Crime in Rochester NY Schools on the Decline
Cutting down on criminal activity in schools has been a major focus of Rochester NY law enforcement for the past few years. Now it appears that the efforts of Rochester police have been largely successful, with statistics indicating that crime in Rochester school has declined significantly since 2009.
The Rochester Police Department joined forces with the Rochester school district in 2009 after realizing that crime was rampant throughout area schools. According to officials, approximately four percent of all students in the Rochester school district were placed under arrest during the 2008-2009 school year. Many of the students were also criminally charged, most often for disorderly conduct stemming from fistfights.
The Rochester Police Department responded by emphasizing more interaction between police and school resource officers who had been contracted to work at the local Rochester high schools. These officers were provided with training opportunities so that they could learn how to deescalate volatile situations with students before they turned violent.
When local law enforcement began to crack down on crime in Rochester schools, the total numbers of arrests started to decline. In the 2008-2009 school year, 1,021 students were placed under arrest. By contrast, the 2014-2015 school year saw just 133 students arrested by Rochester NY police.
Lori Baldwin, the director of safety and security for the Rochester school district, highlighted the vast improvement between 2009 and 2015 and underscored the fact that the statistics matter precisely because they represent actual people. Baldwin said that it’s a “huge concern” any time a young person is put into the criminal justice system and placed behind bars.
For more information, read the Rochester City Newspaper article, “Student Arrests Are in a Downward Trend.”
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime in NY, you need to talk to a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The experienced criminal defense lawyers at the LaDuca Law Firm can help you fight your criminal charges and avoid the most significant penalties. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation at our office in Rochester, New York.
