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PAGE 4A
K - FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - SuiMhy, February 1,
pCrime is down because punishment is up, say policy analysts
-« The amount of serious crime has decreased in most
\towns and cities across the country. New York City,
’for example, had fewer than 1,000 murders in 1996,
*Jthe lowest number in nearly 30 years. Overall crime
‘ *«has dropped by half in Houston during the past six
/’jyears, and violent crimes there are down by two
jjthirds. Between 1992 and 1996, the national murder
’**eate fell 20 percent, the overall violent crime rate 16
/percent and the reported burglary rate 19 percent.
The National Crime Victimization Survey, which is
V*. in tended to estimate total crimes including those not
’’/reported to the police, shows a 10 percent decline in
/♦’violent crime since 1994, after being essentially
for the prior 20 years. Property crime con
*' /tinues its 16-year decline, according to the survey.
C/ Why is there less crime? Dozens of solid empirical
•. mostly by economists, have concluded that
/offenders respond to incentives and that deterrence
//works.
& /
Relationship between expected
punishment and crime
• •< *>
The National Center for Policy Analysis has created
an index of “expected punishment” to track the
“price” of committing a crime. Expected punishment
is based on the probability of arrest, the probability of
conviction after an arrest, the probability of imprison
ment after conviction and the average or median time
served by those who go to prison.
For example, between 1960 and 1980 the probability
of imprisonment fell by more than half, the average
sentence dropped more than 20 and the rate of serious
s crime soared. Conversely, since 1980 the percent
probability of imprisonment has almost doubled, the
average sentence has increased by onethird-and as
expected punishment has moved upward, the rate of
serious crime has leveled off and then declined.
The breakdown of punishment
America’s legal philosophy changed so dramatically
during the 1960 s that, while the annual number of vio
lent crimes and burglaries tripled from 1 million to 2.9
million, the number of new commitments to prison by
the courts for violent crimes and burglaries actually
fell from 40,000 in 1960 to 37,000 in 1970: As a
result:
■ • In 1950, for every 100 serious crimes reported 5.3
offenders were committed.
, •In 1960, only 3.6 were committed.
• By 1970, only 1.3 offenders were committed.
• The commitment rate increased slightly by 1980 to
1.6 per 100 serious crimes, but expected punishment
continued to drop because of early release policies and
court-ordered prison capacity constraints.
With the reduction of expected punishment, serious
crime exploded, rising from five crimes per 1,000 to
’ more than 22. By the time public policy turned around
in the mid-19705, crime was escalating at such a rate
that huge increases in prisoner populations— and,
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770-664-5225
GILBERT C. GOLDMAN. MD ARUN L. PATHY, MD 3400 A Old Milton Pkwy. Ste. 320
DAVID J. LEVINE, MD BARBRA ROSING, PA-C
JUDITH L. SILVERSTEIN, MO JASPER
706-692*9016
CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF DERMATOLOGY 1301 church st
I
LOCATED IN CUMMING (near Courthouse) 210 Dahlonega St., Suite 104
For appointment, call 770-844-1902 Toe-wSw 501
Open Mondays and Thursdays 8:30-5:30 1111 Mountain Dr.
Teenage drivers make errors In judgement Parents if
you care about the driving safety of your son or daughter,
please, register right away. Have your teenager see these
people at their high school iq be added to the new class
list:
South = Bill Meyer, Richard Porter, Johnny
School Secretary
Central = Coach Jerry Cauley
North = Bob Camaroli, Counselor; Coach Vic Aliffi
Forsyth County Community Education is now expanding
Driver Education classes onsite to all 3 Forsyth Comity Hien
Schools January 20,1998.
February Classes
Mon-Thurs 4:00-6:30 pm (after school)
(3 weeks) Starting February 23, 1998
(2-1/2 Weekends) Saturday 9:ooam - 4:3opm &
Sunday 2:oopm -6:oopm (starts 2/21)
(Third weekend Saturday Class only) This will repeat in March.
All classes will repeat (after school) every 4 weeks Mon.-
Thurs. 4:00 - 6:30 pm. Saturday classes (9:00 am - 3:30
pm) every 6 weeks (Bring Lunch).
You may register by mail or Walk-In for the course session
and school of your choice.
For each Session, driving times will be scheduled individually,
with each student, to oomplele the required 6 hours of actual driving
30 Hours classroom Training. Overall grade average 80%.
Fee $195
For information you may call
William H. Croley,
' Director of Community
Schools at
770-781 -2264 EXT. 293 OR
770-887-2461 ext. 278.
consequently, prison building—were required to raise
expected punishment. Not until the mid-1980s did
expected punishment for serious crimes begin to
increase.
• By 1995, expected punishment had risen to 22 days
from an early-1980s low of less than 10 days.
• In response, serious crime per 1,000 persons has
decreased by 31 percent since its high point in 1980.
However, much of the reduction in serious crime
since 1980 has been due to the fall in the burglary
rate. Reported violent crime actually increased 31 per
cent between 1985 and 1990, although it has dropped
6.5 percent since then.
Even with the recent increases, expected punish
ments remain low. For the three crimes that carry the
most punishment, see chart:
• The expected punishment for murder is 32.4
months.
• The expected punishment for rape is 116 days.
• The expected punishment for robbery is 46 days.
Continuing the
success against crime
Public policy affects expected punishment at each
stage of the criminal justice process. In some cities,
community oriented policing has restored bonds of
trust between neighborhoods and police in some
cities, and has led to more arrests. Similarly, aggres
sive enforcement of the laws against minor offenses
like turnstile jumping and public urination in New
York City has allowed police to charge suspects with
more serious crimes based on outstanding warrants for
their arrest. More prosecutors backed by tougher laws
have raised conviction rates and new prison construc
tion has allowed the authorities to make convicts serve
more of their sentence behind bars.
The impact of taking criminals off the streets and
keeping them locked up longer has been noticeable in
many cities, particularly New York. Yet while it raises
the price of committing a crime and reduces the
amount of crime committed, incarceration alone can
not carry the whole load. Harvard economist Richard
B. Freeman finds that church attendance is a better
predictor of who escapes poverty, drug addiction and
crime than family income, family structure and other
variables. T. David Evans of the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington and other criminologists find
that even under poor social and economic conditions,
churchgoing serves as “an insulator against crime and
delinquency.”
These and other findings illustrate the importance of
character formation—teaching the difference between
right and wrong and the value of morality. But a soci
ety must also have a justice system that treats crimi
nals as fully responsible for the harm they do and
exacts a proportionate price for that at harm.
Reprinted with permission from Georgia Policy
Review. This analysis was prepared by Morgan O.
Reynolds, director of the NCPA Criminal Justice
Center and professor of economics at Texas A&M.
i ———i r
Forsyth County Community Education is
now taking registration for Winter classes.
You may register by Mail by mailing the attached registration form and fee, or you may register by Walk-In at the following open
registration times: Monday through Thursday 11:00 am - 1:00 pm or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at South
Forsyth High School (Vocational Building). 585 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming, Georgia. For information call Bill Croley at (770)
781-2264, Ext. 293. Registrations will be accepted until the first session for each class, unless, the class becomes full or is can
celled. There are minimum and maximum numbers required. Register now. Companies may make arrangements for individual
ized training programs (may be customized for your specific needs M-Th[4:oo-6:00 pm] or Sat. Fee structured to your course)
designed to meet your own specific needs. Many more companies are providing computer training for their employees through
community education. Call us now. to discuss your needs. Please make your checks payable to Forsyth County Community
Education. Mail today. Class schedules are as follows:
COMMUNITY SCHOOL REGISTRATION FORM ]
! STUDENT NAMESCHOOL ATTENDING I
PARENT NAME EMERGENCY NUMBER
! ADDRESS I
J CITY STATEZIP CODE !
■ HOME PHONEBUSINESS PHONE
! COURSE/SESSION LEVEL START DATE DAYS TIME FEE I
I i
I I
I ■ ,
: : I
1 ! Do Not Send Cash! Send check or money order payable to: FORSYTH COUNTY COMMUNITY EDUCATION |
i Clip and Mail this form to: Forsyth County Board of Education, Community Education School
’ | William H. Croley, Director
101 School Street, Cumming, Georgia 30040
PHONE: (770)781-2264ext. 293 • (770)887-2461 ext. 278 ' . .„. . „•
I Refunds and Cancellations: Make copies of this form If accessary. I
• INo refunds will be made after a class begins. If a class is cancelled you will be notified before the first meeting and you will receive a refund. Please furnish |
J your correct address and phone number to insure communication. If you request a class that is filled, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified if there J
I is an opening.
[ School Closlng/Bad Weather
I Community Education School classes will automatically be cancelled if regular school is closed. Announcement of school cancellation due to weather will be i
I made on radio and TV stations. Make up dates will be scheduled in individual classes.
GOVERNMENT
Expected time in prison for
- selected crimes
» b
J "k /
Murder
n
324 .■<
Months -4
B
rW ’■ *
US9 v,
WU
Rape
< ■ .... . Robbery
■ -fy 46 days AII Serious Crime
116 . 22.1 Days
U IJ r" 0 -
Source: NCPA calculations
I
SHELTER
» •*.
members of the youth shelter
steering committee. Individuals,
churches and members of the
business community have been
very generous, donating some
materials and offering at-cost
pricing on others.
“In terms of dollars, this
community has donated $17,000
worth of materials and services
to the refurbishing of Jesse’s
House,” said Reba Foster, con
struction coordinator. “But right
now, we need the financial
resources to pay for the labor
necessary to complete the pro
ject.” Due to a recent break-in,
some stolen materials will need
to be replaced as well.
To be admitted to the shelter,
girls must be residents of
Forsyth County and have valid
• NECKPAINS • HEADACHES • LEG PAIN ’ LOWER BACK PAIN • HERNIATED DISC
—————A SPECIAL INVITATION TO
. AREA RESIDENTS
jALamk r
. ■ I Effective Through March 29th. ’
. y | ■ A Preliminary Consultation JI
and Health History
JHA I ■ An Orthopedic and Neurological TF
Spinal Exam For ’***
■■ Spinal X-rays, if necessary Chiropractic .’J
V J ■ a Report of Findings Exam Including
1 Any further treatments shall be agreed upon and signed <<l
I M ? L by both parties.
Lakeland p,aza ’ Cumming, GA
■HO 781-9050 i
reasons for needing help, includ
ing neglect or abuse, family vio
lence, truancy or runaway prob
lems. In the past, some young
sters who have committed no
crime have been placed in a
detention center and facilities
outside the county.
This house needs
to be finished.
There are girls out
there who need
this service.
Heike McMillan has been
hired as clinical executive direc
tor for the Forsyth County youth
•<li
( )—'■■ —< Adult classes will begin every few weeks on a continuing
) JSSKSS& basis in a variety of subjects and interests
. Computing Skills
Improve your job skills by taking these Microsoft Office courses (Word, Power
Point, Excel, Access); Beginning Computing; Windows 95. Many companies have
I paid for their employees to take these courses to have better trained workers.
I Classes are taught by State Certified Teachers.
TEACHERS needing recertification may earn renewal SDU's by taking courses..
' TEACHERS, you may cam one SDU for 1/10 hr. course. PARA PROS may also.
earn SDU’s with there courses.
The fee only $59.00 for any of these computer classes. Fee does •,
1 not include book and book can be purchased at the first class.
! Basic Computing Central 2/7 Sat. 9:00 am • 4:00 pm
' Word I OtwellMS 2/7 Sat. 9:ooam ■ 4:oopm
Worth OtwellMS 2/9 MW 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
i Quick Book Pro I Central 2/9 MW 7:00 pm • 9:30 pm
Wordll OtwellMS 2/9 MW 7:oopm -9:3opm
i Excel-I Central 2/10 T/TH 7:00 pm -9:30 pm
• Windows 95-I OtwellMS 2/10 T/TH 7:oopm-9:3opm
! Word I Central 2/14 Sat. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
i Excell OtwellMS 2/14 Sat. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wort II Central 2/21 Sat. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
i Excel II OtwellMS 2/21 Sat. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
| Wort I Central 2/23 MW 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
J Quick Book Pro II OtwellMS 2/23 MW 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Access I Central 2/24 T/TH 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
i Wlndows9s-ll OtwellMS 2/24 T/TH 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Basic Computing Central 2/28 Sat. 9:00 am ■ 4:00 pm
I Quick Book Pro” OtwellMS 2/28 Sat. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
' Wort I Central 3/2 MW 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
! Quick Book Pro I Otwell 3/2 MW 7.00 pm - 9:30 pm
t Windows II Otwell 3/3 T/TH 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
| Access I Central 3/3 T/TH 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm ,
I Windows9s-I Central 3/7 Sat. 9:00am• 4:oopm
I Quick Book Pro H Otwell 3/7 Sat. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Worth Central 3/9 MW 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
i Access II Central 3/10 T/TH 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm-
' Basic Computing OtwellMS 3/10 T/TH 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
i Access! Central 3/14 Sat. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
' Wort I Otwell 3/14 Sat. 9:00 am-4:00 pm <
Windows9sf Otwell 3/16 MW 7:00 pm ■ 9:30 p/b
J Keyboarthg Otwell 3/17 T/TH 7.00 pm - 9:30 pm
shelter. “The purpose of the shel
ter is to relieve the immediate
crisis and begin counseling for
the girls and their families,” said
McMillan. “This house needs, to
be finished. There are girls. out
there who need this service from
their own community.”
She added that the licensing
paperwork is ready but the
house must be completed before
the state inspection process and
obtaining a state operating
license can be completed. ’’’
Checks should be made out
to: The Forsyth County Youth
Shelter and mailed to Ken
Rogers, CPA, 3148 Tribble Gap
Road, Cumming, Ga. 30040. For
additional information about .the
shelter, call Heike McMillan at
(770) 277-9380.
3 4
) )