JFP counters CL story about Jackson’s rising crime
Using FBI statistics that the agency warns not to take out of context, The Clarion-Ledger reported a 9.3 increase in violent crime for the Jackson area this morning.
“Each year when crime in the United States is published, some entities use reported figures to compile rankings of cities and counties,” the FBI warns in a pop-up window on its Web site. “These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular town, city, county, state or region. Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents.”
The FBI warns that valid assessments are possible “only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction,” and urges data users against comparing statistical data of individual reporting units from cities, metropolitan areas, states, or colleges or universities solely on the basis of their population coverage or student enrollment.
The paper reported the FBI statistics that show Jackson suffered a 9.3 percent increase in violent crime, from 1,512 reported incidences in 2007 to 1,652 in 2008. The statistics, garnered from Jackson Police Department reports, show the city also reported a 4.6 percent increase in property crime, with 13,035 incidences, with burglary leading the numbers. The city reported a 17-incident increase in homicides in 2008, recording 63 homicides over the 47 homicides reported in 2007.
Jackson Free Press
9/16/9
Magnolia Tribune
