NEED DONE
Interview at least three (3) different people from separate socio-economic backgrounds. Write a minimum of a three (3) page paper that summarizes the interviews. Your paper needs to be written in Times New Roman size 12 font and it is to be double spaced. Provide a contact phone number for each person you interview inside of the paper. You may use a list of prepared questions or simply interview people about crime. These are some suggested topics that should be addressed.
Aleida J. Paredes Lopez
Professor Mark Brooks
Community Oriented Policing – CJ3510
August 27th, 2020
Project 3: Crime Interview
For this project I interviewed three people of different socio-economic backgrounds.
There were nine questions asked about crime in their community. All three subjects were asked
the same nine questions. The questions were generic and asked about personal opinions of crime
in their communities. The persons interviewed were the following:
1. Melinda Tull- Melinda is a middle age, white woman, homeowner who lives in a higher-
class neighborhood located in Avon, IN.
2. Trey Jefferson- Trey is a middle age, black man, homeowner who lives in a middle-class
neighborhood located in the south side of Indianapolis.
3. Rosa Lopez- Rosa is a senior, Hispanic woman, homeowner who lives in a lower-class
neighborhood located in the east side of Indianapolis.
All three of the subjects have stable jobs and have never been in trouble with the law.
They all had different concerns about crime. Starting with Rosa, who lives in the lower-class
neighborhood in Indianapolis. She was the only person who mentioned witnessing crimes before.
She was most concerned with the fact that police was only seen around in case of emergencies.
After conducting an investigation about local crime reports on Indy.gov, I found the
following information: The types of crimes reported in Rosa’s neighborhood were: assault, theft,
public disturbance and burglary. See image
below.
https://cityprotect.com/map/list/agencies
In contrast to Rosa’s neighborhood, Trey’s neighborhood showed that the majority of the
crimes reported in the area had to do with traffic stops and suspicious vehicle stops. See image
below.
https://cityprotect.com/map/list/agencies
https://cityprotect.com/map/list/agencies
And finally, when a search for Melinda’s neighborhood was completed, there was a great
difference in the levels and the types of crimes found. Only a couple of quality of life complaints
and one vehicle theft showed up. See image below.
https://cityprotect.com/map/list/agencies
https://cityprotect.com/map/list/agencies
https://cityprotect.com/map/list/agencies
Crimes in all three neighborhoods seem so different. The lower class neighborhoods definitely
experience the most crime. But why? After conducting investigation about the relationship
between crimes and separate socio-economic backgrounds, I found a publication made by the
NCJRS that explains why crime is higher in lower- class neighborhoods. The publication states
that “The presence of homeowners and their greater investment in the neighborhood is what
leads to more involvement in crime-prevention behaviors” (Hipp, 2017). So, according to the
NCJRS, people who own their homes is more likely to be involved in community-oriented
policing.
To verify the information obtained from the NCJRS about renters vs owners. I went to
stats.in.edu and found the following information. See images below.
Rosa’s neighborhood:
https://www.
stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp
Trey’s Neighborhood:
https://www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp?scope_choice=a
&county_changer=18081
Melinda’s neighborhood:
https://www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp?scope_choice=a&county_changer=18081
https://www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp?scope_choice=a&county_changer=18063
As we can see in the images above, the higher the socio-economical class, the less renters
there is. Which makes sense to me. Poor people cannot afford to buy a home. More renters
means less homeowners and less homeowners mean less community-oriented policing.
The difference in crimes in all three of the subject’s neighborhoods is very clear. People
who lives in different neighborhoods face different types of crimes and therefore, their concerns
are also very different. Lower- class neighborhoods have more crimes and therefore, more police
officers are occupied attending emergency calls. The officers have little time to make bonds with
the community because they are always busy. However, police officers are not to blame, they do
everything in their power to keep the neighborhood safe. But there is a need for more officers in
the lower- class neighborhoods. The solution sounds impossible considering all of the budget
cuts.
I then begin to wonder, who pays for law enforcement? According to the Indiana.Gov
website, property taxes pay for law enforcement. See image below.
https://www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp?scope_choice=a&county_changer=18063
https://faqs.in.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115005068547-What-do-my-property-taxes-pay-for-
In conclusion, it all comes down to money. Lower-class neighborhoods pay less property
taxes because property value goes down with crime rate, and therefore, less police officers can be
afforded. Higher-class neighborhood pay very high property taxes so they can afford more
officers. The sad part about this truth is that all three of my subjects were willing to participate in
community- oriented policing. They all liked the idea of helping the police fight crime, the only
difference in their answers was the types of concerns they had. The higher class people are more
worried about heath related/health care issues while the lower class worry about violent crimes
and the availability of public services. Socio-economical class differences reflect on people’s
concerns about crime and quality of life’s issues.
https://faqs.in.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115005068547-What-do-my-property-taxes-pay-for-
References
Hipp, J. R. (2017, August). PUBLICATIONS: Crime Causes Theory. Retrieved August 27, 2020,
from https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=242128
(n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2020, from https://cityprotect.com/map/list/agencies
(n.d.). What do my property taxes pay for? Retrieved August 27, 2020, from
https://faqs.in.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115005068547-What-do-my-property-taxes-pay-for-
Stats Indiana. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2020, from
https://www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp?scope_choice=a
Interviews
Rosa Lopez (317) 991-6587
1. What are the “quality of life” issues that are a concern to you?
Answer: Public schools providing students with equal resources to all children. I want to
see every school having enough money to provide all children with quality education, not
just the rich neighborhood kids but all kids. Public roads need to be improved in my
neighborhood. The Poth holes are unbelievable in the east side.
2. Do you fear crime?
Answer: Yes, as a matter of fact, I witnessed a robbery in the gas station next to my
house. This gas station has lots of robberies, shootings, drug activity. The police is there
all the time. The Gas station is CONOCO in the corner of 16th st and N. Gladstone Ave.
3. If so, which crimes do you fear?
Answer: I fear house break-ins, robbery, shootings.
4. What are your impressions of Community-Oriented Policing?
Answer: I have never had a police officer ask me anything. They often park in front of
my driveway when they come to that gas station. They never talk to me.
5. Do you believe it will work?
Answer: Community policing will be possible if the police did some outreach. I have
never seen an officer in my area just riding around saying hi to people. They are always
attending emergencies.
6. Are you willing to try it?
Answer: Yes, I am willing to help them find these criminals.
7. Would you participate?
Answer: Yes, I sure will. Anything to keep my neighborhood safe.
8. Do you think people in your neighborhood participate?
Answer: I am not sure that everyone will but I can tell you at least 3 close by neighbors
will be willing to help the police.
9. What change would you like to see in your neighborhood?
Answer: I will like to see more patrolling around. Not just when the emergencies happen
but just to establish more police presence.
Trey Jefferson (317) 997-1683
1. What are the “quality of life” issues that are a concern to you?
Answer: One of the quality of life issues that concern me is the availability of health care
to all of society in America. Canada has a free health care system while in America, it is
limited to only those who qualify. One other issue is affordable living. With the changing
of the economy, the cost of living goes up. It is now where minimum wage doesn’t even
cut it anymore. People are working 2 and 3 jobs just to stay afloat.
2. Do you fear crime?
Answer: I fear that crime is and will get worse if we don’t take the time to look into our
legislative personnel. We must take an initiative responsibility to VOTE and ELECT
those who will benefit us as a nation.
3. If so, which crimes do you fear?
Answer: What I fear the most is the robbing and killing of our stay at home senior
citizens. I feel that lately, those are the ones that are most vulnerable in today’s society.
4. What are your impressions of Community-Oriented Policing?
Answer: I feel that Community-Oriented Policing is a good thing. I feel that it will take a
whole community to ensure that safety of our neighborhoods.
5. Do you believe it will work?
Answer: I believe this would work because it will be a happening of the whole
community coming together to support public safety.
6. Are you willing to try it?
Answer: I would be willing to try it for sure. I feel that a personal interest in community
safety is important.
7. Would you participate?
Answer: I would participate only if I knew that my safety was not in jeopardy.
8. Do you think people in your neighborhood participate?
Answer: I believe that it depends on the neighborhood and where it is located.
9. What change would you like to see in your neighborhood?
Answer: In my neighborhood, I would like to see more attentiveness from the
community. It seems that it’s only the older generations that care about community safety.
I`m sure that`s because back in there day, it wasn’t an issue if you left your door open or
unlocked while you were asleep or away. Times have changed so much as of today.
Melinda Tull (317) 563-2680
1. What are the “quality of life” issues that are a concern to you?
Answer: Health, mental and physical problems.
2. Do you fear crime?
Answer: Absolutely.
3. If so, which crimes do you fear?
Answer: Carjacking. I mostly fear for my grown daughters.
4. What are your impressions of Community-Oriented Policing?
Answer: I think applying community oriented policing would develop better relationships
between local police and the people they police.
5. Do you believe it will work?
Answer: Yes
6. Are you willing to try it?
Answer: Yes, In fact, I always call the police and make reports if I see suspicious
behavior.
7. Would you participate?
Answer: Yes, absolutely.
8. Do you think people in your neighborhood participate?
Answer: Absolutely
9. What change would you like to see in your neighborhood?
Answer: Crime has increased in the past year or so. I would like to see carjacking
stopped- or at least decreased.
