CM Ariola on juvenile crime stats and crime downgrading concerns
Ariola asks whether juvenile crimes are included in statistics (Gerber confirms yes) and whether crimes are being downgraded from felonies to lesser charges. Gerber acknowledges this sometimes happens through training issues, sloppiness, or misconduct, with extensive auditing systems in place.
And we also have had a high incidence of minors committing crimes in our communities because they are underage.
If they get caught and they're released to their parent, there are no consequences.
Do those crimes get added to the statistics?
Yeah, any, any, Council Member, is the question?
Is the question whether crimes committed by juveniles are part of our crime statistics?
The answer is yes.
Okay, just final.
Are you aware of any crimes that are being broken down to decrease to more serious crime stats to less serious crime stats?
Like, for example, a felony burglary might be broken down to a trespass or a petty larceny.
Are you aware of that taking place at all?
When arrests are being made.
Does that ever happen?
Yes, there are times when that happens, right?
And I mean, sorry, just to go back to the whole sort of process that we have.
Crime classifications, first of all, again, can change the normal course for all sorts of reasons, and you would expect them to change at times for totally normal reasons.
There are times when the cops get it wrong.
It does happen.
And again, that can be through sometimes a training issue.
It can be through sloppiness, and every once in a while it can be misconduct.
That does happen.
We have...
Lots and lots and lots of checks in place, an incredibly, I would say, exhaustive auditing system with a disciplinary component to get at these sorts of issues.
And we have been particularly vigilant about this under Police Commissioner Tisch.
So does that ever happen?
Yes, there are times when that happens, and we have a lot of systems in place to catch it and fix it, and when discipline is warranted, to impose discipline.
Thank you.
Thank you for the extra time, Chair.