Primary prevention of violent crime trends in Fresno, CA for law enforcement and community programs

Rarely do law enforcement agencies receive training to recognize or deal with the needs of victims of crime. In fact, research suggests many legal practices intensify the trauma sustained by victims. As a community it is important to be aware of the number of individuals who become victims of crime. Having knowledge of problems that exist in a community provides awareness, which can endorse and encourage starting prevention and assistance programs. This study was based on an adaptation of Shaw and McKay's model of social disorganization theory and examined poverty and ethnic minority population and it's effect on crime in Fresno, CA. It examined the housing status, which included renter-occupied housing units and average household size of renter-occupied housing units, single female and single male households with children under 18, age/sex, ethnic composition, and average household income by ZIP Code of Fresno, CA, to find a relation to violent crime. Data were collected from the city of Fresno, CA, law enforcement agency on violent crimes from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2011, and sociodemographic from the United States Census for the year 2010. Statistical analysis used was correlation.;Current results indicate significant positive correlations between percentage of renter-occupied housing units and incidence of violent crime. A positive correlation between household size in renter-occupied housing units and incidence of violent crime was not significant. A positive correlation between greater percentage of single female and single male households with children under 18 showed that the incidence of violent crime was found to exist. Also, results indicate that as male age increases there will be a positive correlation with violent crime. However, rates for homicide and rape were highest with the two youngest age categories of males. A positive correlation between ethnic minorities and incidence of violent rate was found to be significant. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between income and incidence of violent crime rates. Various limitations and implications are discussed.