Is Salt Lake City safe? (South Jordan, Draper: 2009, condo, sex offenders)

[NewHere2]

Hi all,

I have been thinking about a relocation (for a job) to SLC, and during my research, have found a disturbing statistic: As of May 2009, there were 668 registered sex offenders living in SLC (1 offender for every 272 residents!) --- compared to less than 100 in Minneapolis.

This statistic has me wondering about how safe my wife and children would be living there.

So, any thoughts as to why this number is so high in SLC? Are any of you other parents concerned about the safety of your spouse and children?

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Maybe better reporting or more general criteria? For example, incest includes having sex with a relative by marriage no matter the age; so any adult and an adult step-child is illegal. There are maps that show where offenders live by zip code. There was/is one on my block but he never re-offended and has aged off the database.

I don't know where you got that stat from, are you sure it is accurate? Sex offenses are not reported a lot that I can remember.

[NewHere2]

I got the stats right here on the 'city-data.com' website --- and the profiles were for things like rape and child molestation.

[hilgi]

Newhere, I don't think those numbers are accurate. Minnesota does not have a Megan's law type sex offender registry like we have here. I did notice that they track Level 3 Predatory Offenders here http://www.doc.state.mn.us/level3/search.asp it looks like Minneapolis has about 70 of the high level predators, read up on those guys if you want to see how sick they are.

I think Utah really tracks them well, you can go here, put in an address or area and see them all and they update them quickly. http://corrections.utah.gov/asp-bin/sonar.asp

According to this site there are 15,000 in Minnesota and 7,000 in Utah. That is one in every 344 people in MN and 1 in every 364 in Utah.

Check out the burbs BTW, South Jordan, Draper, etc. have like 1 in 2 to 3,000.

[hilgi]

oops this site. "Klaaskids -- Megan's Law Legislation in All 50 States"

[US-Traveller]

In most well kept neighborhoods in the Salt Lake area you won't have to worry about sex offenders or safety.

[NewHere2]

Thanks for the info, guys!

[carpetbagger]

Man, I don't know about the numbers. And, I moved here from a VERY high-crime Memphis, so take what I say how you will, but Salt Lake City is by-and-large as safe a metropolitan area you can probably find. Not to say there is absolutely NO crime here, but... I just don't see it, and I watch the news every night. Sure, there is some. But not with the frequency and degree that I see happening in other cities. Now, the sex offenders stuff, you probably have to look closely at the data for whatever report you are looking at. That is a subjective area of the law. I, for instance would be much more concerned about the risk posed by a child abuser than a guy who got busted trying to solicit a prostitute, not that I would condone the behavior of the latter.

Anyway, I haven't spent a lot of time in Minneapolis, so trying to compare it to Salt Lake City would be a bit unjust on my part, but I know it doesn't get nearly as cold here in the winter. I've been to Minneapolis in January, and, though it's a beautiful city, I was glad when I left!

[Chango]

Like any city, there are good and bad areas. You might fear for your life every night if you live in Glendale, but you will feel perfectly safe in Federal Heights.

Honestly, SLC doesn't worry me, though. After living in LA, crime doesn't seem to be much of a threat. Besides, they will give a concealed weapons permit to anyone with at least as much intelligence as a chimpanzee in this state, so it's not hard to protect yourself should you feel the need.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Originally Posted by Chango

................. Besides, they will give a concealed weapons permit to anyone with at least as much intelligence as a chimpanzee in this state, so it's not hard to protect yourself should you feel the need.

Yeah, I got my CCW without having to fire my gun. Just a classroom session and get fingerprinted. You don't even have to be a resident of UT at this time, although that may change.