Firearm Related Crime
Karyn Bower
Center For Public Safety Initiatives
Introduction
Aggravated Assault
In order to understand Rochester firearm crime, it is necessary to use a
comparison. In this case, Rochester will be compared to other cities
in the upstate New York region. Additionally, state level data can
provide further meaning.
30
68
66
71
69
Percent
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Percentage of Aggravated Assaults Involving Firearms 2012
57
29
25
20
18
10
0
Syracuse
New York
California
Maryland
State
Texas
Buffalo
City
Rochester
Percentage of Aggravated Assaults Involving Firearms 2012
New Jersey
25
20
In the three New York cities, at least three quarters of all murders
involve the use of a firearm. It is interesting to note that in all of New
York State, only 57 percent of murders involve a firearm. This rate is
relatively low compared to the rates of the other states.
Percent
Firearm related crime has become a topic of national interest following
the occurrence of recent mass shootings. While these incidents are
rare, how do firearms factor into the commission of other crimes
which occur more frequently?
Upstate New York
Percent
Percentage of Murders Involving Firearms 2011
22
15
10
14
14
Maryland
New York
18
19
New Jersey
State
California
5
0
Texas
Robbery
Of all examined crimes, aggravated assaults are least likely to involve
firearms. Rochester has the highest rate of the selected cities, while
New York shares the lowest rate among examined states.
Percentage of Robberies Involving Firearms 2012
50
40
Population
261,025
210,855
145,151
Percent
City
Buffalo
Rochester
Syracuse
30
20
Syracuse
As one might expect, firearms are often utilized in murder. Firearms
are used in a higher percentage of murders than in any other
examined crime.
Percentage
85
40
30
45
46
Maryland
Texas
36
30
30
California
New York
20
10
Gun violence interventions have been implemented across the country,
and many have had positive results. Programs that focus on patrol
activities have generally been more effective than those only seeking
to disrupt the supply of firearms to criminals. These patrol tactics
also typically involve community participation and support. The idea
of “Problem-oriented policing” serves as the framework for many of
these programs. The goal of POP is to identify root causes of crime
and provide law enforcement and social service solutions. It is based
on a collaboration between police and their community. These types
of programs have had success in Boston (Operation Ceasefire),
Stockton (Operation Peacekeeper), Kansas City, Indianapolis, and
numerous other cities. The successful results of these interventions
suggest that a similar program could benefit the Rochester
community.
0
80
78
79
70
Rochester
www.PosterPresentations.com
Rochester
50
Percent
90
Buffalo
City
Percentage of Robberies Involving Firearms 2011
Percentage Murders Involving Firearms 2012
RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012
30
0
Murder
75
Interventions
10
US Census 2011 Estimates
85
42
41
Syracuse
City
Buffalo
New Jersey
State
Robberies in Rochester were more likely to involve a firearm than in
the other two New York Cities. Overall, in none of the cities or states
did even half of the reported robberies involve the use of firearms.
References
Crime, Arrest and Firearm Activity Report. Division of Criminal Justice Services
Office of Justice Research and Performance.
United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2013). Uniform
Crime Reports.