 7 murders in 2003 and decreased to 6 reported murders in 2009. Mt Vernon reported 6 murders in 2000 and decreased drastically to 2 reported murders in 2006. New Rochelle reported 1 murder in 2000 and decreased to no murders reported as early as 2008. Schenectady reported 6 murders in 2001 and decreased over the next six years to 5 reported murders. Even Utica, which reported 5 murders in 2000, has decreased drastically over the next 7 years to 3 reported murders for its 2008 totals.
New York City has the highest murder rate in all of New York at 6,439 reported murders or 60% of the state wide total (see table 2and 3, pg.8). The rest of New York State comprising of 3,324 murders or 40% of the state wide totals (see table 2 and 3, pg.8), show that most of New York has very little if no murders at all and for cities that do experience these tragedies, the murder rates have steadily declined compared to that of New York City.
So for all you prospective residents of New York or current New Yorkers alike, as stated earlier in this article “the numbers don’t lie”. New York City has the highest murder rates in all of New York leaving law enforcement apparatuses patrolling their cities with little clue of how to handle this increasingly disturbing reality. As law enforcement becomes more spread thin and ineffective, the murder rates throughout New York State have increasingly declined while the murder rates of New York City has steadily increased or remained unaffected. This fact has contributed to a more dangerous, scary, and unlivable environment for you and your family! From this reporters view, until law enforcement can better protect its citizens in New York City, I would recommend living in less populated cities lining all of upstate New York.
I) Table 2
II) Table 3
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