STATUS OF VISTOR PROTECTION AT CORPS LAKES

A primary element in the present study involves the assessment of the present level and nature of crime on the basis of available data, and in the context of the environmental and social realities of Corps projects. These data are essential in the analysis of the present status of vistor protection, the development of projections of potential crime rates and trends for the future, and the development and assessment of Corps law enforcement needs and requirements. Only an accurate picture of the present situation will allow for concise and responsive planning and decision-making at the national level, and provide the adequate framework upon which study conclusions and recommendations have been made and from which they can be interpreted.

The analysis of any problem or situation on a national level carries with it the unavoidable potential that findings and conclusions may not reflect actual situations in specific areas or locales. The FBI's annual Uniform Crime Reports for example, which purports to be a barometer of crime on a national level, frequently do an injustice to jurisdictions which, for any number of reasons, do not follow national or even regional patterns. This potential situation was recognized during the initial stages of the present study and a comprehensive sampling methodology was applied during the initial stages to insure that survey findings could be truly representative of the Corps lakes. While variances will still exist in some cases, it is felt that the following data is as representative of the Corps national situation as is possible given the general parameters of this study.

In any event, attempts to impose a national ir:erpretation on the "adequacy" of law enforcement at Corps projects will have to utilize normative standards which may not always be entirely applicable to various divisions, districts or projects. What, for example, can one say is an "acceptable" level of law enforcement and visitor protection, and what should one reasonably expect from the Corps? This subject is in fact addressed in the section of this study relating to "Standards for Visitor Protection." In the present discussion one must ask "What is, or can be expected as a reasonable level of crime and when does that level constitute a real and immediate problem?" Of course, any level of crime is unwanted. But, in the context of funding priorities and resource availabilities, needs must be weighed, priorities assigned, and remedial action applied on that basis. As in the previous example, normative judgements may not appear appropriate to various sites or projects. For example, in some regions where crime is less apparent and less "accepted," a modicum of criminal activity can be amplified or overstated in terms of apparent impact and significance. Conversely, where criminal acts are most frequent and more visible, the level of public tolerance is increased and criminal activity more "accepted" as a fact of life. In these situations, individuals involved may underestimate crime and its impact. As a consequence, some normative standard must be utilized rather than local impressions or reactions in order to gain a clear nationwide perspective.

The development of a reasonably accurate "yardstick" for measuring the occurence and seriousness of crime in Corps projects is a highly difficult task; however, this chapter will attempt to develop this conceptual framework in which such judgment can be made. In this effort, the chapter is divided into four distinct sections:

Section I draws upon the available data of related experiences with crime in the United States and other recreation environments.

Section II describes the environment or climate in which law
enforcement services are organized and applied.

Section III provides specific data relating to the level of
crime and incidents at Corps lakes.

ANALOGOUS CRIME DATA AND SITUATIONS

A.

National Crime Trends

While it is not implied that a direct correlation exists between crime statistics on a national basis and crime specific to Corps projects throughout the United States, the crime "picture" for the nation is a reasonable starting point for the Corps analysis.

Reference to Table 6-1 provides an overview of crime in 1972 as reported to law enforcement agencies in various regions and areas throughout the United States. Crime indexes noted in this diagram are based upon nearly 6 million index crimes reported during the year. As can be noted, the crimes used as index crimes are those which can be regarded as the most frequently reported serious crimes. As a consequence, since these offenses are most consistently reported, they are best for computing crime trends and rates.

Table 6-1 provides some insight into the general volume, nature and distribution of serious crime in the United States. An overview of this data warrants some generalized findings to include that, on a per capita basis:

Crime is at a higher rate in Western states and in the larger
cities with more than a quarter of a million population.

Northeastern states are more frequently areas of violent
crime, while property crime has a higher rate in Western states.

Cities maintain about seven times the rate of violent crimes
as do rural areas and more than four times the rate of
property crimes.

56-070 - 75-6

39