|
Home /
City
Hall /
Departments /
Police Department /
|
 |
|
Back | Next |
Santa Monica Police Department
1995 Annual Report
Crime Statistics by Crime Type
* Note: These pages are graphic intensive.
Gang Related Crimes
- Homicide
- Rape
- Aggravated Assault
- Robbery
- Burglary
- Larceny
- Motor Vehicle Theft
Gang Related Crimes
 |
During 1995 there were 49 gang-related crimes, a decrease of 35% compared to 1994.
Table 6 below shows the breakdown of gang-related crime by type for each year since 1989,
the first complete year in which crimes were subclassified as gang-related. A crime is
subclassified as gang-related when one of the following criteria is met: 1) The suspects
are identified as gang members; 2) A person becomes a victim due to his or her gang
affiliation; or 3) An informant identifies the incident as gang activity. In order for
crimes to be properly classified as gang-related, police personnel who conduct the
preliminary investigations are instructed to write "gang-related" on the reports
when one or more of the criteria is present. |
Although the criteria is well-defined and personnel are well-trained, gang-related
incidents are difficult to accurately record. This is due to several factors which are
beyond police control. First of all, unless suspects are arrested, it is unlikely that
they can be identified as gang members. Secondly, victims do not readily admit to being
gang members and thus, it is difficult to conclude that the crime was precipitated by the
victim's gang affiliation. And finally, witnesses and informants are hesitant to come
forward when an incident involves gang activity. Therefore, most gang-related crime
statistics are not a true reflection of the crime problems associated with gangs.
During 1995 there were 19 gang-related crimes against person and weapons violations
compared to 34 in 1994, a 44% decrease. Misdemeanor assault was the most frequently
reported type of gang-related crime in 1995. Analysis of citizen-initiated police calls
for service provides some additional insight into gang-related activity. During 1995,
there were 524 total gang-related calls for service from citizens, a decrease of 31.2%
compared to 1994. These were requests for police officers in which the reporting party
described involved persons as gang members. These calls were predominantly to report
disturbances, suspicious persons, malicious mischief, fights and drinking in public.
Back | Next
This page was last modified on
01/26/2008
