Will Truth Win Out Over Prejudice & Political Posturing?

Stats contradict immigration rhetoric on crime

From the Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks

Gov. Jan Brewer, State Sen. Russell Pearce, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and others supporting the state’s new immigration law say it is needed to stem waves of crime. However, new reports show crime is on the decline.

Arizona is main conduit into the U.S. for Mexican cartels and smuggling rings and Phoenix is a hotbed for human smuggling related kidnapping, they say. “We’re out here on the battlefield of illegal immigration and all the crime that comes with it,” Brewer said on Fox News last month. Brewer referred to the situation as “the terror which our citizens live in day and day out along the border.” Arpaio and Pearce have made similar comments on CNN and other national news outlets.

However, the article goes on to say...

Crime in the Valley and Arizona is on the decrease, according to recent statistics.

The city of Phoenix reported 131,052 crimes in 2004. That number fell to 109,784 in 2008 and 90,024 in 2009, according to the Phoenix Police Department. Phoenix had 9,679 drug crimes last year compared to 10,741 in 2004.

Statewide, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said there were 255,133 serious crimes in Arizona in 2009. That is down 12 percent from 2008. DPS reported 341,101 serious crimes in 2002 and 291,380 in 2001.

“Statistically...the overall crime rate is lower now than it has been in recent years, however the level of attention being paid to a number of recent pieces of legislation, periodic crime sweeps conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, and incidents of violence along Arizona’s border with Mexico only increases the national and international perception that Arizona is not open for business,” Rickert said.

GPEC, Thunderbird and some other business and community leaders want to launch efforts to combat such negative images propelled by the law.

Cabrera said Brewer and others are creating an “apocalyptic view” of Arizona that will discourage students from studying here, tourism and high-wage job growth. “That’s not helpful,” Cabrera said.

PHOENIX CRIME

Year        Murders        Violent crimes        Drug crimes        Total crimes

2003       254                 9,816                         8,975                     122,047
2004      238                10,503                        10,741                   131,502
2005      238                10,782                        10,114                   121,636
2006      253                11,240                         9,856                     117,446
2007     244                 11,125                         9,928                     117,872
2008     196                10,864                          9,145                     109,784
2009    139                 9,282                            9,679                     90,024


Source: Phoenix Police Department