From The Deseret News http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,160006818,00.html?
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Crime declines by 7.2% in Utah
By Amy Joi Bryson Deseret News staff writer
Despite a burgeoning population and nagging drug problem, Utah's overall crime in 1999 was down from 1998, and the state is enjoying its lowest murder rate in 21 years.
In annual statistics released Tuesday by Gov. Mike Leavitt, figures show index crimes dropped 7.2 percent from 1998, representing the second consecutive year crime has dropped. Index crimes range from property crimes like simple shoplifting and auto theft to violent crimes like aggravated assault and homicide.
The murder rate, Leavitt said, is the lowest it has been since 1978, with 43 homicides logged in 1999.
"These numbers demonstrate Utah's systemwide effort to reduce crime is working," Leavitt said.
The numbers, compiled annually and released Tuesday morning at a press conference, are the basis for Crime in Utah 1999, which is researched by the Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Identification. Widely available to law enforcement agencies, others in the criminal justice profession and the media, the report for the first time is available to all Utah residents through its posting on a Web site. The entire report can be seen at www.bci.state.ut.us/crimebook/CIU99/ciu.htm. Other statistics praised by Leavitt included a 23.3 percent overall decrease in juvenile crime and a sharp reduction in violent juvenile crime, 27 percent.
The state also had decreases in these categories from 1998:
Murder, down 29.5 percent.
Rape, down 8 percent.
Robbery, down 18.2 percent.
Aggravated assault, down 8. 7 percent.
Burglary, down 11.4 percent.
Theft, down 6.2 percent.
Motor vehicle theft, down 4.7 percent.
Arson, down 15 percent.
In addition to the state's robust economy, Leavitt credited a proactive team of law enforcement, prosecutors, the courts and the prison system in the successful effort to reduce crime.
"This is good news for every Utahn, but there is still work to be done." Specifically, Utah needs to tackle a persistent drug problem that often feeds property crime rates because users break the law to feed their habit.
"The next frontier has to be drugs," Leavitt said.
"This is a generation-long fight. We must never give up."
Specifically, Leavitt said the implementation of drug court statewide will help in the battle against drugs by helping addicts stay clean and not re-offend.
The goal, Leavitt said, is to reduce Utah's rate of substance abuse by one-half by targeting three distinct groups of users: the incarcerated, those on public assistance and juveniles.
"We have to continue our aggressive posture with drugs," said Utah Public Safety Commissioner Craig Dearden.
Dearden said that while Utah has experienced a slight decrease in its number of meth labs, other drugs are starting to make a comeback, including LSD.
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Leavitt credits law enforcement, prosecutors, the courts and the prison system for this decrease in crime. Never once does the article mention that Utah's shall issue concealed carry law went into effect 5 years ago. Crime rates have dropped, exactly the way that John Lott's reasearch says they will after a concealed carry law is enacted.
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Crime declines by 7.2% in Utah
By Amy Joi Bryson Deseret News staff writer
Despite a burgeoning population and nagging drug problem, Utah's overall crime in 1999 was down from 1998, and the state is enjoying its lowest murder rate in 21 years.
In annual statistics released Tuesday by Gov. Mike Leavitt, figures show index crimes dropped 7.2 percent from 1998, representing the second consecutive year crime has dropped. Index crimes range from property crimes like simple shoplifting and auto theft to violent crimes like aggravated assault and homicide.
The murder rate, Leavitt said, is the lowest it has been since 1978, with 43 homicides logged in 1999.
"These numbers demonstrate Utah's systemwide effort to reduce crime is working," Leavitt said.
The numbers, compiled annually and released Tuesday morning at a press conference, are the basis for Crime in Utah 1999, which is researched by the Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Identification. Widely available to law enforcement agencies, others in the criminal justice profession and the media, the report for the first time is available to all Utah residents through its posting on a Web site. The entire report can be seen at www.bci.state.ut.us/crimebook/CIU99/ciu.htm. Other statistics praised by Leavitt included a 23.3 percent overall decrease in juvenile crime and a sharp reduction in violent juvenile crime, 27 percent.
The state also had decreases in these categories from 1998:
Murder, down 29.5 percent.
Rape, down 8 percent.
Robbery, down 18.2 percent.
Aggravated assault, down 8. 7 percent.
Burglary, down 11.4 percent.
Theft, down 6.2 percent.
Motor vehicle theft, down 4.7 percent.
Arson, down 15 percent.
In addition to the state's robust economy, Leavitt credited a proactive team of law enforcement, prosecutors, the courts and the prison system in the successful effort to reduce crime.
"This is good news for every Utahn, but there is still work to be done." Specifically, Utah needs to tackle a persistent drug problem that often feeds property crime rates because users break the law to feed their habit.
"The next frontier has to be drugs," Leavitt said.
"This is a generation-long fight. We must never give up."
Specifically, Leavitt said the implementation of drug court statewide will help in the battle against drugs by helping addicts stay clean and not re-offend.
The goal, Leavitt said, is to reduce Utah's rate of substance abuse by one-half by targeting three distinct groups of users: the incarcerated, those on public assistance and juveniles.
"We have to continue our aggressive posture with drugs," said Utah Public Safety Commissioner Craig Dearden.
Dearden said that while Utah has experienced a slight decrease in its number of meth labs, other drugs are starting to make a comeback, including LSD.
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Leavitt credits law enforcement, prosecutors, the courts and the prison system for this decrease in crime. Never once does the article mention that Utah's shall issue concealed carry law went into effect 5 years ago. Crime rates have dropped, exactly the way that John Lott's reasearch says they will after a concealed carry law is enacted.
