"In a report to be released next month, researchers at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey find that nearly 30 years of violence in Salinas has been intimately tied to education and employment levels, but not necessarily to crowded housing or police staffing levels.
'Although funding will be a problem for any program recommended to help lower violence, education pursuits should be given priority for funding,' the report concludes.
One finding surprised the authors — that Salinas' crowded housing not only did not exacerbate violent crime, but was inexplicably tied to decreases.
An analysis of whether police budgets have an impact on violent crime was inconclusive. But that shouldn't rule out a hard look at the city's approach to policing, the report said.
The NPS research is part of an ongoing effort to understand — and rectify — the city's violent crime rate, which for 14 straight years has been greater than state and national averages. A record number of 29 homicides this year have been blamed on gang violence."
'Although funding will be a problem for any program recommended to help lower violence, education pursuits should be given priority for funding,' the report concludes.
One finding surprised the authors — that Salinas' crowded housing not only did not exacerbate violent crime, but was inexplicably tied to decreases.
An analysis of whether police budgets have an impact on violent crime was inconclusive. But that shouldn't rule out a hard look at the city's approach to policing, the report said.
The NPS research is part of an ongoing effort to understand — and rectify — the city's violent crime rate, which for 14 straight years has been greater than state and national averages. A record number of 29 homicides this year have been blamed on gang violence."
