Jackson Police To Release Quarterly Crime Stats

JACKSON, Miss. -- The Jackson Police Department says it will now issue crime statistics to the public every three months rather than weekly.

The reason it says is to make the information more "user friendly" for residents.

JPD officials said releasing the numbers every week doesn't paint a true picture of how crime is being handled in the city.

But some residents say having that information every week is important.

Assistant Chief Roy Sandefer says a quarterly report will show what crimes happened as well as the number of arrests made in those cases.

He also says residents can go to their local precinct every month and meet with officers to talk about specific problems in their neighborhoods.

Roy Sandefer, JPD Asst. Chief "We file it with the FBI on a quarterly basis, and it's a more accurate picture of arrests and what crimes are reported," Sandefer said.

Anthony Jones, South Jackson Resident "I don't agree with that," said South Jackson resident Anthony Jones. "I think it should be the way they had it. We need to know from week to week or every other week. Three months is too long for us to know what's happening with crime or what's not happening with crime."

Jones also says it's not feasible for him to make a monthly meeting at a precinct because he works late. He would like to see officers attend neighborhood association meetings instead.