A Different Spin on School Crime Data
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* Your interpretation of the California Safe School Assessment, Feb. 27, states that Oxnard schools’ crime statistics are “probably a reflection of the community’s high crime rate.” Simi Valley schools’ high crime rates are “probably a reflection of overzealous reporting, school officials suspect.”
In the state’s report, Simi Valley’s statistics show a high number of drug and alcohol offenses. How can that be a reflection of overzealous reporting? Maybe the kid just had one beer or smoked half of a joint!
Additionally, the property crime rate for Simi Valley Unified is the highest of the districts in the report. The report states that property crime incidents are based on crimes involving monetary damages to the district, so one would think overzealous reporting would be fraud.
This report shows that all the districts in this county are doing a good job to keep our schools safe. Your reporting, however, seems to indicate that schools with high minority populations are justifiably unsafe, while predominately white schools just are a little “overzealous.”
TERRI FERRO
Santa Paula
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