From: ahk@chinet.com

Stephen Sprunk  wrote:
>On 02-Aug-14 16:56, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
>>Stephen Sprunk  wrote:
>>>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.

>>Not what I'm getting at. Cops walking a beat can establish rapport
>>with people who live and work there;

>Right, NYC cops "establish a rapport" with people by stopping and
>frisking them even though there is no reason to suspect them of being
>criminals other than having the "wrong" skin color.

Of course not; that's police state tactics. There are USEFUL ways to
walk a beat.

>>>Just as important, though, are the detectives who investigate
>>>crimes and _actually_ catch the offenders.

>>Investigation is about punishment, not prevention. The vast majority
>>of offenders, in the heat of the moment committing a violent crime,
>>aren't considering the consequence of punishment for themselves.

>Crimes of passion aren't logical, I'll agree, but very little crime
>falls into that category.

Robbing a liquor store isn't a crime of passion; the offender isn't
thinking about consequences, doesn't think about the possibility of
getting caught later by a detective.

>And once someone gets away with one crime because there aren't enough
>cops to catch or even look for them, what do you think happens?  They
>commit more crimes.  OTOH, if you lock up criminals, that seriously
>reduces their ability to commit more crimes--and even when they're
>released, it makes it easier to convict them the next time and put them
>away for even longer.

Yes, I agree with that.

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