NCJ Number
59404
Journal
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (1931) Pages: 422-429
Date Published
1931
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE SHERIFF OF MASON CITY, IOWA, DESCRIBES HIS CRIME PREVENTION PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICES WHICH WERE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CRIME IN THIS SMALL CITY AND THE SURROUNDING RURAL COUNTY AS OF 1931.
Abstract
SOON AFTER ENTERING OFFICE THE SHERIFF DECIDED TO CONCENTRATE ON CRIME PREVENTION. YET THE STATE CODE SAID NOTHING ABOUT CRIME PREVENTION, AND THE SHERIFF HAD NO FUNDS FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES. NEVERTHELESS, THE SHERIFF AND HIS DEPUTIES BEGAN RAIDING GAMBLING AND PROSTITUTION HOUSES IN MASON CITY. SOON THE PEOPLE WHO OPERATED AND FREQUENTED THESE PLACES LEFT THE COUNTY, TAKING WITH THEM MUCH OF THE CRIME PROBLEM. MASON CITY ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH HOMICIDES COMMITTED BY MIGRANT WORKERS. THE SHERIFF REQUIRED THE WORKERS TO CHECK THEIR GUNS WHEN THEY CAME INTO TOWN, AND THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED. THROUGH A STUDY OF HOMICIDE CASES, THE SHERIFF NOTED MANY DOMESTIC QUARRELS ARE STARTED BY RELATIVES OF YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN 'BETRAYED' BY LOVERS. A PROGRAM OF FAMILY COUNSELING WAS STARTED THROUGH WHICH THE SHERIFF WAS ABLE TO HELP FAMILIES DISCUSS THEIR PROBLEMS AND AVOID VIOLENCE. BEFORE THE SHERIFF BEGAN HIS EFFORTS, MASON CITY HAD TWO OR THREE MURDERS EVERY YEAR; AFTER HIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST CRIME BEGAN, MURDER WAS REDUCED TO ZERO. THE SHERIFF TALKED TO DEFENDANTS, SHOWED THEM HIS EVIDENCE, AND SUGGESTED THAT THEY PLEAD GUILTY. HIS PRETRIAL EFFORTS REDUCED MASON CITY'S COURT COSTS BY 40 PERCENT. HE RECOMMENDED PAROLE FOR DEFENDANTS WHO SEEMED TO DESERVE IT. THE SHERIFF WAS THE FIRST TO USE MACHINE GUNS AND AIRPLANES TO PURSUE BANK ROBBERS, WHO SOON LEARNED TO AVOID MASON CITY. ORGANIZED GANGS OF FARM THIEVES DISAPPEARED AFTER THE SHERIFF SHOWED FARMERS HOW TO MARK THEIR ANIMALS AND FORM CITIZEN PATROLS. WHEN THE SHERIFF USED HIS OWN MONEY TO BUY A MOTORCYCLE SO A DEPUTY COULD PATROL THE COUNTY ROADS, AND INITATED A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ON SAFE DRIVING AND THE PRACTICE OF GIVING 'RED TICKET' COMMENDATIONS TO GOOD DRIVERS, THE COUNTY'S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT PROBLEM WAS GREATLY REDUCED. THE SHERIFF ALSO GAVE TALKS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COUNSELED TROUBLED YOUTHS, AND SERVED AS PAROLE SUPERVISOR TO ADULTS AND YOUTHS.