COMPASS II-2.0 Crime Key Findings
Violent Crime
26% of residents and 20% of key informants said that violent crime was perceived as a problem in their community. 5% of residents indicated that someone in their household had been a victim of violent crime; however, low income respondents note 11.8% have been a victim of violent crime. Comments from the household survey indicate respondents have a perception that violent crime has been increasing locally; however, data on violent crime in Tompkins County has remained fairly flat between 2004 and 2008 for both adults and juveniles.
Non-Violent Crime
35% of residents and 40% of key informants indicated that non-violent crime was a problem in their community, and 9% said someone in their household had been a victim of non-violent crime. 12% of residents with low-income reported being victims of crime much more frequently than respondents from other income categories (between 1.5-2.5%). As with violent crime, property crime (non-violent) rates have remained relatively flat in recent years.
Gangs/Juvenile Delinquency
| 87.6% of the youth admitted to Tompkins County jail in 2000-2005 were male. Source: Tompkins County Jail |
A little more than 30% (30.7%) of residents and 32% of key informants reported that gangs and/or juvenile delinquency were perceived as problems in the community. Urban residents (35.5%) were much more likely to say that gangs/juvenile delinquency is a critical problem than rural residents (25.1%). 9% of respondents report they do not feel safe at night in their neighborhood. The general perception is the county is not experiencing organized gang activity to the magnitude of larger cities. Both law enforcement and low-income homeless teens suggest that some local individuals take on the "image" of gangs but are not engaged in organized criminal behaviors. Comments in the household survey indicate that a number of respondents report gang and drug activity in their neighborhoods. Other comments suggest that teenagers are more likely to engage in risky and criminal behavior due to a lack of activities available locally.
Respondents aged 60 + were less likely to perceive Domestic Violence as a community problem than other age groups. Respondents under 30 were more likely to experience Non-violent, Violent Crime, and Domestic Violence in their household. |
Family Violence
39% of residents and 51% of key informants reported that family violence is a problem in their community. The incidence of domestic violence is difficult to assess on a household level because it is frequently underreported. Statistics regarding reported family violence show that rates remain relatively flat over recent years, including domestic violence calls to the Sheriff's department and Advocacy Center service data. Tompkins County has a lower rate of child abuse, with 18.4 indicated in reports per 10,000 residents than New York State as a whole, with 26.5 per 10,000 residents.
Assets
Overall, both indicator and survey data indicate that Tompkins County's crime is not a critical problem. In the resident survey, a median of 88% within the age category respondents agreed that their community is a safe place to live.
Tompkins County has several law enforcement agencies, including the Tompkins County Sheriff Dept., Ithaca Police Dept., NY State Police, Cornell Police Dept., Ithaca College Public Safety Dept. and four village police departments in Cayuga Heights, Trumansburg, Dryden and Freeville. The law enforcement agencies coordinate regularly on investigations and community policing efforts, including addressing student end-of-year celebrations.
Crime victims can find support from the Advocacy Center and the NYS Crime Board. The Advocacy Center provides support, advocacy and education for survivors of domestic violence, child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault. The NYS Crime Board provides financial relief to crime victims in some instances.
Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources (OAR) provides services to Tompkins county jail inmates and their families including facilitating inmate contact with their families, loved ones, employers and schools; increasing clients' awareness of and access to appropriate community services and criminal justice resources; and providing Tompkins' inmates with assistance to mitigate the stress, isolation, and depression associated with incarceration.
The Tompkins County Department of Probation and Community Justice operate several Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) programs with the goal of helping rehabilitate offenders and to help keep them in the community. A recent evaluation of the Ithaca Community Treatment Court, Tompkins County Felony Treatment Court, and the Tompkins County Day Reporting programs estimated the three ATI programs' net cost to the county is just under $250,000 with an estimated economic benefit of more than $4.8 million from increased employment, education, and reduced public assistance resulting from participation in these programs.
Tompkins Learning Partners provides free tutoring to local incarcerated youth in both the MacCormick Secure Center for young men and the Lansing Residential Center for young women in Tompkins County.
Community Dispute and Resolution Center fosters constructive responses to conflict, providing free counseling to educate, teach, train, and facilitate mediations between families and individuals helping them resolve their problems/issues.
Resources
Tompkins County Sheriff
Ithaca Police Department
Tompkins County Youth Services
Advocacy Center
Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources
Department of Social Services
Alternatives to Incarceration Programs (ATI)
NYS Crime Victims Board
NYS Kids' Well-Being Indicators
