WESTFIELD – For the month of September, crime stats remain similar overall to the previous two months with some variations in ages (more offenders in their 30s and less in their 40s) and some increases in types of crimes such as larcenies and OUIs.
Disclaimer: the analysis included here is for court cases that were available and included in the Westfield News during September 2015. This is not a complete list of all cases that have gone before the judge in the past month. Additionally, this includes arraignments, people who have been charged but not yet tried, along with cases that have reached disposition, meaning the defendants may have received sentences, probation, fines or had charges dismissed.
Of 121 cases examined, 83 percent of the offenders were male, 17 percent were female.
The average age of offenders changed somewhat from the previous two months.
For those aged 18-20, 10 percent, up from 8 percent for July and August, of offenders fall within this age range. This difference could be attributed to college students returning to the area.
Thirty-six percent of offenders were aged 21-29, which is average compared to the previous two months.
The second highest number of crimes were committed (or allegedly committed) by offenders in their 30s, 31 percent, up from 22 percent last month.
As expected, the number of offenses decreases as age increases: offenders in their 40s, 13 percent down from 17 percent in August and 23 percent in July; offenders in their 50s, 8 percent and 60s or older, 2 percent.
Most offenders are charged with more than one crime. For this analysis the first offense was counted, which may or may not be related to other offenses with which the suspect was charged.
For the sake of analysis here, the charges have been grouped into seven categories, and are listed by frequency:
Motor vehicle (including any offense while operating a motor vehicle, excluding operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol): 27 percent, down from 38 percent last month.
Assault and battery (including violations of abuse prevention orders): 21 percent as compared to 25 percent of offenses in August and 18 percent in July.
Larceny, theft and breaking and entering, shoplifting: 17 percent of all crimes for September up from 10 percent of August’s offenses.
Disorderly conduct, destruction of property, trespass and related offenses: 14 percent, (9 percent in August, 14 percent in July).
Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol (OUI): 10 percent up from 8 percent last month.
Drug-related offenses were 8 percent, up from 7 percent in August and 5 percent in July.
Sex crimes, which included one rape charge (same case/defendant as last month), child pornography (possessing and distributing) charges plus one defendant charged with open and gross lewdness, 3 percent.
So in sum, types of offense, in order of frequency:
motor vehicle (without OUIs), 27 percent; assault and battery, 21 percent; larceny, 17 percent; disorderly conduct, 14 percent; OUIs, 10 percent; drugs 8 percent; and sex crimes, 3 percent.
Here are some facts regarding OUIs in the Commonwealth:
Driving under the influence of liquor is when a driver’s blood alcohol level is:
0.08 percent for those 21 years of age or old driving a regular passenger vehicle;
0.04 percent for those driving a commercial vehicle;
0.02 percent for drivers under the age of 21.
Refusal to take a breathalyzer test results in an immediate 180-day license suspension for a first offense, 3-year loss of license for a second offense and a 5-year loss of license for a third offense.
Having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle is a crime, no matter who is holding it, can result in a $100-$500 fine, according to dui.drivinglaws.org.
OUIs don’t just include liquor but also drugs.
Even though the “Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana” passed in 2012, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana is still a criminal offense, regardless of whether a driver has the right to use medicinal marijuana, according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Driver’s Manual released in April 2015 found at massrmv.com, states.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
