Express graphic by Coly McCauley A three-year comparison of crime in Blaine County shows an increase in felony-level or violent crimes.
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The crime rate is up in Blaine County, but local authorities are even more concerned about a spike in "serious or violent" offenses.
"We're having more serious crime," said Blaine County Sheriff Walt Femling. "What we are seeing is more felonies than we've ever seen before."
Blaine County experienced a 27 percent jump in the crime rate in 2007, according to the Statewide Crime Profile released in July by Idaho State Police. The agency compiles crime statistics as submitted by local law enforcement agencies. Blaine County's crime rate for 2007 ended a three-year downward trend and was more than twice the statewide per capita average.
"It's not only the crime rate, but the seriousness of the crime," Femling said. "We're seeing that in sexual assaults and drug offenses. There's a trend in more violent crimes coming into Blaine County and I think that's even more significant than the 27 percent crime rate. And that's something we've not seen in the past, and that's what's disturbing."
The ISP report, which measures "Group A Offenses", defined as crimes against persons, property or society, shows that Blaine County had 877 crimes of that nature in 2007 compared 689 in 2006. ISP listed the Group A offense rate in Blaine County in 2007 at 3993.8 per 100,000 population, which was more than twice the state average of 1971.9 per 100,000 persons.
The increase in Blaine County felony-level or violent crimes is also borne out by the ISP data. Fourteen reports of forcible or statutory rape were reported in 2007, compared with five in both 2006 and 2005.
Also up were reports of aggravated assault, a felony-level crime that involves the threat of violence rather than the act of violence. Sixty-five aggravated assaults were reported in 2007, compared with 31 in 2006 and 27 in 2005.
The increase in serious crime is also borne out by inmate incarceration numbers for the Blaine County Jail, according to numbers provided by Femling, who keeps track of "felony inmate days" as opposed to "misdemeanor inmate days."
Misdemeanor inmate days were higher in 2005, when they totaled 5,195 as compared to 5,035 felony inmate days.
A new trend started in 2006 when felony inmate days exceed misdemeanor inmate days for the first time. There were 6,031 felony inmate days as compared to 4,805 misdemeanor inmate days.
The difference was even greater in 2007, when Femling recorded 7,020 felony inmate days and 4,930 misdemeanor inmate days.
The sheriff expects the trend to continue. Femling projects 7,446 felony inmate days this year compared to 5,187 misdemeanor inmate days.
Felony offenses typically translate into more jail time. Bonds are higher and harder to meet.
The old Blaine County Jail had accommodations for only 26 inmates, whereas the number of prisoners has averaged 32 during the past year.
"I know that we've busted our jail budget this year by having to transport inmates to other facilities," said Blaine County Commission Chairman Tom Bowman.
So why the increase in crime overall and in serious crime specifically?
Femling points out that the rate is still lower in the county than it was in 2003.
He said that changing demographics and downward trend in the economy may be factors, but was unwilling to speculate further.
"I don't have good enough data to make a conclusion on that," Femling said. "I don't have the data breakdown to show how many Caucasian crimes occurred during that time compared to Hispanic crimes during that time. You can't go after a specific class or race and say it's just them. But we have seen an increase in Hispanic men being charged with sexual assaults on juveniles."
Hailey Police Chief Jeff Gunter said the economic downturn in the Wood River Valley is a likely factor.
"We have had an increase in thefts, but that's to be expected when the economy goes down," Gunter said. "Money problems increase stress levels at home and that tends to increase domestic violence.
"When everything's thriving our crime rate tends to go down," Gunter said. "Now, the economy's gone south a little and I think that's going to affect the crime rate."
Gunter said he's also noted an increase in serious or violent crime.
"We had 100 more felony arrests this year than the year before," he said. "We did take more crime reports, we did arrest more people also."
Femling said he doesn't expect to see the overall crime rate or the number of serious offenses drop in the near future.
"I predict that that spike will continue going upward in 2008," he said.
Bowman pointed out that new jail at the Blaine County Public Safety Building, where inmates will be relocated later this month, was built at the right time.
More serious crimes equate to more jail time.
"And now we have a place to put them," Bowman said.
