Posted on 04/04/2013 8:37:48 AM PDT by fulltlt
In 2011, the Billings Police Department made 25.1 arrests per 1,000 people and handled 8,604 criminal incidents relative to a 105,095 population. The Wolf Point Police Department made 170.2 arrests per 1,000 people and handled 506 criminal incidents relative to a 2,644 population in that same amount of time. Proportionately, Wolf Point had a 19 percent incident rate compared to Billings’ 8 percent. It’s difficult to understand how a tiny little town in northeast Montana can beat the state’s biggest city when comparing certain elements of crime rates. But Billings is just one simple resource for comparison’s sake. Wolf Point not only beat Billings in terms of arrest rates per 1,000, but all 103 reporting counties and cities as well. It also had the second highest rate of incidents per population size, just behind Darby, a small town on the western side of the state. This might leave some scratching their heads. Why Wolf Point? None of the surrounding towns compare.
(Excerpt) Read more at northeastmontananews.com ...
I know, I know... but I can’t say. It wouldn’t be PC.
Sure, you can say - WOld Point is “famous”
Wolf Point is a city in and the county seat of Roosevelt County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,621 at the 2010 census. It is the largest community on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
Wolf Point is the home of the annual Wild Horse Stampede, held every year during the second weekend of July. Wolf Point’s Wild Horse Stampede is the oldest rodeo in Montana, and has been called the “Grandaddy of Montana Rodeos.
Just like Alaska, alcohol is a problem, it is THE problem.
Well, alcohol wasn’t what I was going to say, but it’s a contributor. Living in Hokie-mama (as our grandson used to say), we have similar problems.
So poverty being around 25 percent higher translates to a seven-fold increase in arrests? Funny math.
I think you are letting the poverty statistics color your thinking, so to speak...
Saying Alcohol is “THE” problem is like saying guns are the problem. Better re-think that one.
According to the 2011 FBI offenses known to law enforcement, Wolf Point had 140 property crimes. That meant Wolf Point had approximately 53 property crimes committed per 1,000 residents, compared to Montana’s approximate 23 per 1,000. The national rate in 2011 was 29 per 1,000. Property crime has been linked to poverty and addiction, but there is no singular or universal cause of high crime rates. It varies by each location and all of its nuances.
Keep in mind, this is a crime rate not total number of crimes. If you had a town with a population of three and someone stole a mailbox, the rate would be 333/1000 people.
Wolf Point Police Department Lieutenant Brian Erwin said he believed the rate of crimes against property was directly related to the poverty level and that addiction was a contributing factor. Erwin said of all the suspects involved in a criminal incident that the WPPD handled about 80 percent were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He said the most common crime was theft from a vehicle, but his department has seen it all. “They’re siphoning gas, they’re stealing bikes and they’re kicking in doors to steal large screen televisions,” Erwin said.
snip
Besides poverty and addiction, Erwin said a lack of truth in sentencing contributed to the high rates of property crime, meaning that people who commit these crimes often see very little jail time, if any at all. Erwin said this was due to many factors, but specifically noted the over-population of jails.
My Comment: Wolf Point has a demographic which is different from Billings, too.
There have always been poor people. There always will be. They have not always used either being poor, drunk, or doing drugs as an excuse to steal from others.
Many still do not turn to crime despite being poor and living in such a way that ensures that.
However, the other aspect of this is that with a small jail which is full, those who do get caught know they aren't going to be punished.
Meth is in there, too. The problem isn't either, it is that people there are using it--the first act of bad judgement, others follow..
Sounds to me like The Towne Pump is an attractive nuisance.
Shut down all the gas stations and the community will self police.
Genetic adaptation to fermented products (alcohol) varies among the races. Some races have no historic adaptation, they react differently than those that do. It’s like crack to them. If alcohol isn’t the primary cause, it’s at least the biggest single contributing factor.
Pardon me - substance abuse.
I can imagine that there is a group running around forcing booze/drugs down the throats of poor and unsuspecting people causing the problem...
Must be, because there are lots of other poor folks NOT committing crimes like these folks. Poverty does not equal crime, it is an excuse used by some to explain the behavior.
Native men (Indians) make up less than 7% of the general population, but make up 40% of the inmate population. Most are in the can due to ‘alcohol related’ crimes - like rape, assault,domestic violence and murder...
So, ya, alcohol is such a problem that many villages are dry...no booze allowed.
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