Unsolved Crimes Plague New Jersey Towns
The majority of crimes in major New Jersey municipalities remain unsolved, according to recent NJ State Police statistics obtained by NJToday.net.
New Jersey State Police records indicate that approximately 80 percent of all crimes reported in nine of the Garden State’s major cities and towns were unsolved in 2014. The municipalities included in the report are Atlantic City, Camden, Edison, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Trenton and Woodbridge.
The data, gleaned from monthly reports filed by local NJ police departments and compiled in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR), highlights a growing problem for law enforcement. New Jersey police efforts to solve crimes have been hampered by a lack of resources in a down economy. Many local police departments are underfunded and spread thin as they attempt to apprehend culprits for past crimes while also trying to prevent future crimes.
In Atlantic City, just 731 of the 4,288 reported crimes were cleared in 2014. That means 83 percent of all Atlantic City crimes went unsolved last year. In cities like Newark and Paterson, the ratio of solved to unsolved crimes is even worse: just 16 percent of all crimes in those major areas were solved in 2014.
In the wake of high-profile mass shootings throughout the country, a great deal of attention is being paid to police departments in New Jersey and elsewhere. Law enforcement agencies are also coming under greater scrutiny in the aftermath of several police abuse cases. Anyone who has information about a crime is encouraged to contact their local police departments. At the same time, anyone who is under investigation for a crime in New Jersey should contact a qualified criminal defense attorney.
For more information about crime trends in New Jersey, read the NJToday.net article entitled, “Crime Pays in New Jersey’s Biggest Cities & Towns.” http://njtoday.net/2015/12/05/crime-pays-in-new-jerseys-biggest-cities-towns/
If you have been accused of a crime anywhere in South Jersey, John W. Tumelty is an experienced NJ criminal defense lawyer who can help you fight the charges. Contact Mr. Tumelty immediately for aggressive legal representation.
