From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 02-Aug-14 12:45, Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
   > Stephen Sprunk  wrote:   
   >> The main factor [in crime rates] today is the number of cops per   
   >> capita.  For instance, among large cities, NYC has the most cops   
   >> per capita and the lowest murder rate, while Dallas has the fewest   
   >> cops (1/2x NYC) and highest murder rate (2x NYC).  And the number   
   >> of cops is determined by tax/economic policies, so again it boils   
   >> down to money.   
   >   
   > Do New York cops walk beats, or are they pulled away for special   
   > events and traffic, and all too often just acting like security   
   > guards and spooks? Cop walking a beat, if he's useful, may have some   
   > effect on crime, but the rest of it is window dressing.   
      
   Cops walking/driving a beat increases the _perception_ that criminals   
   will be caught, changing the subconscious risk/reward analysis.  Just as   
   important, though, are the detectives who investigate crimes and   
   _actually_ catch the offenders.   
      
   I don't know how it is in NYC, but in Dallas, if you report a crime,   
   they'll try to discourage you from filing a report (or even refuse to   
   accept it), and if you do manage to get one filed, they'll tell you that   
   they're so overworked that nobody will do anything about it.  I can't   
   believe that such a scenario has no impact on crime rates.   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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