NCJ Number
155214
Date Published
1994
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This report examines crime patterns in the New Orleans area in order to establish a factual basis for the ongoing debate about crime and potential solutions; in almost all cases, New Orleans crime rates are higher than crime rates in suburban Louisiana parishes.
Abstract
The most striking trend is the significant increase in murder over the past 5 years. The murder rate has grown by a factor of 6 since 1960 and has more than doubled since 1988. The New Orleans murder rate not only far exceeds the rate for cities of similar size but also surpasses the average murder rate for U.S. cities over 1 million in population. Other serious crime rates in New Orleans, however, have recently declined. In the case of rape, this decrease appears to be a long-term trend. Robbery and auto theft are making a limited retreat from strong advances of the 1980's, while burglary and larceny show no long- term trend either up or down. Arrest rates show that juveniles in New Orleans commit a disproportionate number of crimes. Juvenile arrest rates have sharply increased for violent crimes but not for property offenses. Detailed data on crime trends in New Orleans between 1960 and 1993 are provided. Tables and figures