2008 Crime Statistics
Comparing Precinct Crime Statistics

AN IMPORTANT CAUTION:

Because of the changes in precinct and beat boundaries in 2008, crime statistics from previous years cannot be directly compared. As you look at the 2008 precinct crime statistics, keep in mind that every precinct covers different geographic areas than in previous years and that both precinct and beat boundaries have been modified. 

It is also important to note that crimes are now being recorded by BEAT rather than by CENSUS TRACTS, as in previous years. This is another reason that 2008 crime statistics for precincts cannot be directly compared to years past. 

NOTE: You can get a sense of what beat you are located in by looking at our new precinct maps in the right hand column.

THE SOUTH PRECINCT EXAMPLE

The example that best illustrates these geographic boundary differences is the South Precinct. If you look at the crime statistics for South Precinct in the first six months of 2008 and compare them with 2007 in Chart A., there appears to be a 20% increase in crime. 

However, in order to compare crime in South Precinct in 2007 with 2008, you need to remove Beat O2 from the total since it was not a part of that precinct in 2007, as shown in the maps below. When you do that, you get the crime statistics shown in Chart B.  Here you will see that crime has still increased in South Precinct but by half as much (9%). Similar analyses of other geographic changes in South Precinct would likely reduce the 9% crime increase even more.

CHART A:
South Precinct Midyear Major Crimes 2008,
Compared with 2007

CHART B: South Precinct Midyear Major Crimes 2008, Compared with 2007 without Beat Ocean 2

After this year of transition, it will be easier and more accurate to make direct comparisons of crime trends at the precinct level. In the meantime, understanding which crime changes represent new challenges and which represent new geography, helps precinct commanders focus their efforts and resources.

As the maps below indicate, the South Precinct in 2008 includes an area of Georgetown and a part of the warehouse district south of SoDo that in 2007 and previous years were in the Southwest and West Precincts respectively.  That beat is designated as O2 (“Ocean-2”). 

NEW PRECINCT MAPS:

North

South

East

West

Southwest