Recommendation: Neighborhood Safety

 

Improving the perception and the reality of safety in all Stark County neighborhoods

 

 

Fewer neighborhood residents will experience crime and more residents will participate in maintaining the safety of the neighborhood.

 

Recommendation:

 

Neighborhood associations, that have not done so yet, will form partnerships with the police, health officials and other relevant government officials.

 

 

Crime is a concern to the people of Stark County. While there is much to be accomplished in the area of crime, the majority of Stark County is much safer than it is perceived to be. With the exception of the urban areas, both violent and property crime rates as reported by the FBI Uniform Crime Report are lower than both the state and the nation. While Municipal Court felony filings have been on the increase, juvenile cases in Stark County Family Court have been on the decline.

 

Local law enforcement officials state that crime occurs when perpetrator’s believe there is a greater opportunity for success, In the urban areas of the county, neighborhood groups have attempted to organize to play a role in crime detection and prevention through neighborhood associations, neighborhood watches and other grassroots approaches. If residents are more active in reporting and working to prevent crime, their efforts may help reduce the chances that a crime will be committed.

 

Additionally, Stark County residents have called for greater police interaction with the community. One major concern is the lack of trust between law enforcement and residents in some neighborhoods of Stark County. Police cruisers can act as a barrier between law enforcement officers and the people that they serve. Bike and walking patrols allow the public greater accessibility to police officers. Of equal importance is the need for local government officials to be approachable and seen by the public.