Crime Reduction and Prevention Proposal

2

Criminal Profile & National Demographics For Phoenix, Arizona

By: Learning Team Members

Grace Acevedo, Terry Brigham, Mark Fekete, John Justiniano, Jennifer Reynoso,

University Of Phoenix Course: AJS #514

November 11, 2019

Instructor: Michael Callahan

Criminal Profile & National Demographics For Phoenix, Arizona

The likely hood of becoming a victim of crime within the U.S. State of Arizona will depend on where the illicit activity takes place and if it occurs within a troubled community that is well-known to law enforcement.

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, an annual uniform crime report was compiled to provide specific data targeting the nature and extent of crime throughout this southwestern state. This kind of statistical report is the culmination of a joint effort made by Arizona's state's law enforcement agencies to collect and organize criminal incidents. The information contained in this detailed report should provide a valuable overview of how bad the state's crime problem is.

City characterization in terms of the social and intellectual context

One major city affected by corruption in Arizona is “Phoenix which has a region that comprises a population of approximately 1.6 million as of July 2018.” (United States Census Bureau, 2019). “It includes diverse races such as Whites, African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders.” (United States Department of Labor, 2019).

In fact, there are multiple types of crimes that exist within this city's limits including assault, murder, rape, and robbery. Thefts are the highest number of reported crimes and are followed by property offenses. In Phoenix, crime is considered a vital issue, and law enforcement agencies have implemented a means of reversing such trends.

Social factors that contribute to crime

Per statistics provided by Phoenix Police Department's Annual Uniform Crime Report (UCR), “violent crimes, which include homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault have risen from 8,001 in 2010 to 12,115 in 2018, making a total of 4,114 more violent crimes in the eight-year span.”

In 2019, the UCR for Phoenix reports a total of “7,702 violent crimes by the third quarter. Property crimes by the third quarter of 2019, which include forcible entry, unlawful entry, attempted forcible entry, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson, are at an alarming 45,321 per the UCR.” (City of Phoenix, 2019).

Unlawful events and attitudes linked to criminal behavior

Additionally, the fact that the city's population expands each day contributes to an increase in criminal activities. One of the major factors that lead to increased crime rates in Phoenix, AZ, is the low levels of education in certain regions. Due to a decrease in educational percentages, many people are unemployed since they lack the right skills-set in handling various tasks.

Plus, the United States Department of Labor (2019), reports that “unemployed individuals engage in crime to cater to their primary needs.” Another factor is urbanization which is a social process that leads to different cultural mixes, and thus, people mutually exchange criminal theories.

Changes in land use, property values, transportation, and retail business

According to ArizonaCentral.com (2019), "land use and property values for Phoenix Arizona have reached an all-time high as population densities continue to grow. The median home values in the metropolitan area of Phoenix reached a record-high of $268,000, which shows significant improvements in employment, minimum wage and salary percentages, and city improvements. More upscale areas of Phoenix, such as Arcadia, boast a median home value of $680,000 and is only approximately 10 miles north-east of the Phoenix city limits on the border of Scottsdale. Other affordable and larger housing can be found approximately 41 miles west from the city limits of Phoenix, in the town of Buckeye."

The difference between the above-mentioned areas is sheer population densities. When compared, both the city population density map (2010) and the city crime map (2019) both show a significant concentration of crime in the highest concentration of population.

Transitional zones

As stated in the census count in 2018, “the city of Phoenix has a population of approximately 1,660,272 people. This does not attest to the surrounding suburbs, which bring the number up to 4.5 million people living in the Phoenix and Phoenix Metropolitan areas of Arizona State.”

Therefore, cities like Glendale and Scottsdale, which are both more of an upper-class suburb area of North Phoenix still have high crime rates in all criminal activities. Some of the "hot spots" for the Phoenix area for crime are North and Central Phoenix. Smaller surrounding cities like Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe are in the East Valley of Phoenix and have spotty areas as well.

Statistics on crime rates

Plus, compared to other major metropolises the national crime rates for this particular city fall between a thirty-seven point five percent for property crime and a fifty-two point four percent for violent unlawful acts out of a possible score of one hundred percent nationwide.

Research tools used to collect crime statistics

Furthermore, the percentages of crimes committed are effectively measured with the help of data marketing and visualization firm software called 1Point 21. Using this kind of interactive software will help to quantify the number of cities in Arizona (with populations over 10,000) as being the safest or can aid in determining which one’s are the most dangerous by looking at three key dimensions pertaining to:

· Crime

· Police Investment & Effective Strength

· Community Socioeconomic Factors

Moreover, by focusing on these kinds of specific criminological dimensions will allow for important data to be collected and analyzed using 14 different metrics. This kind of criminal research tool can help criminal justice agencies to target the most dangerous U.S cities by closely examining any trending social issues or consumer safety concerns.

Socioeconomic status in criminological theory

Likewise, most crimes committed in this state are by underage kids who are dealing with financial hardships. The majority of these juvenile arrests are for committing burglary or physical assault offenses. This seems to be a normal behavioral pattern exhibited among wayward youths who are looking to provide a steady source of income for families in need.

Crimes have taken place throughout estimated areas

Also, since Arizona is the sixth-largest U.S. state it measures 113,000 square miles and borders along Mexico which is vulnerable to narcotic violations and the trespassing of illegal immigrants. It is the first U.S. state to respond to drug trafficking crimes that continually impact over 20,000 local residences.

Conclusion

In closing, there have to be effective crime-fighting measures that are collectively eradicated from each U.S. state that will tackle unlawful acts head-on. Especially, if bordering communities are willing to mutually work together to get rid of crime. Otherwise, corruptive acts will continue to take place throughout the country and continue to spread to a point of no return.

Reference

Arizona State Justice Planning Agency. (1977). Crime In Arizona - An Overview. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/44108NCJRS.pdf

The City of Phoenix. (2019). Crime Statistics and Maps. Retrieved from https://www.phoenix.gov/police/neighborhood-resources/crime-stats-maps

City of Phoenix Population Density Per Square Mile (2010). Retrieved from https://www.phoenix.gov/pddsite/Documents/PZ/pdd_pz_pdf_00181.pdf#search=population

KPNX-TV. (2019). City-Data Shows the Five Blocks in Phoenix with the Most Crime. Retrieved from https://www.12news.com/article/news/crime/city-data-shows-the-five-blocks-in-phoenix-with-the-most-crime/75-3d97fec5-e341-423d-b647-c7e50edb7761

Metro Phoenix home prices are set to hit a new record. Here's where buyers may find deals (2019). Retrieved from https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/real-estate/catherine-reagor/2019/04/29/2018-home-values-metro-phoenix-and-what-expect-2019-arizona-data/3565501002/

Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics: 2000 (2010). Retrieved from https://www.phoenix.gov/pddsite/Documents/PZ/pdd_pz_pdf_00199.pdf

United States Census Bureau. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/search-

results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Phoenix%20city,%20AZ

United States Department of Labor. (2019). Phoenix: Western Information Office: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/az_phoenix_msa.htm

United States Department of Labor. (2019). Arizona Economy at a Glance. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.az.htm