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Thursday, September 25, 2014
ENP STAFF REPORTS
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ALBANY — New York State leads the nation in reducing both crime and incarceration rates over the past two decades, according to research recently published by The PEW Charitable Trusts.
The study, based on data from the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI, shows that New York’s imprisonment rate has dropped 24 percent since 1994 and that the crime rate also declined dramatically during the same timeframe, by 54 percent. Additionally, for 2013 the New York crime rate reached an all-time low with a continued decline in the first six months of 2014.
“With the lowest crime rate in 20 years – alongside a dramatic drop in the number of people incarcerated in State prisons – New York is a true example of how safety and fairness can coexist,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “I am proud to see New York State achieving these record results, and this administration will continue our work to make New York the safest possible place to live, work and raise a family.”
In 1994, the prison population in New York was 66,750. At the end of 2012, 54,865 individuals were under custody in state prisons. The prison population reached an all-time high of 72,649 in 1999, but today it stands at a 25-year low, with 53,692 individuals incarcerated—a 26 percent decrease.
New York State has also experienced a significant decrease in the number of reported crimes. From 1990 through 2012, the state saw crime drop 62 percent, driven by a 73 percent decrease in New York City. In 2012, New York State was the safest large state in the nation, and the third safest overall, behind only Idaho and North Dakota, according to data compiled by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.
The reduction in the prison population is due entirely to a decrease in the number of nonviolent drug offenders who are in prison. The number of drug offenders has declined by 70 percent. Today, there are 6,834 drug offenders incarcerated in New York State, as compared with the all-time high of 23,511 in 1996. Violent offenders now make up nearly two-thirds of the prison population.
That dramatic reduction in drug commitments was due to fewer felony drug arrests, major reforms of the drug laws which required mandatory sentences for drug offenders, as well as increased use of alternative to incarceration programs and problem-solving courts for many defendants.
Preliminary data shows that crime in New York State reached an all-time low in 2013, with 430,916 index crimes reported. Seven index crimes are used by the state and FBI to monitor overall crime trends. Four index crimes are classified as violent: murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault, and three are classified as property: burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. Every single category of index crime declined from 2012 to 2013.
That downward trend has continued through the first six months of 2014, with reported crime down 5.5 percent as compared to January through June 2013. New York State’s success in reducing crime cannot be attributed to any one program or initiative, rather, it is the result of the collective efforts of criminal justice professionals and policy makers at all levels of government.
“Prison and Crime: A Complex Link” analyzed incarceration rates and crime rates nationwide from 1994 through 2012. While New York State leads the nation in reducing those rates, it is not alone: the study also notes that the drop in crime rate has been bigger in states that also reduced their imprisonment rates.
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| Gov. Andrew Cuomo |
The study, based on data from the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI, shows that New York’s imprisonment rate has dropped 24 percent since 1994 and that the crime rate also declined dramatically during the same timeframe, by 54 percent. Additionally, for 2013 the New York crime rate reached an all-time low with a continued decline in the first six months of 2014.
“With the lowest crime rate in 20 years – alongside a dramatic drop in the number of people incarcerated in State prisons – New York is a true example of how safety and fairness can coexist,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “I am proud to see New York State achieving these record results, and this administration will continue our work to make New York the safest possible place to live, work and raise a family.”
In 1994, the prison population in New York was 66,750. At the end of 2012, 54,865 individuals were under custody in state prisons. The prison population reached an all-time high of 72,649 in 1999, but today it stands at a 25-year low, with 53,692 individuals incarcerated—a 26 percent decrease.
New York State has also experienced a significant decrease in the number of reported crimes. From 1990 through 2012, the state saw crime drop 62 percent, driven by a 73 percent decrease in New York City. In 2012, New York State was the safest large state in the nation, and the third safest overall, behind only Idaho and North Dakota, according to data compiled by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.
The reduction in the prison population is due entirely to a decrease in the number of nonviolent drug offenders who are in prison. The number of drug offenders has declined by 70 percent. Today, there are 6,834 drug offenders incarcerated in New York State, as compared with the all-time high of 23,511 in 1996. Violent offenders now make up nearly two-thirds of the prison population.
That dramatic reduction in drug commitments was due to fewer felony drug arrests, major reforms of the drug laws which required mandatory sentences for drug offenders, as well as increased use of alternative to incarceration programs and problem-solving courts for many defendants.
Preliminary data shows that crime in New York State reached an all-time low in 2013, with 430,916 index crimes reported. Seven index crimes are used by the state and FBI to monitor overall crime trends. Four index crimes are classified as violent: murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault, and three are classified as property: burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. Every single category of index crime declined from 2012 to 2013.
That downward trend has continued through the first six months of 2014, with reported crime down 5.5 percent as compared to January through June 2013. New York State’s success in reducing crime cannot be attributed to any one program or initiative, rather, it is the result of the collective efforts of criminal justice professionals and policy makers at all levels of government.
“Prison and Crime: A Complex Link” analyzed incarceration rates and crime rates nationwide from 1994 through 2012. While New York State leads the nation in reducing those rates, it is not alone: the study also notes that the drop in crime rate has been bigger in states that also reduced their imprisonment rates.
Send an email to news@eastniagarapost.com with "email update" in the subject line.
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they say crime dropped, yet read the police reports...
ReplyDeleteIF the crime actually dropped, why did we "URGENTLY NEED THE SAFE ACT" (also despite the drop in gun crimes over the lest 10 years)
And the biggest part, the "less in jails", my guess, atleast around niagara county, mainly lockport, is because the cops here couldnt solve a game of clue with an 8 year old, or even find a fart in a closet.
Just my thoughts