Types of Crimes
Tracking criminal data in the community is an important component in combating crime and building safer communities. Understanding where and what types of crimes are being committed in a community helps law enforcement agencies assess the overall safety and security of the community. By analyzing crime trends and patterns, authorities can allocate resources strategically to address specific areas or types of criminal activity, ultimately enhancing public safety.
Furthermore, monitoring criminal data aids in the formulation of effective crime prevention strategies and policies. Identifying prevalent crimes allows our communities to implement targeted interventions, such as community policing initiatives or educational programs, to address the root causes of criminal behavior.
The Hinds County District Attorney’s Office investment in Karpel has revolutionized the office’s ability to track vast amounts of crime and prosecutorial data trends. The following is a general presentation of categories of crime in communities, a broad data point that the report writers thought would be a point of interest for community members. However, it does not represent the sole data points that this office tracks and compiles in real-time throughout the year.
Violent vs Non-Violent Crime
Mississippi Code Annotated section 97-3-2 designates certain offenses as “crimes of violence.” The statue provides that no person convicted of a crime of violence listed in this section is eligible for parole or for early release from the custody of the Department of Corrections until the person has served at least fifty percent (50%) of the sentence imposed by the court. Section 97-3-2 defines the following offenses as crimes of violence: Driving under the influence; Murder and attempted Murder; Aggravated Assault; Manslaughter; Killing of an unborn child; kidnapping; human trafficking; poisoning; rape; robbery; sexual battery; drive-by shooting or bombing; carjacking; felonious neglect, abuse or battery of a child; burglary of a dwelling; use of explosives or weapons of mass destruction; statutory rape; exploitation of a child; gratification of lust; shooting into a dwelling;
During calendar year 2023, the Hinds Couty District Attorney’s Office indicted 922 felony counts that fall into the statutory definition of crimes of violence. Thus, 32% of the indicted felony counts returned by the grand jury were crimes of violence.
The following graph illustrates the number of violent versus non-violent crime by law enforcement agency.
Crimes by Category
The Hinds County District Attorney’s Office also tracks crime by category. Generally, these categories are: Homicides, Crimes Against the Person, Sex Crimes & Crimes Against Children, Property Crimes, and Firearm Offenses. This data is presented both as a total for the county, but also by law enforcement agency in order to track the types of crimes occurring in each community.
Hinds County
Of the 2,840 felony counts indicted in 2023, 148 counts were Homicides, 552 counts were Crimes Against the Persons; 643 counts were Property Crimes; and 385 counts were Firearm Offenses.
Communities
The following graphs provide a more in-depth review of crimes by category, breaking it out by the community law enforcement agency that investigated the crime. The purpose of these illustrations is to give communities an understanding of the great work their law enforcements agencies are doing to keep each community safe. It also provides a general idea of the nature of crime in each community.
Firearm Offenses
In recent years, gun violence has increased across Hinds County. In response, the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office has prioritized prosecuting cases involving gun violence. The Violent Crimes Division of the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office reviews all cases where convicted felons are found in possession of a firearm.
In 2023, the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office indicted a total of 385 felony counts involving firearm offenses such as possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a stolen firearm. The following graph shows the relevant police jurisdiction where the crime was charged.
Drug Offenses
Crimes involving drugs and other illicit substances have a detrimental impact on the quality of life in our communities. Narcotics activity contributes to a range of social and economic problems, including increased rates of violence, addiction, and property crime. In 2023, the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office charged 195 counts of felony drug offenses. The following graph shows the law enforcement agencies that investigated these crimes.
