Why Is This Important?
High levels of crime impact a community’s social and economic well-being.  In areas with high levels of crime, community members may become fearful and lose their attachment to their community.  High levels of crime can impact property values, inhibit investment in a community, and keep potential customers from visiting local businesses.  It can also drain public resources that would otherwise go to other needed services.  High levels of juvenile crime are especially disturbing as youths who continue criminal behavior may not develop into emotionally stable and productive adults, harming the long-term stability of a community.

What Is a Sustainable State?
A sustainable state is one where crime levels are low and communities have safe schools and neighborhoods.

How Are We Doing?
Violent crime

  • In 2006, the rate of violent crime in San Mateo County was 300.9 crimes per 100,000 residents, an 11 percent decrease from 2005.  As in past years, this was far below the statewide rate, which was 518.4 per 100,000 residents. 
  • The county’s decline in violent crime was driven primarily by a 15 percent decline in the number of aggravated assaults.

Data source: California Department of Justice, Criminal Justice Statistics
Center

Juvenile crime

  • In 2006, juvenile felony arrests totaled 888 in San Mateo County, a slight drop from the 890 in 2005. 
  • Although that figure is 9 percent higher than the low of 812 arrests in 2002, it is over 30 percent lower than ten years ago.
  • Total juvenile arrests (including felonies and misdemeanors) declined by 7 percent from 2005 and are 37 percent lower than ten years ago.
  • The trends in San Mateo County for both felony and total juvenile arrests compare favorably with the state where the number of arrests increased by 5 and 7 percent from 2005 respectively.

Data source: California Department of Justice, Criminal Justice Statistics
Center

Gang violence

In 2004 and 2005, there was a combined total of 56 homicides in San Mateo County.  Fourteen, or 25 percent, of these were gang related.  Six of these crimes occurred in East Palo Alto and three in Redwood City.  In no other years since 1997 has the number of gang related homicides been higher than two.  In 2006, there was one.

Data source: California Department of Justice, Criminal Justice Statistics
Center

 

See appendix page 73, CLICK HERE. Researchers: Christine Lewis and Shazia Virji