Crime Study Released in Dubuque

Tools

By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Jan 20, 2011 at 1:06 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 20, 2011 at 6:50 PM CDT

DUBUQUE, Iowa - After a string of violent crime in 2009 the city of Dubuque created a Safe Community Force. That group requested a study be done to investigate a possible link between crime and subsidized housing.

Researchers discovered people living in Section 8 housing experience a higher ratio of arrests, compared to people who do not live in section eight housing. But the report also shows people living in section eight are also more likely to be crime victims.

After a vandal broke into Bill Hagerty’s auto repair shop last week, he had some things to say about people who commit crime in Dubuque. “Yoo many gangsters in this town anymore,” Hagerty said.

Police say some people believe many criminals in Dubuque moved here in recent years. Police Chief Mark Dalsing says the study didn’t analyze the number of years each criminal lived in Dubuque.

“How long do you have to be here before you are a Dubuquer?” Dalsing says Dubuque’s demographics are changing. He also says even with the study results police can’t predict when and where a crime will happen. Dalsing said, “We have bank robbers that just happened to stop in town to get gas a spotted a place that was a target of opportunity.” Dalsing says crimes like that are not unique to Dubuque.

Neither is the correlation between crime and poverty.

Researchers discovered people living in Section 8 housing experience a higher ratio of arrests, compared to people who do not live in Section 8 housing. But that’s also where police often find crime victims. Dalsing said, “We see that the people who live in Section 8 in poverty are more apt to be a victim of crime that someone who is not in section 8.”

The study also showed more of the crimes in Dubuque happen in the eastern part of the city. Police say that is not a surprise. The study is 782 pages. Dalsing encourages anyone who is interested in this issue to read the full report.

Next Article Man Arrested for OWI with Zebra, Parrot in Front Seat of Truck

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.

read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Crime, sexual abuse, property fires, automobile accidents, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.