With the FBI’s release of new crime statistics, it’s raising concerns about how accurately the numbers reflect the real state of crime in the country, because big cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York failed to provide crime data.
“As with the collection of any data (disease, product safety, etc.), crime data helps us determine trends as well as effectiveness of prevention, deterrent and judicial policies,” Nina Salarno Besselman, president of Crime Victims United, an advocacy group based in Auburn, told the Northern California Record by email.
“When big cities fail to keep such data, its absence represents not only a large piece of vital information for that community itself, but for our state as a whole, and also hinders our nation when conducting comparative analyses to establish trends,” Salarno said. “In addition, at a time when California voters are demanding transparency, especially from our police, failing to keep crime data seems contradictory at best, and hypocritical at worst.”
Salarno noted that having current crime data will help those in the position to analyze such data to more accurately determine how current policies are impacting crime numbers, whether up or down.
“And thus, guide those in policy-making positions to modify their approach, as necessary,” Salarno said. “Without data, it’s a guessing game.”
It’s not known yet how bills just passed in Sacramento will impact crime here.
“Actually, I would say that the State Legislature has been passing (or failing to pass) many more laws that have led to more crime, not less, despite many opportunities to do otherwise,” Salarno said. “This includes bills that reduce sentences for violent criminals and refuse to classify crimes like rape of an unconscious person or human trafficking as violent crimes.”
Going forward, there needs to be greater emphasis on holding criminals accountable for their actions, Salarno said.
“Which includes serving the full sentences that have been handed down by a jury of their peers – and ending early release for supposed ‘good time’ credits that are given for doing nothing more than behaving like a normal human being,” Salarno said. “That’s not special, that’s the baseline.”
It remains unclear why data on crimes here wasn’t supplied to the FBI.
“The most important thing for people to know is that those upon whom a crime is committed is called a victim,” Salarno said. “Those who commit the crimes are called criminals. There are groups out there trying to convince us that the criminals are the victims. It’s sad and offensive. Just please, be on the lookout for wolves in sheep’s clothing. And everyone, please stay safe.”