Pubdate: Wed, 09 Aug 2000
Source: Bergen Record (NJ)
Copyright: 2000 Bergen Record Corp.
Contact:  http://www.bergen.com/cgi-bin/feedback
Website: http://www.bergen.com/
Author: Paulo Lima

CRIME IN N.J. AT LOWEST LEVEL SINCE '72

Crediting technological crime-fighting advances and tougher sentencing, Governor Whitman on Tuesday released statistics that show crime in New Jersey is at its lowest level since 1972.

At the same time, she cited the state's booming economy for lending a huge assist in suppressing the number of reported crimes in 1999, the fourth year in a row in which the figures dropped.

"I never mention the numbers without citing the strong economy," Whitman said upon releasing the Uniform Crime Report figures.

Flanked by local politicians and police officers, Whitman and state Attorney General John Farmer summarized the report at a news conference on the steps of Borough Hall in East Rutherford.

Overall, reported "index" crimes dropped 6 percent in 1999 compared with the previous year. They include violent crimes -- murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault -- as well as such non-violent offenses as burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft.

Murders dropped by 11 percent in 1999, falling to 287 from 321 the year before. The 1999 homicide tally is the lowest in New Jersey since 1967.

The number of homicides in Bergen County rose from eight in 1998 to nine last year. However, there has not been a single murder reported in Bergen County since last September, the report shows.

The only major index crime to show an increase statewide was auto theft, although these were up only 1 percent.

Farmer said the auto-theft numbers do not appear to be indicative of any trend. In fact, he said, they are significantly lower than they were 10 years ago.

Instead, he and the governor focused on the overall positive sweep of the latest figures.

"What does a 6 percent decline in crime really mean?" Whitman asked. "It means there were almost 20,000 fewer victims of crime in the state of New Jersey last year."

Whitman said tougher sentencing laws passed during her term in office helped to keep repeat felons in prison.

Farmer said the increasing use of DNA evidence and the Internet as resources has helped police solve difficult crimes.

At the same time, he called the Internet "both a tool and a challenge."

Bergen County Prosecutor William H. Schmidt echoed Farmer's concerns. An FBI-led task force that targets offenders who use the Internet to arrange sex with minors has been successful, he said. But, he said, it also emphasizes the need to make computer crimes a law-enforcement priority.

"It's an area that we need to pay attention to," Schmidt said. "It's like a cancer, and you need to cut it out early."

Domestic violence was one of the few areas in which Bergen County saw an increase, albeit a slight one of 3 percent.

Schmidt viewed the number with mixed feelings.

"Keep in mind this is reported crime," Schmidt said. "You have to foster a climate where people are comfortable coming forward and reporting it. For years, domestic violence was this secret, unreported crime."

Overall, Bergen County's crime statistics matched the statewide figures. The number of crimes reported in Bergen dropped 7 percent, with the greatest decline coming in aggravated assaults, which fell 13 percent.

In Passaic County, the number of reported offenses was down 1 percent. The number of rapes fell 35 percent. Auto thefts were up 12 percent, however.

Passaic County Prosecutor Ronald Fava was on vacation, and First Assistant Prosecutor Boris Moczula said he was not familiar enough with the numbers to comment on their significance.

Drug arrests also declined statewide, with the exception of the "synthetic narcotics" category. That category includes "club drugs" such as Ecstasy and GHB, which have been gaining in popularity and recently have become a prime target of law enforcement.

Last month, Whitman signed a law increasing penalties for possessing Ecstasy, in effect equating the drug with cocaine and heroin.

"You're probably going to see those numbers go up significantly next year because there is a focus on those drugs," said state police spokesman John Hagerty.
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