Crime Data Comparison Essay

Crime Data Comparison Paper
Justin Lyle
CJA 314
August 20, 2012
Sheree Corniel

The two metropolitan areas that have been chosen are Abilene, TX and Albany, GA to compare robbery rates.   The metropolitan area of Abilene, TX has a population size of 159,566 which includes three counties to include the city of Abilene.   The metropolitan area of Albany, GA has a population size of 160,950 which includes four counties to include the city of Albany. Both areas are close in size however; the crime rate in Albany, GA is slightly higher than that of Abilene, TX.
For the crime of robbery Albany, GA had the higher rate according to the 2010 Uniformed Crime Report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to the UCR there were 203 robberies in the city of Albany and 219 reported.   That is compared to 112 robberies and 116 reported in Abilene.   Both metropolitan areas are just about the same population wise, however one area has more robberies that the other.   The crime rate for robberies in Albany in 2010 was 105.1 per 100,000 people. In Abilene the crime rate for robberies in 2010 was 72.7 per 100,000 people.  
In both metropolitan areas the crime of robbery did go down from the previous year.   In Albany, GA the crime rate per 100,000 people was 152.0 in 2009, which could be considered a big drop in one year.   In Abilene, TX the crime rate per 100,000 people was 91.5 in 2009. The drop is not as significant as it was in Albany, but you could say crime was on the decline in the metropolitan area of Abilene, TX and Albany, GA.   The area of Abilene, TX has had a steady decline in the crime of robbery since 2007 according to the UCR. The area of Albany, GA has gone up and down for the crime of robbery since 2007.  
The reason for the difference in numbers could be a number of factors. Even though both areas are close in numbers in term of population, they might have the same amount for their budgets in terms of police officers. If one area has less police...