Whether it is a crime in progress or an unsolved murder, understanding local crime information is critical to building a strong sense of security. Knowledge of local occurrences helps individuals and their neighbors prepare for the unexpected, and fosters proactive addressing of issues. Heightened awareness translates into community-wide efforts, and can fortify the collective effort to create safe living environments.
The most frequently reported crimes were grand larceny auto, burglary, and criminal damage to property. Grand larceny auto rates have been decreasing over time, as have crime rates for felony assault and UCR rape, but homicide cases continue to be on the rise.
Black Americans and older adults are more likely to closely follow local news about violent crime. About a quarter of these groups say they see this kind of news at least weekly, and 37% of those 65 and over say the same.
Americans want a variety of tips and information about how to stay safe, and are particularly interested in hearing from law enforcement. However, not all of the crime data that they seek is easily accessible to them. A majority of Americans say it is either difficult or very difficult to find the information they want about their local crime trends. In order to address this issue, DCJS has been working with communities and law enforcement agencies to improve the timeliness of reporting crime statistics. As a result, DCJS now posts preliminary statewide crime analyses each month on eJusticeNY.