Jackson Free Press

Jackson has lunged out of the "Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities" to No. 16, according to just-released 10th annual Morgan Quitno Press "most dangerous city" rankings for 2002. Using M-Q's standards, the city of Jackson made gains in 2002 over 2001 relative to other U.S. cities based on overall FBI crime figures, moving up six spots in the new rankings from the No. 10 spot (framed as "in the top 10" by key Republican candidates in the 2003 election) in the group's 2001 rankings.

Southern cities routinely crowd the top tier of the "most dangerous" list. This year, Memphis (No. 11), North Charleston, N.C. (No. 12), New Orleans (No. 13) and Washington, D.C., (No. 4) were among the cities that, in the course of a year, are now considered more dangerous than Jackson. Detroit, St. Louis and Atlanta are the three most dangerous; Amherst, N.Y., is the least.

Jackson also showed minor improvement when compared to cities with populations from 100,000 to 499,999. In that list, we moved from No. 6 to No. 8.

Jackson's current ranking is moving toward its best showing since Morgan Quitno began the city rankings for 1995 crimes. That year, Jackson was the 13th most dangerous, falling to 17th in 1996, then to 21st in 1997. It rose to 13th in 1998, came in 11th for 1999, and wasn't ranked for 2000 (reliable figures weren't available).

Curiously, the 16th most dangerous city remains in the fourth most dangerous metropolitan area, as an apparent increase in suburban crime pulled Jackson's ranking down, according to M-Q. In the 10th annual rankings, the Jackson Metro held steady at the No. 4 spot despite Jackson's statistical improvements, moving from No. 8 in 1997 to No. 5 in 1999 and No. 4 in 2001. Pine Bluff, Ark., replaced the Memphis metro as the most dangerous. Memphis' metro didn't appear on the list for 2002 at all, suggesting that region may have had a reporting glitch.

Some criminal-justice experts frown on Morgan-Quitno rankings, conducted by a book-publishing company in Lawrence, Kan. The methodology doesn't weigh the violence of a felony (a non-violent auto theft equals a murder in this survey), and it reports nothing about cities and metros that do not accurately self-report crime statistics.

But the change does represent at least a P.R. victory for the city, as Jackson's "top 10" rating for 2001 was trumpeted by critics since the last survey was released a year ago. A glossy mailer Gov.-Elect Haley Barbour sent out in October warned: "Jackson is one of the 10 most dangerous cities in America." The flyer attributed the ranking to Morgan Quitno but wrongly stated that the numbers were for 2002. Hinds D.A. candidate Wilson Carroll opened his campaign against incumbent Faye Peterson (who took office halfway into 2001), with a warning that the city surely had gotten more dangerous since the rankings came out, declaring, "It is entirely possible that Jackson, Mississippi, today is the most dangerous city in America." According to M-Q, this isn't the case.

Mayor Harvey Johnson downplayed the survey but emphasized that it should suggest that Jackson is becoming safer. "I'm pleased to be moving in the right direction, it appears. I want people to feel safe and not pay so much attention to the numbers; safety is what we're aiming for," he told the JFP.

Earlier this year, Morgan Quitno announced that Mississippi as a whole is the 14th most dangerous state, reflecting a steady slide from its ranking as the 18th safest state in 1994. The current rankings mark the first time, other than in 1997, when the city of Jackson has garnered a higher safety rating than the state.

On another of Morgan Quitno's scales, Mississippi is also the "least livable state," where we have placed since 1999. (The state was No. 49 for four years prior.) We have also earned the distinction of �least healthy state� for the last four years.

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Read a JFP story about the use of Morgan Quitno numbers during the 2003 elections.

See the JFP crime archive.

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Previous Commentsshow

OK, all, what's missing from The Clarion-Ledger's front-page story this morning following up this piece about the new Morgan Quitno rankings? It *never* mentions that Jackson was No. 10 in the last round (or that the Metro was No. 4 then, too). Is it really *not news* when the city of Jackson improves on a set of rankings that The Clarion-Ledger itself excoriated the city for last year, not to mention the governor and a prominent D.A. campaign? Or, is it only news when the city fares worse in the rankings? http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0312/12/m03.html This is a perfect example of what the journalism "Best Practices" mean when they talk about context. Where is the context, Clarion-Ledger? If the paper is going to put out a story around the state about the "dangerous" ratings of the city (thus, discouraging people from coming here to shop and eat), can it not at least mention that the rankings are better than last year's? Or would that be admitting that perhaps the paper was a little over-zealous itself over the last year in its dire coverage? One of the quotes I did not use in the above piece was also from the mayor: "They'll probably now just say 'we're in the top 20.'" Looks like that's exactly what they did. Ladies and gentlemen, meet tabloid journalism. Man ...

ladd

Dec 12 2003

Perhaps when a state is the "least livable" and the "least healthy" crime flourishes???

kchilton

Dec 12 2003

Having recently lived in Jackson for several years, I'd say that crime is quite outrageous for such a small town. I don't think the Clarion-Ledger piece is "tabloid" material. The reporter is reporting what is going on. The article is slanted somewhat, like closing the piece with the woman who said anytime she worries about crime is when she goes into Jackson from Ridgeland. But everything is slanted, including the brow-beating in the JFP! Take this to heart JFP editors, everyone in Mississippi knows the Clarion-Ledger sucks. When you use 500-700 word opinion columns to say the Clarion-Ledger sucks, you are preaching to the choir! Find some news and report on it. Do features. Don't just brow-beat everyone. When you all do that it makes your publication come off as pompous. We, the newspaper readers of Mississippi are not all stupid! We realize when a paper comes off high and mighty as does the JFP and we realize when papers don't check all the facts like the Clarion-Ledger.

Stewed!

Dec 12 2003

Stewed, we are not brow-beating The Clarion-Ledger. One of our roles as an alternative media outlet is to question corporate media, as other actual alternatives do around the country as well. Those media conglomerates, which try to run locally owned and independent media out of business, have an inordinate amount of power to influence citizens and to help/hurt business climate based on whether or not they follow the established "best practices" of journalism. I actually do not think that just saying "The Clarion-Ledger sucks," as it seems everyone likes to do, and leaving it at that makes much sense. The truth is, they do some good work as well, which we also try to point out. But our role is the city's alternative; that means that if a national, corporate, statewide media outlet is going to run front-page stories that have the potential of hurting the city's residents and businesses that we cover, it is our responsibility to point it out. I realize that this is new for Jackson -- that very little media criticism has been done over the years, so people aren't used to it, but it doesn't mean it isn't needed. And the fact is, a major fact was omitted from today's story about the Morgan Quitno rankings. People should ask themselves (or the C-L) why.

ladd

Dec 12 2003

Perhaps when a state is the "least livable" and the "least healthy" crime flourishes??? Kenneth, I didn't see your comment in there before, but of course you raise a good point. I'm not sure I've seen The Clarion-Ledger (or anyone) report on the other Morgan Quitno findings of "least livable," "least smart," and "least healthy." Although a lot of people seem to be in denial about it, crime doesn't just happen in a vacuum. And it is very telling to me that the same people who jump all over the bad crime stats don't ever mention the other findings. Hmmm. We are the poorest state, the least educated, the least healthy with some of the loosest gun laws, and on and on -- and people actually expect there to be no crime here!?! Doh. Take a look at the 43 factors Morgan Quitno used to determine that Mississippi is the "least liveable" state if you want a little context. I'm sure that the same politicians, and perhaps media, that heralded Jackson's "dangerous" rankings would say that this list is a bunch of malarkey. Some folks really like to pick cherries.

ladd

Dec 12 2003

Allow me to correct something I just said: Morgan Quitno does not measure "least smart" -- it measures "smartest state." We're not dead last; we're No. 48; apparently, we're smarter than Louisiana and New Mexico. ;-)

ladd

Dec 12 2003

...apparently, we're smarter than Louisiana and New Mexico. ;-) And not Arkansas? I demand a recount...

Greg Griffith

Dec 13 2003

Honestly, this is kind of like telling a cancer patient that they are 1-2% better. Yes, it is an improvement, but they really want to feel 100% better. Just to give everyone some much needed perspective, we have been in the top 25 most dangerous cities since 1996, so I don't want everyone going overboard in congratulating themselves. In real terms, we have only improved so marginally as to really be at the whim of what other cities are doing (positive or negative). There is not a single policy or program that has shown a sustained impact on crime the in Jackson area in seven years. There is nothing that JPD, HSO, the Mayor or the DA can point to show that what they did changed things one iota. You can dig through and find out the info from MQ if you would like to verify. Jackson's overall crime rate did decrease 1.4% from 2001 to 2002. However, our metro area ranking was still in the top 5 according to MQ. You can read a couple of things here. One, Jackson lost about 1/2% of its residents in the last year or two (about 2500 people). Two, criminals are simply following the money out of Jackson to the 'burbs. I am waiting on JFP to quit the whitewash, and call this problem out and call for cooperation to fix it like the CL in no uncertain terms has.

Alan Lange

Dec 13 2003

Alan, it's cute that you accuse the JFP of "whitewash." Read this story and the one in the C-L yesterday and their editorial today. Which one has *more* information, and which one is leaving out important details (like the move from No. 10 to No. 16)? The fact is, the chips can fall where they may as far as I'm concerned, but I am sick and tired of media sensationalism, and of people twisting what we are saying. We have called *from the beginning* for "cooperation" from the entire metro, citizens and officials alike, unlike many who simply are playing a political "replace the leadership" game and offering few, if any, actual suggestions for preventing crime. It is kind of fun to watch people, including the C-L, try to backtrack from these MQ rankings at this time, especially the fact that they now show improvement. Personally, I think the rankings are BS that signify nothing -- and I thought that when Carroll, Barbour and Co. (and you, perhaps?) were heralding them as earth-shattering, and I think that now. But the response sure is illustrating exactly what/where the agendas are, and who is willing to trumpet what, when. They're useful for that purpose. It's exactly why I wrote this piece: to shake it all out for Jacksonians to see for themselves. And from their response, they're beginning to get it.

ladd

Dec 13 2003

Donna, at the rate Jackson is "progressing", it will take 20+ years for Jackson to be only nationally average in the crime rankings (not that it's the only way to measure progress). Donna said " . . . unlike many who simply are playing a political "replace the leadership" game" I went back and looked at that 20 questions piece you did with the mayor. That was a complete softball puff-piece. You know HJJ won't sit down with the CL in that way because he would have to answer some pretty tough questions he would rather not. The toughest question you asked him was "How come it took you so long to pick a chief?". That looked somewhere between starstruck journalism and defending at all costs. All this to say that if you are being contrary (or alternative) for contrarian's sake, that's fine. If it is just to sell newspapers (or just advertising) that's fine too. I know you to be sharp and socially conscious, so I know it is not like a professional wrestling act. But I have not ever heard you or JFP once admit that Jackson has a crime problem that is bad relative to other cities. As for "the opposition" having no specific suggestions to offer, I for one have many. 1. Turn 30 officers of JPD/HSO into a crazed, dedicated traffic force seven days a week for 6 months. Six teams of 5 people to set up traps all over town. (Eastover, Presidential Hills, Lynch Street, Ridgwood Road, Siwell Road, Cohea Street, Fortification, I-55). That would have an immediate impact. 2. Bring circuit judges out of retirement to hold night court. That would double our judicial capacity. 3. Appoint 14 prosecutors from the AGs office to become ADAs for one year. 4. Release arrest/conviction statistics weekly so that the public can see how we are progressing on a weekly basis. 5. Run a NCIC check on all felons for their initial arraingment. 6. Get a NCIC terminal at JPD. 7. No prosecutorial deals once a jury trial starts. I have lots more and could explain them in exhaustive detail, but please know this. My axe to grind is to fix the problem . . . period. I really do not want to replace the leadership, although if things don't improve significantly, Jackson may have the same coaches without much of a team.

Alan Lange

Dec 13 2003

You know, before this devolves into another war on crime, fought on the blogs, I'd like to point out that what Donna was initially writing about was *how the CL has been covering crime.* The question is not "is crime bad?". It's "is the major daily newspaper covering it well?". My personal perspective is that most of the articles which appear in the CL are deficient in terms of providing meaningful quotes, data, context or perspective.

Kate

Dec 13 2003

Kate, the question has never been, "is there crime?" or "is crime bad"? Of course, the answers are "yes" and "yes." The JFP has never said otherwise. But because we don't buy wholesale into sensationalism as the C-L does, the city's critics continually try to re-write what we've said, even as an exponential number of people are thanking us for reporting straight about these issues. Now back to the "war on crime" with Alan: Alan wrote: "Donna, at the rate Jackson is 'progressing', it will take 20+ years for Jackson to be only nationally average in the crime rankings (not that it's the only way to measure progress)." I've addressed this apple/orange statistic obsession on another thread with you, and another; this isn't about national averages that lump everything together. If you want Jackson to be comparable with all other cities across the country, you're going to have to even out the playing field first, including gun laws, poverty, average-cars-per-person, conditions of communities (even Rudy was big on "broken windows" analysis) and many other factors -- and you're right that that's likely to take a while. Meantime, we must do what we can day to day. One has to suspend common sense (and believe that crime happens in a vacuum) for their big goal to be for the city to suddenly be comparable with cities that we have so little else in common with. I'd like Morgan Quitno to rank us as smart as other cities, too; how long is that going to take? *My* personal goal is for the community to come together to keep crime in Jackson falling as steadily as possible without the city being hit by huge lawsuits, or "crazed" police committing police brutality as was so rampant during the Giuliani administration in NYC. Sure, 50-percent drops in a year would be great, but I've been around this block enough to know it doesn't happen that way, especially in bad economic times. But your biggest complaint seems to be that the JFP breaks ranks with the city's no-matter-what critics, and I happen to be willing to acknowledge the successes (even the small ones) of the city as well as its problems, which I realize isn't en vogue with everyone in North Jackson and the suburbs (although I hear more positive from them than negative, for the record).

ladd

Dec 13 2003

Alan: But I have not ever heard you or JFP once admit that Jackson has a crime problem that is bad relative to other cities. "Admit"? This does seem to be an either-or game on your end. Alan, I'm not playing games, and there is nothing to "admit" or "deny." The fact is, the JFP is calling it as accurately as we can, without concern to personal or political agendas: We've talked repeatedly about specific crime problems in Jackson, and have been the first many times to report up-to-date statistics (which are marginally useful), some of which are negative to the city, some to its harshest critics. But I realize that's not enough for the people who want only negative news reported about the city; look at this latest Morgan Quitno dust-up, which my story above started. When I wrote it, I wondered: "Is there anyone out there other than the JFP willing to simply report these new rankings straight?"-- that is, the M-Q publishing company ranks Jackson No. 16, nothing to cheer about, but that's an improvement over No. 10 last year, and nearby cities like Memphis and New Orleans are now considered more dangerous than Jackson by this company. (And I brought up the metro No. 4 ranking, which the C-L left out last year.) Will anyone who has criticized the city say, "Good, maybe they're doing something right, although we still think that they could do this ... " No, not that I've seen. Re-read the C-L story and editorial today: they never mention that Jackson was No. 10 last year and jumped out of the "Top 10" that Barbour campaigned on across the state in glossy mailers. You cannot sit there and tell me that's not news. What it is, is pitiful reporting. Why can't they just report it straight, even as they criticize the city for specific weaknesses? For reasonable discussion, crime here should be compared to cities that have similar demographics, gun and car cultures, and so on. And the analysis should be about where specifically we have more severe problems, and how to tackle those problems -- not some amorphous B.S. about "leadership." I have been a heavy critic of the police during my career, but always with cause and based on facts; I'm a bit too interested in being precise and accurate to go off police-bashing based on a flawed comparison of Jackson and NYC, for instance.

ladd

Dec 13 2003

Alan: I went back and looked at that 20 questions piece you did with the mayor. That was a complete softball puff-piece. You know HJJ won't sit down with the CL in that way because he would have to answer some pretty tough questions he would rather not. Alan, let me tell you why I did that interview with the mayor when I did: That "Changing Faces of Jackson" series was so incredibly biased against the mayor that as an "alternative" to the daily, I believed it was our job to just let him talk and then to print it without comment and in context. Even as you think it was a "softball" interview, many more people (from throughout the city and suburbs) are thanking us for just letting him talk and being willing to print it. The fact is, this is only the beginning of our coverage of the city, and I believed it was important to just allow him to speak. I found it shocking, and unbelievable, that the C-L didn't go to the mayor's office, pull up a chair and have a long talk about what he felt Jackson's needs are. They did it with other people. And they could always come back later to get his responses to critics. But it seems like they skipped the first part and jumped right to the critics. Is that "fair and balanced" reporting? I fully realize you would have preferred me to ask angry, accusatory questions designed to show what an idiot you think the mayor is, but I'm happy to say that you're not me. And you're wrong that "HJJ," as you call him, won't sit down with the CL; he has done that for lengthy interviews recently, including two weeks into the "Changing Faces" series, and very little was printed as a result. And the CL printed little of his lengthy interview (in their offices) with them about Stokes. Eric Stringfellow wrote the following on Sept. 4: "Johnson was criticized for his silence following Stokes' noise. But in a meeting with The Clarion-Ledger editorial board, the mayor was passionate and eloquent about his efforts to make sure everyone knew all are welcome in Jackson. Johnson distanced himself from Stokes' methods while not condemning his message. The mayor clearly has some thoughts on racial healing that Jackson needs to hear." So what are those messages, and why won't the C-L print them?

ladd

Dec 13 2003

Can you see a pattern here? The mayor goes to see the C-L editorial board (apparently for long meetings); they don't print most of what he says. What's "civic" about that style of journalism? Then you criticize us for giving him a forum to say what's on his mind? Did it occur to you that Jacksonians might just want to hear what the mayor has to say? The dozens who have thanked me for doing that interview as I did certainly wanted to; and a whole bunch of them live in North Jackson. All this to say that if you are being contrary (or alternative) for contrarian's sake, that's fine. This tickles me, Alan. I mean, the alternative press is rather known for bashing city officials and the police -- you know, the @#$%-the-police mentality. But I have always been an independent voice even in the alt press: I don't skewer just to be skewering. I do research, I put my brain in gear, I talk to people other than the noisy extremes, and I report and analyze what I find. In the past, that has meant that I wrote a series of scathing articles in the Colorado Springs Business Journal criticizing the city-owned utility for trying to compete with local businesses (libertarians loved that one); I supported President Clinton's impeachment ("liberals" hated that one); and I defended smart community-policing efforts in NYC against extreme leftists in the East Village. I have been called everything from a police-loving yuppie to a pinko communist to a card-carrying capitalist -- even a conservative -- all because I am willing to question, to think independently and then let the chips fall where they may. That's the exact opposite of being "contrary for contrarian's sake," as you accuse. I don't really have time to play "devil's advocate." I'm quite proud that my hate mail file includes missives from every outpost on the political spectrum and hope that it continues to.

ladd

Dec 13 2003

Alan: As for "the opposition" having no specific suggestions to offer, I for one have many. The most interesting thing to me about your blog, Alan, is what it doesn't have on it. Quick...go look: http://www.jacksoncrime.org/ We see a big gun...yeah, we know about that part. And we see entry after entry about individual crimes -- links almost exclusively to the Clarion-Ledger -- followed by your snide remarks, as in: Well, as long as everything is under control . . . Scary. and Well, as Gomer Pyle used to say "SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE". (About Jackson's recent #16 M-Q ranking; no mention of the move from #10.) and on a letter titled 'Lack of jobs here is at root of crime' we get P.S. This is the dumbest argument I have heard to justify crime. The only thing at the root of crime is lack of respect for the law or the victims. Then back in November there's something about the Chief calling SafeCityWatch "crackers" (including, presumably, Rick Whitlow. Bizarre.) http://www.jacksoncrime.org/crimeblog/archives/2003_11.html What's missing from the site are ANYTHING APPROACHING this list of possible solutions you just posted today on the JFP's site. We thank you for it, and we will look into the viability of your ideas as we continue our research. I think it's a great place to begin a dialogue on how to fix it. But I'm surprised all to hell that you come here telling me what I do wrong journalistically about crime, and you don't have a page on your site that outlines or goes into detail with at least one of these solutions and why it's a good idea. Why aren't they on your site? Why haven't you gotten past the blame stage, and tried to start a real dialogue about what can be done?

ladd

Dec 13 2003

Alan, can you see that the casual observer might confuse your motivation with something less thoughtful and more political than you claim? You put a pistol on your page and bitch and moan about every crime you read in the paper, and you don't discuss context or solutions or compliment the city for successes, and you wonder why people think you're trying to scare people. What *is* the point? To prove Jackson has crime? Has anyone ever said otherwise? We all KNOW this, Alan. The question is: what to do. Here's what I'm saying. Be part of the solution. Be willing to hear what the Mayor and the Police Chief are saying when they talk about community policing, COMSTAT and the other steps they've taken in the chief's first 18 months. Don't listen to refute. Look for opportunities to synthesize new and unique solutions for Jackson. Be intellectually honest enough to drop all the "perception" rhetoric and keep your eyes on the prize -- not scapegoats, but partners. You lament on your site now that you're not sure if you're making a difference; move away from the blame game and toward a more balanced discussion focused on solutions, and your efforts could be really helpful to media outlets such as the JFP (and the CL, not to mention your fellow Jacksonians). What do you think our mission as a paper could possibly be? We want the best Jackson possible. We think journalism -- the Fourth Estate, the First Amendment -- has something to do with that. We don't have a dog in the City Hall fight -- if a better mayor comes along at election time, we're gonna back him or her. But this is the administration we have to deal with, and it's our civic responsibility to make our criticisms constructive and credible and fair and to do our damnedest to get our facts -- and perceptions and interpretations -- right. Let me put it this way...Which one of the tools on your Web site do you really think is going to *solve* the problem -- the gun or the ideas? Alan, if you're ready to start sharing any good ideas you're packin', the JFP can be your greatest ally.

ladd

Dec 13 2003

Also, before Alan gives me full credit for coming up with the "alternative" and "contrarian" idea that media sensationalism and hysteria about crime can be harmful to communities, here is a list of links to some thoughtful reading on the topic that I'd posted elsewhere on the site. TV News and the Culture of Violence http://www.bigmedia.org/texts6.html A criminal-justice syllabus that talks about the importance of dealing with crime perception, which also lists many criminal-justice resources (ahem), including a textbook called "Creating Fear: News and the Construction of Crisis," by David, Altheide,† 2002.† (Note the Sept. 8 entry) http://utminers.utep.edu/dlevin/syllab430003.htm Columbia Journalism Review: Should the Coverage Fit the Crime? http://archives.cjr.org/year/96/3/coverage.asp Samples of media reports done by folks smart enough to understand that crime perception is often different from crime reality ... and that it matters: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/news/7oclocknews/features/streetcrime_170703.shtml Story about overblown crime in Florida and dangers of "perception" and "media-driven 'panics' about violent crime, even in the face of declining crime rates, and the subsequent effects on society": http://www.research.fsu.edu/researchr/springsummer98/features/fear.html A master plan for an upstate NY town that realizes that it takes more than police to fight both crime and perception; it takes smart planning and activity: http://www.scpl.org/masterplan/appendixb.html Youth crime on decline; coverage suggests opposite: http://www.racematters.org/youthcrimedeclinemediaopp.htm More sources on "the rhetoric of crime and punishment": http://www.vcsun.org/~battias/class/446/rsch.html

ladd

Dec 13 2003

An online "exam" on media-driven crime perception. http://cwabacon.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/albanese2_ab/chapter1/essay12/deluxe-content.html Its intro: "The Media and Crime: Perception Versus Reality A. Often the media paint a totally different picture of the incidence and demographics of crime than is in fact reported by police agencies. The media typically report on crimes of passion or violence, when these actually comprise a very small percentage of crimes committed. The media also report more often on crimes committed in core cities rather than suburbs. The media are also more likely to report crimes committed by minorities." "Explanations for media decisions focus on ratings. 'Good news doesn't make news' still rules the newsroom. Homicide is exciting, for instance, while the local high school valedictorian acceptance speech is not so exciting. Major media outlets tend to be located in core cities. Convenience is another factor. Because of the demographic composition of core cities, minorities are more likely to be the criminals seen on the 5 o'clock news." Sound familiar? Finally: From the journalists' guidebook, "Covering Crime and Justice," Chapter 1: "Lincoln Steffens, the famed muckraker, worked as a police reporter for the New York Evening Post a century ago. In his autobiography, Steffens wrote about a spurious burglary crime wave that sprang from politics and the competitive zeal among newspapers: "'Every now and then there occurs the phenomenon called a crime wave. New York has such waves periodically; other cities have them; and they sweep over the public and nearly drown the lawyers, judges, preachers, and other leading citizens who feel that they must explain and cure these extraordinary outbreaks of lawlessness. Their diagnoses and their remedies are always the same: the disease is lawlessness; the cure is more law, more arrests, swifter trials, and harsher penalties.'" "Little has changed since Steffens' time. Crime waves still bubble up. Some are legitimate, some bogus. Often, they are sparked by an appalling example of a particular crime, such as a school shooting or child abduction. Law enforcers and journalists begin highlighting look-alike examples from the daily log of crime, and a false trend is born ñ false because often the crimes had been happening in obscurity all along. The attention simply moved them higher on the news agenda." "Politics and finances often play a role." http://www.justicejournalism.org/crimeguide/chapter01/sidebars/chap01_xside7.html

ladd

Dec 13 2003

Jackson has a high crime rate because we allow it to have a high crime rate.

Howard

Dec 14 2003

That's a bit vague, Howard. How do you mean exactly? Perhaps your reasoning would make for interesting discussion.

ladd

Dec 15 2003

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_02/xl/02tbl06.xls This is the FBI Uniform Crime Report by Metropolitan area in 2002. It contains data for both city and metro area (even for cities as small as Abeline TX, which is the first city in the list). Includes raw numbers and rate per 100,000 for EIGHT different categories of crime - ranging from violent crime to property crime.

Philip

Dec 15 2003

Thank you, Philip.

ladd

Dec 15 2003

Eric Stringfellow's column in the C-L yesterday finally mentioned that missing "No. 10" bit of info that didn't show up in the news story or the editorial last week about the latest Morgan Quitno rankings. We have some nitpicks with the column -- this study does not measure "lethal" crimes, for instance, and he takes another cheap "perception" shot -- but, overall, it seems that Stringfellow is starting to balance out his crime columns more. http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0312/14/meric.html He writes now: "What do these dubious distinctions mean? First, some perspective is in order. The rankings, based on six crime categories, are somewhat misleading. Greater Jackson is not the fourth most dangerous area in the country, and Jackson is not in the top 20. ... Madison Police Chief Gene Waldrop said the metro area's ranking gave him heartburn. He should channel his discomfort into a commitment to think broadly about fighting crime and encourage his contemporaries to do likewise." Ah, perspective. So welcome over what Mr. Stringfellow wrote last spring about Morgan Quitno, which helped stir this hysterical pot, especially when that column was then picked up by politicians for their campaigns (but claiming the numbers were for 2002, not 2001). Even if the perspective is only coming because the suburbs are perturbed about the No. 4 ranking, it is still most welcome. Here's Stringfellow column last year about MQ: http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0304/15/meric.html In it, he took the MQ rankings (remember: Jackson fared worse last year) much more seriously than he is now: "The real question, then, is how Jackson stacks up against other cities, and data from a Kansas-based publishing and research firm suggest there is a gap. According to the Morgan Quitno Press, Jackson in 2001 was the country's 10th most dangerous city among 342 municipalities included in its research. In the list of 195 cities with populations ranging from 100,000 to 500,000, Jackson was the 6th most dangerous. ... We also know that Jackson's decreasing crime rate, based on the figures Moore recently released, has not kept pace with the rest of the country, according to Morgan Quitno. ... Crime is a cancer in Jackson. And if not properly diagnosed and treated, it threatens Jackson's reputation and its well-being." Stringfellow has a different tone now from last year, and one that is welcome in the city: Crime is a problem that needs attention and cooperation from the entire metro. This is a positive shift in tone that may well facilitate less finger-pointing and more solid efforts to prevent crime in the entire metropolitan area. Cheers to Stringfellow.

ladd

Dec 15 2003

OK, while I'm geeking out over media/crime Best Practices (guilty as charged), here's a link to a story from the Web site of the Gannett Corp., the owner of the Clarion-Ledger about crime coverage. http://www.gannett.com/go/newswatch/99/march/nw0312-1.htm Here's a few fair-use quotes, but go read the whole thing for yourself. Jane Amari writes: "In their 1998 Freedom Forum-funded report, 'Indictment: The News Media and the Criminal Justice System,' Wallace Westfeldt and Tom Wicker point out that serious crimes fell in 1997 the sixth consecutive year. That trend has continued. In addition, although more than 90 percent of all crimes are property crimes, most of what newspapers cover are violent crimes. ... Rarely do we get the side of the accused -- even when attorneys permit interviews. And victims frequently want to remain in the background. Context is the issue. We rarely report or have information about the background of a crime. Was it the act of an isolated offender, or was it part of an organized effort citizens should be aware of? If it was the former, what brought the perpetrator to that point? Are there social or community pressures in play? How many such incidents have there been, and to what effect? What should readers be aware of? What can each of us do?" She argues that overblown crime coverage can drive readers away from newspapers: "When surveyed, newspaper readers increasingly are telling us they are sick of the negativity in newspapers. As Geneva Overholser (ombudsman) wrote in a 1998 Washington Post column, 'Post readers often rue the prevalence of crime news in local reporting and its displacement of other newsworthy activities. They deplore not only the misrepresentation but the feelings it engenders. Said one reader: "You don't realize how much all this endless negativism tears down people's hopes." Similar sentiments often are cited by nonreaders as a reason they don't buy the paper.'" She suggests turning crime coverage into "community coverage," and include three types of information in news reports: (1) "Perspective. In other words, how common is this crime in the community?" (2) "Identified risk factors. What is the relationship of those involved? Was alcohol involved? Do the people involved in the incident have jobs? If a gun was used, who manufactured it? Where was it obtained and how much did it cost?" and (3) "Consequences and costs. What happens to the families of those involved in this incident? Who pays for their hospitalization? Will the children receive counseling? Will children be split up, put into foster care?" Please go read this story. Jacksonians deserve this type of contextual reporting about crime in our city.

ladd

Dec 15 2003

Here's a Gannett piece from October 2001 that includes talk about The Clarion-Ledger's use of roundtable discussion to figure out how to cover crime: http://www.gannett.com/go/newswatch/2001/october/nw1005-2.htm Excerpts: "In Jackson, community perception is that crime is growing, despite statistics that show otherwise. The newspaper staff wanted to use the roundtable to help determine if the newspaper's coverage was contributing to the false perception." and "Roundtable participants in both markets wanted more coverage of crime trends, as well as an interpretation of what those trends meant to the safety of their neighborhoods. 'They also wanted more 'good news' in the newspaper to balance negative crime coverage. When citing The Clarion-Ledger's coverage of a local honor student's funeral, one Jackson participant asked, 'What would it have taken to get him on the front page when he was alive?'"

ladd

Dec 15 2003

The streets weren't safer last night for Alan Davis. "A Jackson man was hospitalized Tuesday night after he was shot twice in the back in the parking lot of a bar on Gallatin Street." "Davis told police two men took his wallet, which contained no money, just before shooting him." http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0312/18/m15.html

RanchHuevos

Dec 18 2003

Your own driveway, in your own neighborhood, isn't proving to be safer either. "Thieves apparently are casing neighborhoods on chilly mornings, then making off with cars left unattended while they are warming up, Police Chief Robert Moore said. In the past two weeks, eight vehicles have been stolen while their owners left them idling and ran back into the house, police said." http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0312/18/m02.html

RanchHuevos

Dec 18 2003

"The streets weren't safer last night for Alan Davis." Thanks for the links, Ranch. Those are both certainly examples of crime, which does happen. And it's bad every single time it happens. One can stipulate both those points for the record. But these links are certainly illustrative, even without much context. The first one shows well the problem of trying to determine whether or not a city is "safer" based on one story. Clearly, we can't know from that story, without any context, whether or not the city is safer than it has been in the past. There is no context there -- in this case it would be hard to have much being that the shooter hasn't been caught -- to provide any sort of helpful frame of reference. But say the shooter was caught. Would the paper have placed the story in a wider context as Gannett's home office called for, as quoted above? Would they followed ombudsman Overholser's advice and include the following: (1) "Perspective. In other words, how common is this crime in the community?" (2) "Identified risk factors. What is the relationship of those involved? Was alcohol involved? Do the people involved in the incident have jobs? If a gun was used, who manufactured it? Where was it obtained and how much did it cost?" and (3) "Consequences and costs. What happens to the families of those involved in this incident? Who pays for their hospitalization? Will the children receive counseling? Will children be split up, put into foster care?" As for the second piece, it doesn't sound like it addresses the issue of safety in any way -- no people were endangered in those particular cases -- although it is irrelevant to the prevalence and methods of property crime, and how to prevent it. That is also the mistake that Morgan Quitno makes with its "dangerous" rankings -- they lump together actual "dangerous" crimes with those not committed against persons. I'm all for aggregating the numbers in specific to help figure out how to fight and prevent specific crimes -- but lumping them all together in a amorphous and nonsensical way, as MQ does, provides no roadmaps and only fuels fear (and sells books).

DonnaLadd

Dec 18 2003

As someone who has lived in a number of big cities, including the sprawling, quasi-urban metropolis of Dallas, I must say that I question whether it's ever been wise to allow your car to idle with the doors unlocked in any sort of urban environment. Certainly few people would do this in the LA Basin, or Dallas, or Denver proper and the notion of leaving your car running in Manhattan *at all* -- locked or not -- is impossible to fathom. That said, I think the piece in the C-L is a responsible one, as it offers a specific discussion of the solutions to the problem and it doesn't make generalization beyond the facts in the story. Frankly, these auto thefts sound like a concerted effort on someone's part -- the police have identified an M.O. and are putting out the word. I like this line from the chief: "We do have criminals in the city, and they will steal your cars. We need people to understand how to take the opportunity away from them," Moore said.

Todd Stauffer

Dec 18 2003

"I must say that I question whether it's ever been wise to allow your car to idle with the doors unlocked in any sort of urban environment. Agreed and I'm sure these formerly trusting Jackson citizens won't do it again, regardless of the location of their residence. Kudos to the Chief for correctly identifying this element committing these pre-meditated and pre-planned, but random, vehicle thefts as criminals. Should they be caught, I'm betting the odds are extremely long that these criminals were neighbors who just happened upon these empty, idling, unlocked vehicles. These were not crimes of opportunity though Jacksonians must eliminate the opportunity their trust presented.

RanchHuevos

Dec 18 2003

Should they be caught, I'm betting the odds are extremely long that these criminals were neighbors who just happened upon these empty, idling, unlocked vehicles. These were not crimes of opportunity though Jacksonians must eliminate the opportunity their trust presented. I assume you're being sarcastic here, although it doesn't seem to have a point. Even as the police try to figure out whether or not the thieves are a team from Memphis or live next door, it makes sense to remind people not to provide the easy opportunity to be victimized. Jackson is a big(ish) city now, which means that it offers many of the advantages of urban living. But that also means that we are victims of big-city crimes, as in other cities, and should do what we can to decrease the opportunities -- whether by buying a Club, or not leaving our car running without being in it or or checkbook lying on the seat. Obviously, it's possible for police to fight crime, even as they remind us not to be careless. And there's nothing wrong with following the conservative mantra of taking personal responsibility for our own own actions even as we apprehend and punish those who take advantage of our mistakes.

DonnaLadd

Dec 18 2003

". . . it makes sense to remind people not to provide the easy opportunity to be victimized." Yes, you are right. It makes lots of sense and I think it is great that the Chief is getting the word out to the people of Jackson that he understands there to be criminals in our midst, and prowling our streets, intent on committing vehicle theft regardless, as you note, of where the criminals themselves currently call home. That's an important first step because if the Chief has found out that the criminals are out there, then he has a better chance of tracking them down and catching them. "Jackson is a big(ish) city now . . . Well, a shrinking big(ish) city but, at least for the next few years, the biggest city in our MSA. Don't know how long that will be the case but you are right again, we need to think big and prepare ourselves as best we can for, and to avoid, our big city-like crime. Though I'm not sure when all the statistics are broken out, so that we can conduct that mother-of-all informational alignments and get to all of those crucial apple-to-apple comparisons, that we will be comfortable in our big(ish) city with our big city-like crime rates that I suspect will still be there. Guess only time will tell with this one also.

RanchHuevos

Dec 18 2003

On the crime-prevention front, here's are some good tips that the Fondren Renaissance folks have posted on their site: http://www.fondren.org/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=14&page_id=18 They seem to be going a good job over there working with the police to help implement community policing and to get residents to work together and do the little things that help prevent crime. Kudos to them.

DonnaLadd

Dec 18 2003

That's an important first step because if the Chief has found out that the criminals are out there, then he has a better chance of tracking them down and catching them. Yup...and I hope the Homeland Security department is doing the same thing! Even if you don't take it seriously, I think a quick reminder not to leave your car running with the keys in it is the sort of thing that the police department should do. Sounds pretty straightforward to me. Well, a shrinking big(ish) city but, at least for the next few years... Wishful thinking? I sometimes wonder at the people who seem invested in the city's demise. Did they have an IPO in Flowood or something? Here's another piece on auto theft that the C-L did on November 15th about Jackson's "Operation VIN" which is a task force to combat auto theft: http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0311/15/m01.html It says that Jackson is the "only city in the South" on the list by which I assume they mean the Deep South, as both Houston and Dallas are represented. (I know, I know...but we Texans *feel* Southern. ;-) Memphis and Baton Rouge were both on the list in 2001, but seemed to have improved enough to move off. (Or maybe some other cities got worse or a combo.)

Todd Stauffer

Dec 18 2003

Here's one that will make you laugh and cry... Wonder what City Council will do about Jackson's "crime issue" now? "Jackson City Councilman Ben Allen was carjacked Sunday outside his Jackson business. A gunman took Allen's black 2000 Cadillac DTS as he was leaving Scholastic Products and Awards at 381 Commerce Park Drive shortly before 5 p.m., police spokesman Robert Graham said. Allen, who represents Ward 1, was uninjured. The gunman also made off with Allen's cell phone and the keys to his home, Graham said. "Police Chief Robert Robert Moore has established extra security for the city councilman at his business and his residence," Graham said. C-L Article The city officials must certainly be hating this news story.

kaust

Dec 22 2003

I saw this one. And, I noticed that the CL actually put a pull out box in the corner, which listed the number of carjackings in Jackson for the past five years or so. Yay for data!

kate

Dec 22 2003

What the heck is "the Rattler"???

kaust

Dec 22 2003

Apparently, the suspect's street name. They caught him and recovered the car already. Here's the press release (verbatim): "A car has been recovered and a suspect jailed in the carjacking of Councilman Ben Allen. "At approximately 5:00 p.m. yesterday, Jackson Police responded to a report of a carjacking at 381 Commerce Park Drive. Once they arrived, they met Councilman Ben Allen who stated to officers that as he was leaving his business, Scholastic Achievements and Awards, and attempting to close the gate, when an unknown black male approached him from behind and reportedly put a weapon to his head and demanded his wallet and whatever else he had in his pocket. Allen gave the suspect his cellular phone. The suspect then reportedly jumped into Allenís 2000 Cadillac Deville. Allen reportedly left his keys in the vehicle, with the vehicle running and the door open. "The only suspect description available was a black male described as approximately 6 feet tall and 190 lbs., wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans and glasses. "Officers then put out an APB for the vehicle and suspect. Around 12:05 a.m. this morning, Precinct 3 officer Lance Scott, spotted a vehicle fitting that description in the Bailey Avenue area. Officer Scott turned around and attempted to locate the vehicle. He drove to the intersection of Paul and Prosperity Streets where he spotted the vehicle. He then noticed an individual walking between two houses. Officer Scott then approached the individual, searched the suspect and recovered a small amount of crack cocaine. Officer Scott had received information earlier in the day that a possible suspect who frequently lived in area and is known only as ìRattlerî stole cars. Officer Scott arrested Calvin OíBanner. OíBanner uses the alias of ìRattlerî. " ---###---

DonnaLadd

Dec 22 2003

That makes soooo much more sense than the quick update on CL's site. Thx Donna.

kaust

Dec 22 2003

No problem, Knol. Today, the C-L is reporting that Allen has changed his mind about rushing out of the city (perhaps he figured out that might not help him at re-election time. Just a theory). "Jackson City Councilman Ben Allen, the victim of a carjacking Sunday outside his business, said he will relocate but has no intention of leaving the city. Some people may have interpreted an earlier statement by him to mean he was moving his business out of Jackson, Allen said. 'I love this city. What happened last night makes me sick,' said Allen, who has represented Ward 1 since 1997. Police, meanwhile, found Allen's car abandoned on Monday and said they had a possible suspect in the carjacking. No charges have been filed." http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0312/23/m05.html Meantime, the C-L editorialized that the carjacking was a bad thing (duh: is this parody?). "It does show just how bad the problem is and, again, demonstrates the need for intensive local and perhaps federal efforts to combat it. Jackson residents are tired of hearing about there being a 'crime perception' and how much better the crime rate is getting. They're frustrated and mad. Just ask a car theft victim. Just ask Councilman Allen." http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0312/23/leditorial.html Now, who was it that obsessed about crime rates and "perception" last spring and used that obsession to sell newspapers? Note that they don't want to talk about crime rates when they don't help sensationalize crime, but it's open season when they do. Hmmm. And they don't like the mention of "crime perception" when they're not bringing it up in order to sensationalize crime and demonize city officials. The C-L has been doing a better job reporting, rather than sensationalizing, crime of late; I wish they'd just resolve to let perception-gate die a welcome death and get on with some actual civic journalism. You will also note that this editorial does not mention that police recovered Allen's vehicle and arrested a suspect within eight hours of the crime. One does wonder exactly what the point of this editorial is: what is it here that the police (or, by extention, the mayor) were to have done in order to prevent the carjacking of Ben Allen? (I do, however, like the lead editorial today about school hysteria and zero tolerance, for the record. This needs to be said much more often. More on that topic soon.)

DonnaLadd

Dec 23 2003

Donna, the councilman said on his radio show this morning that the CL was in error reporting that he had said he was moving out of the city. He did say he would move his office from the present location - but in the city of Jackson. The guy just had a gun held to the back of his head by a crazed man shouting something like " I'm going to kill you motherfucker" over and over. Do you think that's funny? I don't think the councilman has thought about his re-election the last couple of days. Of course, I could be wrong.

dw

Dec 23 2003

No, DW, I don't think it's funny for anyone to be a victim of crime. I think every crime is very serious; I think that's why the community and the media and elected officials need to take crime issues -- and their causes -- very seriously, rather than just pointing fingers at each other and using crime to sell newspapers, raise ratings and demonize political opponents. I think that people who take crime seriously will do much more than fingerpoint; they will get involved in community policing, and ask the hard questions about what is causing the proliferation of crimes, what are the conditions leading to it, why are there so many guns on the streets in Mississippi (our state, apparently, supplies most of the guns for crimes in places like Chicago as well), what can we do to improve poverty and poor education resources, and so on -- even WHILE the police do their job. Otherwise, I think the C-L reported that he said he was moving his office out of the city. And the link and quote I have above covers the revised take on it; whether they reported it wrong or he spoke too hastily, I have no idea. I will say, the councilman tends to be very political when it comes to the crime issue, so it's not simply a wild guess that he could have politics on the brain even in the days after he's a victim of a crime. But, as you say, we can't know for sure.

DonnaLadd

Dec 24 2003

BTW, all, Happy Holidaze as AnonymousPrime put it elsewhere on the blog. We hope you all have a happy, safe and loving holiday. Maybe we can all let our brains rest for a few days and enjoy our loved ones and count our many blessings. Cheers to you all.

DonnaLadd

Dec 24 2003

2005 Update; here's a list of JFP stories involving the Morgan-Quitno "dangerous" rankings: Stringfellow Attacks Chief for 'Crowing'" Gettin' Safer Barbour, Carroll Bash Jackson With Old Statistics Here Comes Da Judge

DonnaLadd

Mar 26 2005