Public Safety
A. ISSUE SUMMARY
Vision Statement: "Travis County will be a community where all persons will be safe from crime and victimization."
Strategies for Building a Stronger Community: A Community Guide
The key findings regarding the public safety outcomes are:
- Safety issues. The number of residents who felt safe walking alone downtown during the day increased by 14% from 1995 to 1997. In 1997, the overwhelming majority of residents felt safe walking alone in their neighborhoods and downtown Austin during the day. In contrast, many residents did not feel safe walking alone at night, especially downtown.
- Juvenile Referrals. The total Travis County juvenile referral rate increased from 1993 to 1995, then levelled off from 1995 to 1997. Juvenile referrals for most offenses declined from 1994 to 1997.
- Juvenile Gang Activity. Between 1994 and 1997, Travis County Juvenile Court experienced a 12% reduction in the percentage of juveniles referred who were involved in gangs.
- Adult Crime. Between 1992 and 1996, the reported index crime rate for property crimes decreased by 30%, but rose 0.6% in 1997. Violent crimes reached their peak in 1995, then decreased by 13% from 1995 to 1997. They rose again in 1997 by 3%. When reviewing trend data, it is important to note that revised reporting methods instituted in 1995 may affect the ability to accurately conduct yearly comparisons.
- Recidivism. 19% of Travis County adults on deferred adjudication and 38% of Travis County adults on adjudicated probation committed new offenses or violated conditions of probation and were sent to prison within three years of being placed under supervision. 20% of juveniles on deferred adjudication and 13% of juveniles on probation reoffended within one year of discharge.
- Victims Services. The number of victims served by Travis County Sheriffs Office increased by nearly 2,000% between 1992 and 1995, while the number of victims served by the Austin Police Department increased by 544%. The majority of victims served were victims of either family violence or child abuse.
- Child Abuse. The per capita number of confirmed child abuse/neglect cases declined by 42% between 1993 and 1996.
- Domestic Violence. Between 1993 and 1995, the number of domestic violence incidents reported to police decreased by 23%. In 1996, a new tracking method was instituted by the Austin Police Department. While this system more accurately captures data, it makes comparisons with past years difficult. As a result, it is unclear whether the nearly 50% increase in the domestic violence rate from 1995 to 1996 is due to the new system or to an actual increase.
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B. BACKGROUND AND INFLUENCING FACTORS
Importance to the Community
Some of the factors that influence the level of criminal activity of a community are poverty levels, a lack of education, the use of alcohol and drugs, gang involvement and family problems. Prevention of criminal behavior calls for education and programs at early stages in life that will help reduce the incidence of crime. Dealing with crime also calls for maximizing the various services that are available in the community for victims of criminal activity.
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C. OUTCOMES AND KEY INDICATORS
The eight outcomes that will be analyzed in the next section are:
- Increase in the percentage of residents who report an improved perception of personal safety
- Decrease in the juvenile referral rate
- Decrease in the percentage of juveniles referred who are known or suspected gang members
- Decrease in the incidence of adult crime
- Decrease in the percentage of offenders re-arrested within three years of case disposition
- Increase in the percentage of victims served by victims services
- Decrease in the confirmed child abuse/neglect rate
- Decreased incidence of reported domestic violence
OUTCOME: Increased percentage of residents who report an improved perception of personal safety
To truly capture this outcome, it would be helpful to examine perceptions of safety in different neighborhoods in Travis County, and to determine whether residents feel safe at home, in their cars, walking in groups, etc. This information, however, is not currently available. At this time, the best available indicators for this outcome are from the Austin Quality Survey conducted by the City of Austin. They indicate the percentage of city residents that feel safe walking in their neighborhoods and downtown during the day and at night.
Figure 4.12.1
Percentage of Austin Residents Who Felt Safe While Walking Alone
in Their Own Neighborhoods
Source: Austin Quality Survey, City of Austin. Note: 1996 statisics were computed based upon 1995 and 1997 data.
In 1997, nearly all Austin residents felt safe walking in their neighborhoods during the day, with the percentage remaining fairly constant since 1994. While the percentage of residents who felt safe when walking alone in their neighborhoods at night rose from 1994 to 1997, a large percentage still did not feel comfortable doing so in 1997.
Figure 4.12.2
Percentage of Austin Residents Who Felt Safe While Walking Alone
in Downtown Austin
Source: Austin Quality Survey, City of Austin.
In 1997, daytime safety perceptions were only slightly lower downtown than in neighborhoods. However, most Austin residents did not feel safe walking alone in the downtown area at night, and the percentage who felt safe decreased by 9% from 1996 to 1997.
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OUTCOME: Decreased juvenile referral rates
Formal referrals include any occasion when a child is brought to the juvenile departments attention for alleged delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision, and some contact by visit or interview occurs between the department and the child or parents. As Figure 4.12.3 shows, from 1995 to1997, the percentage of juveniles ages 10 to 16 who had formal referrals to Travis County Juvenile Court decreased by 5%.
Figure 4.12.3
Formal Referrals to Travis County Juvenile Court as a Percentage of the Travis County, Population, Ages 10 to 16 CY 1993 to 1997
Source: Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.
Figure 4.12.4 shows the number of formal and informal referrals to Travis County Juvenile Court. Informal referrals include referrals not meeting the criteria for formal referrals, including Class C offenses in which jurisdiction has yet to be transferred from Justice of the Peace or Municipal Courts, and offenses such as Violations of Conditions of Release and Failures to Appear.
Figure 4.12.4
Total (Formal and Informal) Number of Referrals to Travis County Juvenile Court -- CY 1993-1997
Source: Travis County Juvenile Court,1994.
Total referrals (formal and informal) to Travis County Juvenile Court peaked in 1995, then declined by 12% from 1995 to 1997. While formal referrals decreased by 31%, informal referrals increased by 29%.
Figure 4.12.5
Total Felony Referrals to Travis County Juvenile Court as a Percentage of the Travis County Population, Ages 10 to 16 CY 1994 and 1997
Source: Travis County Juvenile Court.
Figure 4.12.5 indicates that all types of juvenile felony referral rates experienced a decline from 1994 to 1997. The largest reduction was in property offenses.
Figure 4.12.6
Total Class A and B Misdemeanor Referrals to Travis County Juvenile Court as a Percentage of the Travis County Population, Ages 10 to16 CY 1994 and 1997
Source: Travis County Juvenile Court.
The rates for all types of Class A and B misdemeanors, except drug offenses, decreased between 1994 and 1997. The rates for drug offenses remained relatively stable.
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OUTCOME: Decreased percentage of juveniles referred who are known or suspected gang members
Data on gangs are kept by both the Austin Police Departments (APD) Gang Suppression Unit and Travis County Juvenile Court. These data differ, as APD records gang affiliation only if the juvenile is arrested, while Juvenile Court records gang affiliation of all referrals, both formal and informal. Because Juvenile Court records include a greater number of juveniles, they are presented here.
Figure 4.12.7
Percentage of Juveniles Referred to Travis County Juvenile Court Who Were Affiliated With Gangs
1994-1997
Source: Travis County Juvenile Court.
The percentage of juveniles referred to Juvenile Court who were involved in gangs decreased by 12% from 1994 to 1997.
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OUTCOME: Decreased incidence of adult crime
Figure 4.12.8
Total Reported Index Crime Rate (Per 100,000 Population) Travis County
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety.
From 1992 to 1996, the total reported property crime (burglary, theft and auto theft) rate decreased by 30%. It rose slightly (0.6%) in 1997. The violent crime (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) rate reached its peak in 1995, then decreased by 13% from 1995 to 1997.
When reviewing index crime data, it is important to note that revised reporting methods instituted by the Austin Police Department in 1995 may affect the ability to accurately conduct yearly comparisons.
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OUTCOME: Decreased percentage of offenders re-arrested and sentenced to prison within three years of case disposition
This outcome is intended to address the issue of recidivism. Recidivism is defined by The American Heritage Dictionary as "a tendency to relapse into a former pattern of behavior, esp[ecially] a tendency to return to criminal habits."
Because recidivism numbers are very tedious to calculate, limited data on recidivism in Travis County is available. Data specific to the outcome statement was not available, so some of the data presented for this outcome is based on a study by the Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council (CJPC). The CJPC defines recidivism as "the reoccurrence of criminal behavior which resulted in the offender being sentenced to prison." CJPCs recidivism numbers reflect the percentage of offenders placed on community supervision in 1991 that, within three years, committed new offenses or technical violations of conditions of community supervision and were sentenced to prison.
There is no one definitive, agreed-upon way to measure recidivism, and the measures typically used by different entities vary according to their perspectives. The CJPC focuses on returns to prison, for example, because that's what affects the state fiscally. However, many people who reoffend while on deferred adjudication or probation are not sent to prison. As a result, the CJPCs definition of recidivism is less restrictive than the one in the outcome statement and may not necessarily be the best one for the county.
Figure 4.12.9
Three-Year Recidivism Rate of Adults Placed on Deferred Adjudication by County of Conviction
Caveat: Recidivism rates are influenced by revocation policies.
Source: Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council.
Less than 20% of adult offenders placed on deferred adjudication in Travis County in 1991 committed new offenses or technical violations of conditions of community supervision and were sentenced to prison. Of the largest counties in Texas, Travis County had the third lowest rate.
Figure 4.12.10
Three-Year Recidivism Rate of Adults Sentenced to Adjudicated Probation by County of Conviction
Source: Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council.
Caveat: Recidivism rates are influenced by countys revocation policies.
In contrast, 38% of adults placed on probation in 1991 committed new offenses or technical violations of conditions of community supervision and were sentenced to prison. Of the largest counties in Texas, Travis County had the second highest recidivism rate for adults on adjudicated probation.
Figure 4.12.11
Percentage of Juveniles Discharged from Probation or Deferred Adjudication in CY 1997 Who Did Not Re-Offend with at Least a Class B Misdemeanor within 1 Year of Discharge
For purposes of Figure 4.12.11, reoffense is defined as a referral for an offense of a Class B misdemeanor or above within one year of discharge. 20% of juveniles on deferred adjudication and 13% of juveniles on probation reoffended within one year of discharge.
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OUTCOME: Increased percentage of victims served by victims services
Figure 4.12.12
Victims Served by the Austin Police Department
Source: Austin Police Department.
The number of victims of criminal activity served by the Austin Police Department increased by 544% between 1992 and 1997. Likewise, the number of victims served by the Travis County Sheriffs Office increased by nearly 2,000% between 1992 and 1995. Data on victims served by the Sheriffs Office beyond 1995 were not available.
Figure 4.12.13
Victims Served by the Travis County Sheriffs Office
Source: Travis County Sheriffs Office.
Numbers presented in Figure 4.12.12 and Figure 4.12.13 may be misleading because there are various factors that could increase the number of victims served (i.e., increased number of victims in the community, more police staff available to make arrests, a larger county population, etc.). The ideal measure for this outcome would include the percentage of victims being served in addition to the number. At this time, there are no data available on how many victims are not receving services.
Figure 4.12.14
Percentage of Victims Served By Crime Austin Police Department -- 1994
The majority of victims served by the Austin Police Departments Victim Services in 1994 were victims of family violence or child abuse.
Figure 4.12.15
Percentage of Victims Served by Travis County Sheriffs Office by Type -- 1994
Over one in three victims served by the Travis County Sherrifs Office were victims of family violence.
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OUTCOME: Reduced child abuse and neglect rates
Figure 4.12.16
Number of Alleged Victims of Child Abuse/Neglect Cases for Travis County and Texas
(per 100,000 children) FY 1992 to 1996
Source: Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
Both Travis County and the state experienced a decline in the alleged child abuse/neglect rate between 1993 and 1996. The Travis County rate decreased by 44% from 1993 to 1996, and by 1996, the Travis County rate fell below the Texas average. It should be noted, however, that the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services changed their method of reporting child abuse/neglect in 1995, which may account for a portion of the decline. The decrease in part is due in part to a change in the automation system of CPS that now removes inconsistent data. In addition, supervisory approval is now needed for a case to be closed.
Figure 4.12.17
Number of Confirmed Victims of Child Abuse/Neglect, Travis County
(per 100,000 children) FY 1992 to 1996
Source: Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
Like the alleged rate, the confirmed child abuse rate decreased by 42% between 1993 and 1996. Again, the reporting system for abuse and neglect was changed in 1995, making comparisons between years difficult.
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OUTCOME: Decreased incidents of reported domestic violence
Figure 4.12.18
Victims of Domestic Violence per 100,000 population in Travis County
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety.
Data shows that between 1993 and 1995, the domestic violence rate decreased by 27%. In 1996, a new method of tracking was instituted by the Austin Police Department. This new tracking procedure more accurately captures data, but has made yearly comparisons difficult. It is expected that these numbers will further increase with the opening of the Family Violence Court in January 1999.
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D. OTHER KEY OUTCOMES AND STATUS
The Community Guide identified additional outcomes, and consultations with key groups added several more. These outcomes are listed below with annotations that include clarification, availability of data, and recommendations for further use.
The following outcomes are being addressed in other chapters:
- Increased number of clients who improved school attendance
- Increased number of clients demonstrating improved academic performance
- Increased number of clients obtaining job placement
The following outcomes are measurable but do not have adequate data available:
- Reduced time victim must wait for counseling
- Increased number of clients remaining or re-enrolling in school or vocational training during the reporting period
- Increased number of clients (including perpetrators) showing no new, or reduced, incidence of family violence/abuse/neglect
- Improved use of volunteer services
- Enhanced early intervention services
- Improved services delivered to outlying areas
- Increased number of child victims who receive services to address victimization
The following outcomes are complex and need to be better operationalized before they can be evaluated:
- Increased number of clients with no new court or police involvement during the reporting period
- Minimized inefficiencies in the delivery of services
- Maximized use of community providers
- Enhanced dissemination of information to the public
- Increased number of clients served who demonstrate measured improvements in attitude/behavior
- Increased number of clients served who self-report an improvement in attitude/behavior
- Every victim receives all necessary services
- Increased number of clients who demonstrate increased knowledge/skills relative to issues area and /or resources
- Increased number of clients who successfully completed the program
- Increased level of client/family satisfaction with services
- Increased number of clients maintaining employment for a scheduled period of time
- Increased number of clients maintaining employment at scheduled follow-up sessions
- Increased number of clients demonstrating a measured reduction in at-risk behavior
- Increased number of clients who leave program with individual safety plan
- Increased number of clients who leave program to a situation that does not include the batterer
- Increased number of clients who report being in an improved situation (i.e., enhanced safety) at follow-up session
- Increased number of individuals served who disclose abuse, violence, neglect and/or exploitation and receive appropriate referrals
- Increased number of child victims provided advocacy
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E. TERMS, CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS
Conduct Indicating a Need for Supervision: Violation by a child of any law punishable by fine only, other than traffic offenses; driving while intoxicated (first and second offense), inhalant abuse, running away and truancy. As of September 1, 1997, first and second offense DWIs are also considered delinquent behavior.
Delinquent Behavior: Violation by a child of any law punishable by incarceration, except traffic laws.
Formal Referral: Any occasion when a child is brought to the juvenile departments attention for alleged delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision, and some contact by visit or interview occurs between the department and the child or parents.
Index Crimes: Seven crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, and motor vehcile theft, upon which the Department of Public Safety collects data. All of the crimes in this group are serious, either because of type or because of frequency.
Informal Referral: Includes juvenile referrals not meeting the criteria for formal referrals, including Class C offenses in which jurisdiction has yet to be transferred from Justice of the Peace or Municipal Courts, and offenses such as Violation of Conditions of Release and Failure to Appear.
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