Irving ISD Campus offenses evaluated

[TexasStooge]

Nearly 1,500 crimes reported in 2003-04 at middle, high schools

By RUSSELL RIAN / The Dallas Morning News

Irving police filed nearly 1,500 reports of crimes at middle schools and high schools during the 2003-04 school year, a per-capita rate of about 1 in 10 students, statistics show.

Police are stationed on all middle and high school campuses under an annual agreement between the city and school district. The $1.18 million cost is split between the city and school district, and includes 16 officers, called school resource officers, and one sergeant.

Duties include restricting campus access, protecting property, and investigating and deterring crime. The officers can be present when school officials conduct searches and serve as liaisons between police, school, probation officials, courts and other entities, coordinating Crime Stoppers, and conducting educational programs.

Below are some highlights of crimes reported at campuses:

Middle schools

• Middle schools averaged just under 88 crimes per campus, with a per capita crime rate of 8.8 incidents reported per 100 students.

• De Zavala had the highest total crimes and highest per capita rate among middle schools: 10 crimes reported per 100 students. Houston had the lowest total and lowest per capita rate: 6.8 per 100 students.

• Various misdemeanors were the most common crimes and the most common crimes per capita on middle schools campuses, followed by assaults.

• Austin had the highest total and highest per capita rate for assaults: 3 per 100 students. Lamar and Bowie had the lowest totals. Lamar had the lowest per capita: 1.6 per 100 students.

• Lamar had the most thefts and the highest per capita rate for thefts: 4 per 100 students. Lamar's theft rate was twice the next highest, De Zavala, which had 2 per 100 students. Houston and Bowie had the least per capita: .6 per 100 students.

• Drug offenses per capita were less than 1 in 100 students for all middle school campuses.

• Weapons offenses reported were less than 1 in 1,000 students on middle school campuses, which have an average of 992 students per campus.

High schools

• High schools averaged about 216 crimes per campus, with a per capita rate of 11 crimes per 100 students.

• Irving had the most total crimes and the highest per capita rate among high schools: 12 per 100 students. The Academy of Irving ISD had the lowest per capita rate: 9.8 per 100 students. The per capita rate for Nimitz and MacArthur was 11 crimes per 100 students.

• Irving High had the most assaults and the highest per capita rate: 2 per 100 students. The Academy had the fewest, with about 1 per 100 students.

• Theft was the most common crime per capita: 3.75 per 100 students. Disorderly conduct was the second: 2.3 per 100 students.

• Nimitz had the most thefts, but The Academy had the highest per capita theft rate: 6 per 100 students. MacArthur had the least total and smallest per capita rate: about 1 in 100 students.

• Drug offenses were fewer than 1 per 100 students on all campuses.

• Weapons offenses were the least common crime on all campuses – fewer than 1 in 1,000 students at all campuses, which average about 1,943 students.