Skip to main content

How Statistical Analysis Can be Used to Inform Policy and Rebuild a Community

 

Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius said, “Poverty is the mother of crime.” Albany, GA’s crime rates, compared to the state and the nation, are relatively higher. Albany, GA’s crime rate is 2.6 times greater than the U.S. Average (Crime Rate in Albany, GA, 2023) and has a crime index of 2 out of 100 according to data published by Neighborhood Scout (Albany, GA Crime Analytics, 2023). This means that Albany, GA is only considered safer than 2% of all of U.S. cities. Furthermore, Albany’s crime rate exceeded the state average in five (robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, and auto thefts) of the eight categories for the past three years. And while Albany has experienced a slight decrease in the categories of burglaries, robberies, and theft from 2018 to 2020, the crime rates in these categories still fall well above the state average.

A colleague recently said to me, “Every criminal is someone’s child who the system forgot or failed.” Those words struck me like a bolt of lightning. When Albany’s education attainment data is analyzed, it reveals that it is relatively low, with 34% of the adult population either lacking a high school diploma or having some college but no degree. It is no wonder Albany’s crime rates rank at some of the highest in the nation given the education attainment of the community. As it stands today, 65% of job openings require a postsecondary credential of some sort (Martha Kanter, 2021). There is also very convincing evidence that correlates lower education attainments with higher poverty and crime rates. Albany’s data suggests the same. According to the article, College Promise for All, there is an undebatable interconnection between poverty, education, and experiences of violence (Neema Mosha, 2022). Policymakers can use this information to develop policies that address the root causes of crime, such as lack of education attainment.

Statistical data can also reveal the impact of crime rates on various aspects of community life, such as public safety spending, migration patterns, and local economic development. As an example, local enforcement agencies can use this data to better understand the nature of their neighborhoods and make decisions around allocating more resources for the most problematic areas plagued with concentrated poverty. For instance, two of Albany’s poorest zip codes are 31701 and 31705. The reported median income for these two zip codes is $20,872 and $27,112 (United States Zip Codes, 2023) respectively, whereas the national median income is $69,717 (Unites States Median Household Income, 2023). That’s more than a $48,000 difference. Within the 31701’s zip code, 31% of the population over the age of 25 do not have at least a high school diploma. Perhaps not so shocking, 55% of the adult population within the 31701-zip code reported no earnings at all. While only 18% reported working part-time. For 31705, 26% of that zip code’s adult population do not have at least a high school diploma, and 43 % report no earnings. While 25% report working only part-time (United States Zip Codes, 2023).

Statistical analysis plays a crucial role in informing policy at national, state, or local levels. By analyzing data on crime rates and other related variables, policymakers can identify trends and correlations that can help them make more informed decisions. Statistical analysis helps us better understand the relationships between crime rates and other variables, such as education and poverty. By examining these relationships, leadership can develop more effective strategies to address the root causes of crime and improve public safety, economic development, and overall quality of life in communities.

Additionally, institutions of higher learning can also utilize this knowledge to target recruitment for enrollment. Albany, GA has an institution of higher learning in each of the poorest zip codes in Albany. Albany Technical College is in 31701, and Albany State University is in 31705. The institutions of higher learning can work in conjunction with local enforcement on education to workforce initiatives to help decrease poverty and crime rates. High crime rates can deter people from moving into an area, leading to a decline in population and a shrinking tax base, affecting local economic development. Albany, GA has experienced an 8% population decline since the last census (Albany City, GA, 2023). Consequently, a few years ago, community leaders made the decision to shut down one of its most historical high schools.

Local leadership can also use data and statistical analysis to strategically partner with institutions of higher learning in their respective communities to help more people obtain credentials that will lead to them making livable wages. These partnerships can take many forms, such as offering community college courses or apprenticeships to provide individuals with the skills needed for high-paying jobs. Currently, the major industries in Albany, GA hire mostly outside of the community to get the skilled workers they need. This leaves the citizens of Albany, GA impoverished and a workforce that isn't invested in the community. Strategic partnerships between local leadership and institutions of higher learning can help bridge this gap and provide the community with the skills needed to attract new industries and create higher-paying jobs. By putting all the pieces together, we can rebuild and restore our community to truly be the Good Life City. But it will take all of us, collectively working together the single objective of investing in our own.


References

(2023, March ). Retrieved from United States Zip Codes: www.unitedstateszipcodes.org

Albany City, GA. (2023). Retrieved from United States Census Bureau: https://data.census.gov/profile?g=160XX00US1301052

Albany, GA Crime Analytics. (2023, March ). Retrieved from Neighborhood Scout: http://grovecityartscouncil.org/crime-10.html

Crime Rate in Albany, GA. (2023, March). Retrieved from City-Data: http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Albany-Georgia.html

Martha Kanter, R. B. (2021). College Promis for All . College Promise.

Neema Mosha, G. M. (2022). Intergenerational Education and Violence Effects on adolescent education, Early Employment, and Adolescent Parenting. Psychology, Health, and Medicine, 167-180.

Unites States Median Household Income. (2023, March). Retrieved from United States Census Bureau: https://data.census.gov/all?q=national+median+income

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Women Make Great Data Analysts

As a Black woman who has spent years working as a data analyst in higher education, I have seen firsthand how women can excel in this field. While there are many reasons why women make great analysts, I believe that it all comes down to our unique experiences and skills. One of the key reasons why women excel as analysts is that we are bred to be multi-taskers. As women, we often have to juggle multiple responsibilities at the same time, whether it's managing our households, raising children, or advancing in our careers. This ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously, and effectively, is an invaluable skill in the world of data analysis, where we are often required to manage large sets of data and draw insights from multiple sources. Another factor that makes women great analysts is our ability to solve complex problems. As a Black woman in higher education, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate the complexities of raising a Black boy as a ...
1 comment
Read more

Invisible Chains: The Enduring Impact of Racial Bias in Data and AI

There isn’t an organization today that doesn’t use the language, we are data-driven. Data underpins many aspects of our lives. As such, the integrity of data is vital. Yet, historical, and ongoing biases embedded in statistical data continue to skew perceptions and policies, disproportionately affecting African American communities. From discriminatory insurance practices to law enforcement and beyond, the ramifications of these biases are not only harmful but possibly aid in the continuation of generational struggles of vulnerable populations. There is a critical need for awareness and corrective measures. In May 1896, just 33 years after the Civil War, Frederick L. Hoffman, a statistician for the Prudential Life Insurance Company, published a 330-page treatise in the Publications of the American Economic Association. His work, a supposedly detailed actuarial study, claimed to prove with statistical accuracy that African Americans were uninsurable. In his study, Hoffman claimed that A...
Post a Comment
Read more

Albany, Georgia: A Community’s Response to Poverty, Education, and Recidivism

(Pictured Above: Chief Judge Willie C. Weaver, Sr. and the AW! 3rd graduating class.)  In Southwest Georgia, the city of Albany grapples with significant societal challenges. As my hometown, I've witnessed firsthand the struggles related to poverty, low educational attainment, and high recidivism rates among minor offenders. According to Census data, 34% of Albany’s adult population is considered uneducated or undereducated. The city has frequently ranked among the top ten most impoverished communities in the nation and is recognized as one of the most distressed communities in Georgia. The crime index of Albany is a mere 2 out of 100 according to crime statistics data indicating that there are only 2% of U.S. cities that are deemed safer than Albany, GA. This figure emphasizes the direct correlation between low education attainment and higher crime rates. However, beneath these daunting statistics lies a resilient community, determined to uplift its citizens, and break the cycle o...
Post a Comment
Read more