Quantitative Literacy Assignment
1. The crime rates between St. George and Sandy were very different but the difference was not as much as I was thinking it would be. Sandy's rate was sitting at near 33% while St. George was roughly 18%. The largest factor that I would say determines this would be the population size and the overall demographic in the area. Obviously St. George has a larger elderly population than Sandy, even with Dixie State. Sandy has a wide variety of demographics and generations throughout and, with being close to Salt Lake City, some crime is bound to overflow into the city's borders.
3. In 2015, Drug Offenses made up 18% of all Part 2 Offenses. I definitely think this contributes to the other offenses since drug usage alters one's thinking and behavior. I have watched plenty of episodes of Cops or Live PD to see that nearly every violation involves some sort of influence from drugs or alcohol. Drugs can make a person very hostile and aloof causing them to to damage to one's property, steal and likely drive under the influence.
4. I am not surprised to see the following categories increase throughout the years: Driving Under the Influence, Weapons Offenses and Stolen Property. With the legalization of Marijuana and the increase in prescription drug abuse, people don't think twice about the impact it has on their driving. From my own experience, it is almost a pride issue to let someone else take you home if you are not sober enough to drive. Nowadays, people don't want to own up to their weaknesses which is a huge cause for the increase in DUI charges. On top of the influence that drugs have on driving there is an influence on the market for drugs. More people are getting into the drug dealing industry since that is where the money seems to be in Utah. This leads to an increase in illegal carrying and purchasing of weapons around the state. Drug abuse leads to amoral behavior such as stealing items just to pawn them off for money to fund your habit. It is a cliche to say it but drugs are the "slippery slope" to all other crimes.
3. In 2015, Drug Offenses made up 18% of all Part 2 Offenses. I definitely think this contributes to the other offenses since drug usage alters one's thinking and behavior. I have watched plenty of episodes of Cops or Live PD to see that nearly every violation involves some sort of influence from drugs or alcohol. Drugs can make a person very hostile and aloof causing them to to damage to one's property, steal and likely drive under the influence.
4. I am not surprised to see the following categories increase throughout the years: Driving Under the Influence, Weapons Offenses and Stolen Property. With the legalization of Marijuana and the increase in prescription drug abuse, people don't think twice about the impact it has on their driving. From my own experience, it is almost a pride issue to let someone else take you home if you are not sober enough to drive. Nowadays, people don't want to own up to their weaknesses which is a huge cause for the increase in DUI charges. On top of the influence that drugs have on driving there is an influence on the market for drugs. More people are getting into the drug dealing industry since that is where the money seems to be in Utah. This leads to an increase in illegal carrying and purchasing of weapons around the state. Drug abuse leads to amoral behavior such as stealing items just to pawn them off for money to fund your habit. It is a cliche to say it but drugs are the "slippery slope" to all other crimes.
Reflection
I loved this assignment! It was very insightful to see all of the differences in percentages with the various offenses. It really helped to open my eyes into the environment that we are in, not that it is all bad. I really want to start diving deeper into the more recent crime reports to see the changes that have happened, especially with the whole Fentanyl outburst that has happened over the last few years. I think every citizen should make an effort to review the crime rate every year. It would be beneficial to them since it's the community which they live and raise children.