NCJ Number
79969
Date Published
1981
Length
72 pages
Annotation
Update data for 1980 are presented on major Index crimes and juvenile crimes in New Orleans, La.
Abstract
Major index crimes in New Orleans are compared with data on these crimes throughout the State. Also presented are a geographic analysis of juvenile crime and characteristics of juvenile arrestees in New Orleans. Data show that the reported Index crime increased by 2 percent in the city between 1979 and 1980. Nationally, cities of over 500,000 population had crime increases averaging 9 percent. Reported violent offenses decreased by 8.1 percent following a 16 percent increase in 1979; violent crime in comparable cities increased by 10 percent during 1980. Property offenses in the city increased by 4 percent in 1980, compared to a 14 percent increase in 1979; nationally, property offenses rose by 9 percent in 1980. The leveling off of reported offenses for 1980 is widely believed to be a continuing function of improvements made in the crime reporting system. There has been little change in the geographic distribution of crime. The trend in juvenile arrests continued to decrease in 1980, dropping by 9.9 percent, and there was a 21.5 percent decrease in the number of arrests of juveniles for serious offenses. Police districts having traditionally large proportions of identifiable juvenile crime experienced decreases in 1980. Increases in juvenile cases cleared by arrest were primarily in the sixth and eighth police districts. Sociodemographic trends of juvenile arrestees remained constant. Graphic and tabular data are provided. (Author summary modified)