Crime is down at LA schools. But there’s a caveat – Daily Breeze

Crime is down at LA schools. But there’s a caveat – Daily Breeze

Crime is down at LA schools. But there’s a caveat

There were 2,014 crimes reported at school campuses in the city during the 2018-19 school year, a 10.1% drop from the previous year, according to Crosstown, which is based out of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

LOS ANGELES — With Los Angeles schools back in session, parents should find comfort in police statistics showing campuses are getting progressively safer, according to a report released Thursday by a nonprofit news organization.

Crosstown, which is based out of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, reported that based on Los Angeles Police Department data, there were 2,014 crimes reported at school campuses in the city during the 2018-19 school year, a 10.1% drop from the previous year.

The 2018-19 figure was down dramatically — 25.8% — from 2010-11, when LAPD statistics became publicly available, according to Crosstown.

Crosstown’s report noted that the numbers are tempered by a corresponding reduction in enrollment at city schools over the past decade, with the LAUSD projecting this year’s enrollment at 557,560, down 12.4% from 2010-11. The organization also noted that the numbers are based only on the crimes reported to the LAPD. The Los Angeles School Police Department oversees investigations of crimes at LAUSD schools, and that agency reports to the LAPD.

During the 2018-19 school year, high schools were the site of 45.6% of reported crimes, while middle schools represented 28.4% and elementary schools 26%, according to the report. The most common type of crime reported at high schools was theft, while battery/simple assaults were the most common crime at middle schools and burglary most prevalent at elementary schools.

Overall, crimes committed at schools represent a small fraction of the offenses committed citywide. Crosstown’s report found that of more than 2 million crimes reported between Jan. 1, 2010, and July 31, 2019, only 1.37% occurred at schools.

The report also noted that reported crimes are just one measure of assessing safety at campuses. The LAPD data does not, Crosstown reported, take into account other issues that could create challenges for students, such as bullying, fighting or drug use.

According to the report, the five most common types of crimes at schools during the 2018-19 school year were:

Elementary Schools: CONTINUE READING: Crime is down at LA schools. But there’s a caveat – Daily Breeze