Time Running Out to Contribute to Public Safety Survey

Only weeks remain for those who live or work in Seattle to have their voice heard in Seattle University’s annual public safety survey. The survey, administered by SU’s Crime and Justice Research Center (CJRC) and done in conjunction with the Seattle Police Department (SPD), plays a pivotal role in helping determine what the most common perceptions of crime and safety in Seattle are among residents and workers.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of our community is our top priority and we greatly value the feedback and insights provided by this survey,” explains SPD Chief Adrian Diaz. “Our department is committed to building strong relationships with the diverse communities we serve and we believe in the power of collaborative problem solving to address public safety concerns.”

The annual survey is a central component of SPD’s Micro-Community Policing Plans. It is independently conducted by a research team from Seattle University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology & Forensics

Led by Dr. Jacqueline Helfgott, director of the CJRC, a team of graduate and undergraduate students analyze the survey results within the five SPD precincts they’ve been working and studying in. Professor Helfgott encourages continued public participation in the survey as the public phase of data collection comes to a close.

“Survey results, which includes citywide and individual neighborhood data, help SPD create Micro-Community Policing Plans for each of the 58 Seattle neighborhoods that identify neighborhood-specific priorities and strategies,” says Helfgott. “The results are also used as a reference point for community-police dialogues where community members and police can work together to identify concrete and creative ways to collaboratively address public safety concerns and neighborhood quality of life. The perceptions of the public on issues of public safety often intertwine with the realities of crime and when it doesn’t, it’s helpful to determine why.”

In the 2022 survey, the top-five concerns citywide were property crime, police capacity, homelessness, traffic safety and community/public safety capacity.

For media inquiries, contact Lincoln Vander Veen at vanderv1@seattleu.edu or 425-830-2448.

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