Published: April 30, 2008 05:02 pm            

DeKAY: Perception isn’t always reality

I watch the news everyday…well, almost every day. I also read at least two newspapers daily; not cover to cover, but I give them a good going over. It occurred to me this week while I was reading of yet another shooting involving a police officer that much of the time our perceptions of what is happening in our community and in the country, are based not only on the articles we choose to read, or listen to, but also on the articles we chose to ignore. I decided to do some investigation on what statistically might be happening with violent crime in Indiana and in the country.

If you are like most of us, you watch one newscast more than any other, and have a favorite newspaper, news broadcaster, columnist, and blogger and/or news magazine. You watch or read these papers, blogs or newscasters daily, so that is where your ‘impressions’ of what is happening are formed. Opinions on crime may also be influenced by discussions with coworkers, friends and relatives.

Let’s do a small social experiment, are you ready? I will ask you ten questions on the subject of crime. I chose crime because I think it is a subject that can: 1. be verified statistically, 2. has been verified by independent and reliable sources such as the FBI, 3. crime can be observed statistically with objectivity, and 4. crime is written about often, reported on television news, and discussed in the blogosphere, and with friends and family.

Listed below are ten true or false questions. The answer to each question is listed at the end of the article, along with its source. Please don’t peek or surf the net for answers. It is important that you use your ‘perceptions’ to answer the questions. Answer each question true or false to the best of your knowledge. After answering all ten questions check your answers with the correct answers given at the end of the article. Give yourself a score based on how many ‘correct’ answers you had. If you answered all ten questions correctly, your score is ten. If you had five questions right, then your score is ‘five’.

Calculate your score, and send me an email with your test results. You need only send your first name, your score, and your primary source of news i.e.; if you watch CNN every night and that is where you get most of your news, then CNN is your primary source of information. If you read the Evening News or the New Albany Tribune, and rely on it for news, then identify your source. A typical response might be, “Jane, 7, CNN.” Send your score to my email, DKCommunications@insightbb.com or to newsroom@newsandtribune.com.

This is an ‘honors’ test, so send your real score. Fill in the subject line of the email with the words, “Test Results”, and type your results in the body of the email.



Here are your ten questions

1. In 2006, 12 out of every 100 officers were assaulted. True or False?

2. Of the law enforcement officers who sustained injuries, more were injured by firearms. True or False?

3. Most officers were injured during traffic stops. True or False?

4. Most officers, who were assaulted, were assigned to two officer cars. True or False?

5. In Indiana, violent crimes have been declining since 1996. True or False?

6. In Indiana crimes against property have been increasing since the year 2000. True or False?

7. Since 2002 the number of stolen cars in Indiana has been decreasing. True or False?

8. Most murders are committed by people unknown to the victim. True or False?

9. Most homicides committed by family members involve firearms. True or False?

10. Between Clark, Harrison, and Floyd Counties, Clark County has the most reported violent crime in 2005. True or False?

Congratulations, you have completed your test; for answers to each question, read below:

In the US, according to the FBI, 58,634 or 26.8 percent of law enforcement officers were assaulted and suffered injuries in 2006. The rate was 11.8 assaulted, per 100 officers.

Of the 58,634 officers assaulted, 28.5 percent who were attacked with ‘personal weapons’, i.e., hands, feet, fists, sustained injuries; 13.9 percent of officers attacked by knives or other cutting instruments were injured; 10.2 percent who were attacked using firearms sustained injuries.

The largest number of officers attacked was responding to ‘disturbance’ call. (Family quarrels, bar fights, etc.)

Most officers that were assaulted were assigned to one officer cars.

In Indiana violent crimes have been in a steady decline since 1996 according to the ILEA, Uniform Crime Reports.

Crimes against property have been trending upward in Indiana from 2000 through 2006. Stolen vehicles have been steadily increasing in Indiana, and in 2006 were the highest since 1998.

The total number of murders in the US from 1976-2005 were 594,276; of that number approximately 42% of all murders were committed by someone known to the victim; a family member, spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, or other acquaintance. The number of homicides where the victim/offender relationship was undetermined has been increasing since the year 2000. In 14% of all murders the victim and the offender were strangers.

In 2006 Clark County had the most violent crimes, and then Harrison County and Floyd County had the least number of violent crimes.

Please check your answers, calculate your score, and send me your email. I will talk about the results next week in my column on Thursday.



Answers

1-T, 2-F, 3-F, 4-F, 5-T, 6-T, 7-F, 8-F, 9-F, 10-T

(The crime statistics listed above came from the following sources:LEOKA(Law Enforcement Officers Killed Assaulted, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indiana Law Enforcement Agency/Uniform Crime Reports 1980-2005;United States Department of Justice Programs/Bureau of Justice Statistics; Uniform Crime Reports and Index of Crime in the State of Indiana, 1985-2005. Some tables contained 2006 data)

Thoughts from the Hungry Side of Daybreak are written by Peggy DeKay, a business and freelance writer and Clark County resident. She can be reached at DKcommunications@insightbb.com.

        

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