ORANGE COUNTY sHERIFF'S OFFICE

In 2004 the Orange County Sheriff’s Office experienced a 3.1% rise in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) Violent Crime Index.  While the increase appeared to be nominal in light of the reduction in the UCR Total Index and the per capita rate of crime, through an analysis it was believed that this was the onset of an increase in the rate of violent crime.

This analysis proved to be accurate as in 2005 and 2006 the UCR Violent Crime Index rose 19.7% and 15.6%, respectively, along with record numbers of murders, robberies and aggravated assaults in the unincorporated county.

To address this dramatic rise in violent crime the Orange County Sheriff's Office has initiated a number of enforcement strategies.  While known anecdotally for years, through analysis, two areas of the county were identified where the vast majority of violent crimes occur.  By concentrating enforcement and reducing crime in these areas, the goal was to reduce the crime overall in the county.

Several enforcement strategies, e.g. enforcement of street level narcotics, increase illegal gun seizures, and increase juvenile enforcement, were established.   To increase staffing to execute these strategies, sworn personnel assigned to administrative duties or duties outside the designated geographic areas or stated strategic goals were temporarily reassigned duties concentrating on violent crime.  An additional allocation of $1.3 million dollars was also obtained from the Board of County Commissioners to fund overtime to supplement these efforts.

Important ingredients in the Violent Crime Initiative have been communication with the community and constant assessment of the enforcement strategy and deployment of the personnel resources.

Analysis through June 2007 shows the efforts have been effective, as the Violent Crime Index for the semi-annual report shows violent crime is static.  While not decreasing to pre-2004 levels, it is also not rising at the dramatic rate seen over the last two years.  Adjustments to the initiative are planned for the future based on crime analysis and trends in criminal activity.