IRVINE (CNS) - A study released today by a UC Irvine professor offers statistics to back critics of the proposal to reduce the state prison population by up to 27,000 prisoners
UC Irvine criminologist John Hipp's study showed that crime shoots up in some neighborhoods when parolees are released. Hipp said his study is the first time researchers have analyzed monthly crime statistics in correlation with parolee releases in specific neighborhoods.
The report, which studied neighborhoods in Sacramento because it is a good sample of economic and ethnic demographics, showed that if the parolees have violent backgrounds, murder rates increase. The same is true of reports of aggravated assault, robbery and burglary, according to Hipp.
However, the crime rates decrease when parolees move back into solid, longtime neighborhoods and neighborhoods where there are organizations available to provide the kinds of services parolees need to rebuild their lives and stay out of trouble, Hipp said.
``The study looked at Sacramento over a four-year period and it was a real fine-grained thing looking at the monthly change in the number of parolees going back to neighborhoods and the crime rates in those neighborhoods,'' Hipp said.
``What we were trying to do is pull it all apart and see month to month as the parolees go back into the neighborhoods do we see a change in crime.''
The prison-release plan was already a hot topic of debate in the state capital, but it grew even more intense when Phillip Garrido, a parolee and registered sex offender accused of abducting Jaycee Dugard when she was 11 years old and holding her hostage for 18 years, came to light.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today asked a three-judge panel ordering California to reduce its inmate population over the next two years by more than 40,000 to stay its order. If the judges refuse, Schwarzenegger's administration will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.
The prison system is under a federal consent decree to reduce the number of inmates because it is so overcrowded prisoners' civil rights are being violated.
Schwarzenegger backs legislation to reduce the inmate population by about 37,000 over the next couple of years by sending more convicts to county jails or ordering more home confinement. The Assembly passed a bill Monday slashing prison spending by about $1 billion, but it excised a Senate bill's proposed release of older prisoners.
``It's a tough situation to be in to have to release people,'' Hipp said. ``In some ways it's an obvious thing: If you're stuck then release them, but be careful who you release. Don't just do it across the board. And it goes the other way. Who do we slam in prison with our limited resources? We need to be more selective.''
Hipp advised officials to make sure parolees have social safety nets when they get out of prison.
``If they're coming back to the neighborhoods then we should help them as much as we can. For our findings, that did make a difference,'' he said.
In an average month, researchers found more than an 8 percent rise in aggravated assault reports, a 20 percent increase in robbery reports and a nearly 10 percent bump in burglary reports correlating with increases in the parolee population. When violent parolees returned to the neighborhoods murder rates jumped up 20 percent.
Showing posts with label data. Show all posts
Showing posts with label data. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Breaking News: Young People Don't Vote
Americans the ages of 18- and 25 are not involved in political activities so they are less likely to vote in elections, said Deputy District Director of Los Angeles John Bwarie in a telephone interview.
“It’s concerning that a lot of people in that age group don’t have the time to participate … or do not know a lot about the issues,” said Bwarie, who is a staff member for Los Angeles Council member Greig Smith, who represents the 12th district.
To combat this growing concern, Bwarie said, Smith and his staff began hosting four annual community events in the San Fernando Valley (SFV)and working with California State University, Northridge organizations to help create political awareness.
“The last event we had back in April got about a couple hundred people, which is encouraging,” said Bwarie.
“There is another event scheduled in November, and myself and council member Smith are anticipating a higher amount [of participation] because we’re getting closer to the presidential elections, said Bwarie.
In addition to hosting events, Councilman Smith and his staff is giving speeches on various school campuses in the SFV, predominately high schools, said Bwarie.
One of the things Bwarie is banking is the advancement of technology to lure people to the polls.
The increased usage of technology by young people is causing a disconnect between political participation because the Internet creates a sense of immediacy and people don’t realize how these issues affect them, he said.
Another problem is that young Americans are less likely to vote, so if they don’t vote chances are they aren’t participating in other political arenas, said Bwarie.
It seems Bwarie has the stats to back his claims.
In a “fact sheet,” The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) reported that in 2006 youth voter (18-25) turnout was approximately 24 percent based on the 2006 National Election Pool’s National Exit Poll.
CIRCLE reported that there is close to 27 million citizens in that age bracket.
In California, the percentage was less than 24, according to the fact sheet.
Exit polls are the only method of estimating youth voter turnout and updated information will be available in November when the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey is released.
Among 18-24 year old voters, Minnesota had the highest youth voter turnout with approximately 69 percent compared to 45 percent of California voter turnout and 36 percent of Arkansas, which was the lowest, in the 2004 presidential elections, reported by CIRCLE’s state by state comparison of young people who vote.
CIRCLE does research on the civic and political engagement of Americans between the ages of 15 and 25.
“The main ways to improve upon turnout numbers is to create more awareness,” said Bwarie.
Bwarie, 28, has been working for Councilman Smith for over two years and started working in politics at age 22, he said, because he wants to affect change in his community.
Bwarie is optimistic that by continuing organizing community events and speaking to young voters, that turnout numbers will rise, he said.
###
“It’s concerning that a lot of people in that age group don’t have the time to participate … or do not know a lot about the issues,” said Bwarie, who is a staff member for Los Angeles Council member Greig Smith, who represents the 12th district.
To combat this growing concern, Bwarie said, Smith and his staff began hosting four annual community events in the San Fernando Valley (SFV)and working with California State University, Northridge organizations to help create political awareness.
“The last event we had back in April got about a couple hundred people, which is encouraging,” said Bwarie.
“There is another event scheduled in November, and myself and council member Smith are anticipating a higher amount [of participation] because we’re getting closer to the presidential elections, said Bwarie.
In addition to hosting events, Councilman Smith and his staff is giving speeches on various school campuses in the SFV, predominately high schools, said Bwarie.
One of the things Bwarie is banking is the advancement of technology to lure people to the polls.
The increased usage of technology by young people is causing a disconnect between political participation because the Internet creates a sense of immediacy and people don’t realize how these issues affect them, he said.
Another problem is that young Americans are less likely to vote, so if they don’t vote chances are they aren’t participating in other political arenas, said Bwarie.
It seems Bwarie has the stats to back his claims.
In a “fact sheet,” The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) reported that in 2006 youth voter (18-25) turnout was approximately 24 percent based on the 2006 National Election Pool’s National Exit Poll.
CIRCLE reported that there is close to 27 million citizens in that age bracket.
In California, the percentage was less than 24, according to the fact sheet.
Exit polls are the only method of estimating youth voter turnout and updated information will be available in November when the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey is released.
Among 18-24 year old voters, Minnesota had the highest youth voter turnout with approximately 69 percent compared to 45 percent of California voter turnout and 36 percent of Arkansas, which was the lowest, in the 2004 presidential elections, reported by CIRCLE’s state by state comparison of young people who vote.
CIRCLE does research on the civic and political engagement of Americans between the ages of 15 and 25.
“The main ways to improve upon turnout numbers is to create more awareness,” said Bwarie.
Bwarie, 28, has been working for Councilman Smith for over two years and started working in politics at age 22, he said, because he wants to affect change in his community.
Bwarie is optimistic that by continuing organizing community events and speaking to young voters, that turnout numbers will rise, he said.
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