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Posts by christinajensen

By Anthony Kane, Maria Arcel and Christina Jensen. 

Pitch: Is there a correlation between mass shootings and state gun laws?

Over the last few years it seems like there has been constant news regarding a new mass shooting occurring within the United States. As the U.S. presidential campaigns continue to pick up, gun control has been a hot topic throughout the debates, while constantly being discussed by officials.

http://www.easymapmaker.com/map/d161b7a6bf8bfae95f0b91245ccae94e

This story will discuss what states have what gun laws, while comparing it to where and when mass executions have occurred. Thus breaking it down if the there is a correlation between the two factors.

Sources to contact

Jeffrey Simon, expert at UCLA at who specializes in domestic terrorism and mass shooters.

Adam Winkler, professor of law and constitutional law specialist with an expertise on the Second Amendment.

Adam Lankford, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Alabama

NRA Spokesperson

Visualization

Our visualization will be a map that shows the number of mass shootings in the United States from 2000 to 2015. The map will be interactive so you can click on the dots and get information about the mass shooting; such as the date, number of fatalities, and number of injured people.

We will be using three colours representing the different state concealed-carry laws.

  1. unrestricted (no permit or licensing required, but there may still be regulations on where guns can be taken in public), shall issue and may issue.
  2. States require a permit for concealed carry. There, local authorities are given discretion as to whether to issue permits.
  3. State laws vary, from largely permissive to permits being difficult to obtain, unless the applicant provides considerable justification.

Screen Shot 2015-12-01 at 4.35.06 PM

Description and link to data

The data shows the number of mass shootings in the United States from 2000 to 2015. The data is from Mother Jones’ Investigation.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/mass-shootings-mother-jones-full-data

 

 

 

 

By Christina Nordvang Jensen

The past years there has been an increase in the number of reported domestic violence victims. The newest data from New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services shows a 25% increase. In 2009 there was 25,761 cases reported in New York City. In 2013 the number was 32,324 which is 6,563 more reported incidences.

Victims of domestic violence in New York City Create line charts

But how come?

According to the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence it is difficult to say with accuracy which factor is affecting the increase. “We don’t know with a 100 percent what is causing the development. One can be that more people are reporting domestic violence because of increased community awareness and support. Another can be that abuse incidents are increasing,” says a press representative from Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence.

Law enforcement officials have said that a big reason for the increase was a 2008 change in law redefining what an intimate partner is. Before the change, couples living together were not counted under the domestic violence law. Domestic violence was considered only an attack on a current or past spouse, someone with a child in common or people related by blood or marriage. The new law covers those in an “intimate relationship,” including teens, gays and lesbians, and heterosexuals who are just dating.

The city will provide more help

From 2002 to 2009, New York City added 628 beds for domestic violence victims and their children, according to data provided by the Human Resources Administration. Since then, the city has added no beds or units. Something many organizations have been criticizing. But in 2016 there will be more help for victims of domestic violence. Because of the increase the city has decided to provide more shelters for survivors of domestic violence. It will add space to serve a total of about 13,300 children and adults a year, a 50 percent increase over the current 8,800 individuals served yearly.

“We see more people reaching out for help. Therefor it is important to provide more service to the ones that are in a critical situation,” says a press representative from Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence.

When Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city is expanding the number of shelters he said in a statement:

“It is our responsibility to ensure that victims of domestic violence have the resources and support they need”. “With this significant expansion – the largest increase in recent history – we’ll be able to provide both the space and specialized services to help survivors of domestic violence rebuild their lives”.

Primary cause of murders of women

It is especially women who are victims of domestic violence. According to data from New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services 17,621 women reported domestic violence in 2013. In 2009 that number was 14,360. But also more male victims are in the statistics today. In 2009 there was 2,776 cases reported . In 2013 it increased to 3,564.

domestic
Create your own infographics

It can have fatal consequences for the women who are victims of domestic violence. It is the primary cause of murders of women in New York City. In 2012, 68% of all murders of women in New York City were related to domestic violence, according to data from NYPD.

A report released in February this year from the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence found that nearly two of every three victims of domestic violence-related homicides among adults were women.

But even though the report shows a depressing picture for the women who are victims of domestic violence the general number of people who are dying in domestic violence-related attacks is looking better. Homicides involving intimate partners fell 41%, from 41 in 2002 to 24 in 2013.

One of the places that a lot of domestic violence is reported is at public housing. This year, almost 34 percent of all the crime that occurs at public housing developments is domestic violence-related. And it is still the women that mostly are represented in the statistics.

Councilman Ritchie Torres is pushing a proposal to force the NYPD to publicly report incidents of domestic violence at public housing developments to assess why and where the problem has become more severe. He believes that it will raise awareness and break the silence.

By Christina Nordvang Jensen

Nut graph

The past years there has been an increase in the number of reported domestic violence victims. The newest data from New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services shows a 25% increase.

In 2009 there was 25,761 cases reported in New York City. In 2013 the number was 32,324 which is 6,563 more reported incidences.

There can be a number of things that have caused the increase. One can be that more people are reporting domestic violence because of increased community awareness and support. Another can be that abuse incidents are increasing. It is difficult to tell with accuracy which of these factors is affecting the indicator and to what degree.

Law enforcement officials have said that a big reason for the increase was a 2008 change in law redefining what an intimate partner is.

This development is happening while New York City is unable to offer enough shelter beds and transitional apartments for victims of domestic violence.

From 2002 to 2009, the city added 628 beds for domestic violence victims and their children, according to data provided by the Human Resources Administration. Since then, New York City has added no beds or units.

 

Description and link to the data

The data is from New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. It shows the development in the number of reported domestic violence victims from 2009 to 2013.

Victim counts are reported for the following offenses: aggravated assault, simple assault, sex offenses, and violation of protective orders.

http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/crimnet/ojsa/domestic-violence-data.html

 

Sources to contact:

New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV)

The nonprofit organization Sanctuary for Families. It helps victims of domestic violence and related forms of gender violence.

https://www.sanctuaryforfamilies.org

Safe Horizon –  a victim assistance agency that provides support, prevent violence and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families and communities.

http://www.safehorizon.org

Urban Resource Institute, one of New York City’s largest providers of services for victims of domestic violence victims and their families.

http://urinyc.org