NeighborhoodScout.com is a tool that breaks down crime per neighborhood in a specific city to assist people in buying real estate. It shows crime data and compares it to state and national media stats.
According to the website, Columbia has a higher rate per 1,000 people than most cities it's size and it more dangerous than many other communities in the state per capita.
In Columbia, there are twice as many murders and twice the number of assaults than the national median. The number of rapes and robberies are significantly higher than the national median as well.
The website goes on to show many more stats and a map showing which areas have the highest crime.
Full Website with Stats
Even though this is a very useful tool, I am concerned about the validity. However, I still think it's somewhat accurate and can be used a very basic guide.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Misleading Crime Statistics
I found a website that shows crime rates and statistics of South Carolina from 1960-2010. Some of the numbers displayed are pretty shocking. But remembering what we talked about in class about misleading statistics I decided to check to see what could possibly skew the results.
Although the crime rates for almost every type of crime show pretty significant growth throughout those 50 years, the reader must remember and look at how the population of South Carolina has grown by a million. The more people around the more crimes that will take place.
Although the crime rates for almost every type of crime show pretty significant growth throughout those 50 years, the reader must remember and look at how the population of South Carolina has grown by a million. The more people around the more crimes that will take place.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Serivce Learning Opprotunity
My group for crime in the city plans to fulfill our service learning requirement by hopefully working with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. One of the best way to prevent crime on the street can be to help make a difference to the future. Teaching and mentoring young juveniles can be an essential part to helping with stopping crime.
They offer tons of different volunteer opportunities such as being a mentor, tutor, teen after school center, providing spiritual guidance, and several others. The department's website gives information about how each of these programs can actually help the kids in different ways. Each program has its unique benefits. The one that i think would be the best for our group and most benefical for the kids is the after school program.
I hope to contact the department and get more information about the whole department but specifically the teen after school center.
Taylor Fritsch
They offer tons of different volunteer opportunities such as being a mentor, tutor, teen after school center, providing spiritual guidance, and several others. The department's website gives information about how each of these programs can actually help the kids in different ways. Each program has its unique benefits. The one that i think would be the best for our group and most benefical for the kids is the after school program.
I hope to contact the department and get more information about the whole department but specifically the teen after school center.
Taylor Fritsch
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Police Officer Charged for Prostitution
One of our Columbia police officers was found at an EconoLodge with a well-known prostitute on Two Notch Road. The officer is 32 year old Mark Cornish. He was at the motel with a 17 year old girl who was charged with prostitution. Cornish was in uniform and fled the scene in his patrol car when deputies arrived. He had been with Columbia P.D. for two years.
It's always an issue when law enforcement breaks the law. While the police chief issued a statement to the media claiming that they will handle this situation fairly, it's hard to say what will really happen. He may get off easier than an offender who was not affiliated with police force would.
It's important that the officer is charged appropriately and not leniently due to his job status and possible connections. It's also important that our city gets help for the young girl and other girls like her. Increased opportunities for young women to make money and awareness about sexual health may deter women from prostituting themselves. She needs to get tested for STDs and HIV immediately. Since she is so young, there is hope that her life may get turned around if proper resources can help her to do better rather than just punishing her.
Full News Story
It's always an issue when law enforcement breaks the law. While the police chief issued a statement to the media claiming that they will handle this situation fairly, it's hard to say what will really happen. He may get off easier than an offender who was not affiliated with police force would.
It's important that the officer is charged appropriately and not leniently due to his job status and possible connections. It's also important that our city gets help for the young girl and other girls like her. Increased opportunities for young women to make money and awareness about sexual health may deter women from prostituting themselves. She needs to get tested for STDs and HIV immediately. Since she is so young, there is hope that her life may get turned around if proper resources can help her to do better rather than just punishing her.
Full News Story
Monday, October 17, 2011
Purse Thief in Columbia
In Columbia, SC on October 12th
"a man tried to steal her purse through her open window after she finished placing grocery bags in the trunk of her car.
When the victim resisted the purse snatching, she told police the man pointed a handgun at her. The victim immediately stopped resisting, and Scott said the suspect stole her purse then ran to a getaway car. The victim was not hurt during the incident."
People are unbelievably desperate these days. Snatching an innocent ladies purse though? COME ON
Maybe we all need to carry guns when we go to Wal-Mart, or even a police escort because this has been an occurring theme in the nation.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Baby in Hospital After Abuse
A couple has been charged with abusing a two month old baby girl in Lexington county. The article did not indicate the exact relationship between the child and the guardians, but assumptions have been made that it was the child's mother and father who abused her. They brought her into the hospital for an unrelated medical problem where the doctors found that she had broken ribs and some brain trauma, consistent with repetitive, physical abuse.
The most apparent social problem with this article is child abuse. In our country there are many resources to help prevent child abuse and programs in place for this issue. However, it still occurs and the children are often emotionally and/or physically damaged for life. The abusers typically get prison sentence and then the case is closed. Parents are harming their children, getting caught, then going to jail creating dysfunction for their children and relying on the state to take care of all parties involved.
The solution to preventing this from reoccurring is unclear. Even with safe haven laws, state-funded programs to help at-risk abuse families, and abuse tip lines, children are still abused and parents still get away with committing this abuse.
Full News Story
The most apparent social problem with this article is child abuse. In our country there are many resources to help prevent child abuse and programs in place for this issue. However, it still occurs and the children are often emotionally and/or physically damaged for life. The abusers typically get prison sentence and then the case is closed. Parents are harming their children, getting caught, then going to jail creating dysfunction for their children and relying on the state to take care of all parties involved.
The solution to preventing this from reoccurring is unclear. Even with safe haven laws, state-funded programs to help at-risk abuse families, and abuse tip lines, children are still abused and parents still get away with committing this abuse.
Full News Story
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Camera Footage in Five Points
With about 100 cameras in Five Points, nearly every action is caught on surveillance. This has helped lead to identifying and the capture of many suspects in property and violent crimes.
Recently, there was a fight where the media sought to obtain the footage to release to the public in efforts of finding the perps. This brought up an unforeseen issue; who owns the footage?
The cameras were put into place with revenue from the Five Points Association, City of Columbia, and donations from Statewide Security Systems. Statewide is a local security camera business and the owner Carey Shealy donated a retail value of $50,000 worth of cameras. With a monthly fee, Five Points Association pays Statewide to maintain the cameras and the footage.
In all technicality, Shealy owns the rights to all footage because he owns the cameras. The issue here is whether he should be required to hand over the footage and to whom he should give the footage. In the past he has been very helpful and willing to give any of the surveillance to the cops as they saw necessary. However, he has not always released it straight to the press.
There has been many articles and circulating questions as to whether these cameras are necessary, if they really help deter crime, and if they can help find criminals.
Many people visiting Five Points at night already feel unsafe and it's important that these cameras capture crimes, especially violent ones. However, I feel that the City of Columbia should own all rights to the surveillance and not the owner of the company. It's too risky to think that Shealy may one day decide to not comply with cops request to view the footage to help solve a crime.
Full News Story
Recently, there was a fight where the media sought to obtain the footage to release to the public in efforts of finding the perps. This brought up an unforeseen issue; who owns the footage?
The cameras were put into place with revenue from the Five Points Association, City of Columbia, and donations from Statewide Security Systems. Statewide is a local security camera business and the owner Carey Shealy donated a retail value of $50,000 worth of cameras. With a monthly fee, Five Points Association pays Statewide to maintain the cameras and the footage.
In all technicality, Shealy owns the rights to all footage because he owns the cameras. The issue here is whether he should be required to hand over the footage and to whom he should give the footage. In the past he has been very helpful and willing to give any of the surveillance to the cops as they saw necessary. However, he has not always released it straight to the press.
There has been many articles and circulating questions as to whether these cameras are necessary, if they really help deter crime, and if they can help find criminals.
Many people visiting Five Points at night already feel unsafe and it's important that these cameras capture crimes, especially violent ones. However, I feel that the City of Columbia should own all rights to the surveillance and not the owner of the company. It's too risky to think that Shealy may one day decide to not comply with cops request to view the footage to help solve a crime.
Full News Story
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Man Charged With Burglary, Breaking and Entering
A 22-years-old man faces charges of burglary/breaking and entering in connection with an incident earlier this month, the richland County Sheriff's Department announced. David Ferguson was arrested at the Winndboro home of a family member around 12:30 p.m. Thursday based on a community tip on his whereabouts, according to a news release. Furguson faces charges in connection with an early moring break in Sept. 16 at a Palmetto Spring Drive home, which a computer montior, computer keyboard and digital camera were stolen, according to the Sheriff's Department. The suspect stole things that he could possible take to the pawn shop and get some quick money off of it. Rather than stealing things that would attract alot of attention from the cashier. He may of not had a job or was running low on money so he wanted to put a few dollars in his pocket. He may not of had family memebers that could support his needs or he could be living on his own.
A 22-years-old man faces charges of burglary/breaking and entering in connection with an incident earlier this month, the richland County Sheriff's Department announced. David Ferguson was arrested at the Winndboro home of a family member around 12:30 p.m. Thursday based on a community tip on his whereabouts, according to a news release. Furguson faces charges in connection with an early moring break in Sept. 16 at a Palmetto Spring Drive home, which a computer montior, computer keyboard and digital camera were stolen, according to the Sheriff's Department. The suspect stole things that he could possible take to the pawn shop and get some quick money off of it. Rather than stealing things that would attract alot of attention from the cashier. He may of not had a job or was running low on money so he wanted to put a few dollars in his pocket. He may not of had family memebers that could support his needs or he could be living on his own.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Man Murdered Over Drugs
In Lexington County, a man was shot and killed at his house by two men trying to rob him. Allegedly the suspects were trying to steal money and crack from the man whom they regularly bought drugs from. The suspects are in custody and charged with armed robbery and murder.
This story reflects many problems in our society. First and most obviously, we have a big problem with gun crimes. It's been the highest among industrialized countries. It's also very clear that many people have problems with drug addiction. These men killed their drug dealer to get a fix. These men really just needed help to get clean, get a job, and make a good life. However, they will be in prison for the rest of their lives instead. Which brings up another point, the high incarceration rates of our country. Again, our country has some of the highest incarceration rates out of the most industrialized countries in the world.
These social problems are all interconnected. Drugs, violence, the environment, and our society perpetuates crime. We need to find better ways to prevent people from being criminals rather than waiting until they already are and serving them with punishment. It's a continual vicious cycle.
Full News Story
This story reflects many problems in our society. First and most obviously, we have a big problem with gun crimes. It's been the highest among industrialized countries. It's also very clear that many people have problems with drug addiction. These men killed their drug dealer to get a fix. These men really just needed help to get clean, get a job, and make a good life. However, they will be in prison for the rest of their lives instead. Which brings up another point, the high incarceration rates of our country. Again, our country has some of the highest incarceration rates out of the most industrialized countries in the world.
These social problems are all interconnected. Drugs, violence, the environment, and our society perpetuates crime. We need to find better ways to prevent people from being criminals rather than waiting until they already are and serving them with punishment. It's a continual vicious cycle.
Full News Story
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