In February 2009, a 34-year-old Baton Rouge defense attorney was stabbed to death in her office. A month later, a 44-year-old man was shot in the neck while watching TV in his bedroom. In September, a 27-year-old was stabbed by her ex-boyfriend while preparing to serve lunch at a local retirement home. These crimes are just a few of the 75 that round out Baton Rouge’s list of convicted homicides in 2009 and bring the capital city’s murder rates to an all-time high, according to annual crime statistics published by Baton Rouge Police Department.Cpl. L’Jean McKneely, public information officer for BRPD, said several factors may have influenced the swell in killings, including economic issues and an estimated increase in population.The number of murders committed across the country in 2009 dropped 7.2 percent from 2008,      according to the FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report.But BRPD saw a spike in homicides committed last year, up 12 percent from 2008’s 67 slayings.Baton Rouge’s homicide rate has soared over the last decade, while major cities like Los Angeles, Seattle and New Orleans — often called the “murder capital” of the United Sates — have all seen steadily decreasing statistics.A 42-percent spike was seen in 2009, as compared to the 53 convicted homicides in 1999, according to BRPD’s website.Matthew Lee, sociology professor, said people should be careful when reading crime statistics.Despite increased statistics, the threat posed to the average person has not amplified, according to Lee.”People read this and think everybody needs to stay in their house and get under their beds,” he said. “That’s crazy talk. Not everyone is at equal risk.”Lee said people involved with illegal or illicit behavior and who lead high-risk lifestyles have higher risks of becoming involved with crime.”The average person can get caught up in something like this, but it’s largely people involved with the criminal underground,” he said.Lee said crime rates should also be analyzed by taking into account the comparison of geographic divisions of a city.North Baton Rouge, bordered roughly by Evangeline Street and Florida Boulevard, has consistently seen the highest frequency of crime since 1999. The area saw 26 homicides committed last year, while south Baton Rouge — where the University is located — saw 15 homicides, according to BRPD statistics.McKeenly said BRPD Chief of Police Jeff LeDuff has established and worked with several community groups to help reduce crime.”Community is the first line of defense,” he said. “Without it, [the programs] wouldn’t be anything.”Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSU Police Department spokesman, said the University has taken precautionary measures to protect students since the December 2007 shooting of two graduate students at the on-campus Edward Gay apartments.Tabor said the University reassessed residence hall safety in the wake of the tragedy, including the installation of additional security cameras.”The biggest thing is education,” he said. “It’s about taking steps to not allow yourself to become a victim. Make sure you and your property are safe.”Lee said a variety of sociological factors may have led to the startling statistics.”This may be a reflection of what’s going on in the broader national economy,” he said.Lee said the tougher economic climate is causing people to lose their jobs, and the job loss may lead them to become involved with illegal activities such as drugs.”When the bad economy limits people’s employment options, it might make participation in illegal markets more of a draw,” he said. “The drug markets are very volatile. There’s a lot of money to be made and fierce competition to establish market share.” The statistics should also be analyzed using factors such as population, degree of poverty, socioeconomic disadvantage and support services available to disadvantage communities, according to Lee.Baton Rouge’s figures surpass the national average when population is calculated into the numbers, as well.The national average murder rate in 2008 was about 5.4 per 100,000 residents, according to the FBI. Baton Rouge’s average was about 30 — six times the national average.While the statistics may not be positive for Baton Rouge, Lee said they do not decrease the value of the city.”People take these numbers into account when they’re moving to a city,” he said. “But they also look at other things like cost of living, nature of the housing market, employment opportunities. The city looks like it’s on a good growth trajectory.”
 
 
 
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