This report is updated approximately 30 days after the end of the month.
PPB is experiencing delays in the report review process due to the current public health crisis. Reports from February 2020 and later have not completed the quality control process. Due to the delays, PPB will be publishing preliminary statistics and data on this page that will be revised at a later date.
Dashboard Overview
The Business Districts Crime Summary Dashboard is an interactive data visualization of crimes that are reported to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) within business district boundaries.
The dashboard includes select crimes of interest to the Business Districts, which means it does not include all crimes reported to PPB. For official and comprehensive Portland crime statistics, use the Monthly Neighborhood Offense Statistics Report, which reports all National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) Group A offenses since May 2015. For more information on NIBRS, click here.
The crime statistics in the report are presented in customized categories to better highlight crimes of interest to the Business Districts. These categories differ from official Group A offense reporting. For example, Group A offenses include assault statistics. This report presents the three offenses that make up assaults in two categories: aggravated and simple assault/intimidation. The report also includes additional NIBRS offense types that are not part of Group A offense reporting. These include disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, and trespass of real property. Additional crimes not part of NIBRS offense reporting include reckless driving and hit & run. Definitions of the crime categories can be found below.
Crimes that occur outside of the business district boundaries are not included. Due to overlapping boundaries of some business districts, crime statistics are provided for an individual district only and comparisons cannot be made between other districts. Cases deemed sensitive due to the nature of the crime, victim, victim/offender relationship, or investigative status may contain data that cannot be shared at this time. Specific location information for sensitive cases are not included in the frequency map but figures are included in the crime counts by category and month.
Business Districts boundaries are maintained by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and will be reviewed and updated annually as changes from the bureau are made available.
This dashboard is updated approximately 30 days after the end of the month.
Crime Type Definitions
| Person Crimes | Crimes where the victim is always an individual. |
|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | An unlawful attack by one person on another involving a weapon and/or severe injury to the victim. |
| Murder / Negligent Manslaughter | Includes willful murder and negligent homicide with a weapon. |
| Negligent Manslaughter-Vehicle | Includes negligent homicide with a vehicle. |
| Sex Offenses | Any forcible sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent. Includes rape, sexual assault with an object, sodomy, and fondling. |
| Simple Assault / Intimidation | Includes the assault offenses of simple assault and intimidation |
| Property | Crimes where damage has occurred to property or whose object is to obtain money, property, or some other benefit. |
| Arson | To unlawfully and intentionally damage or attempt to damage any real or personal property by fire or incendiary device. |
| Burglary | The unlawful entry into a building or other structure with the intent to commit a theft. |
| Car Prowl | Includes the larceny offenses of theft from a motor vehicle and theft of a car part or accessory. |
| Embezzlement | The unlawful misappropriation by an offender to their own use or purpose of money, property, or some other thing of value entrusted to their care, custody, or control. |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | The theft of a motor vehicle. |
| Other Larceny | Includes the larceny offenses of purse snatching, pocket-picking, theft from coin op machines, and all other larceny. |
| Robbery | To take or attempt to take anything of value from the control, custody, or care of another person by force or intimidation. |
| Shoplifting | The theft of goods or merchandise exposed for sale by someone other than an employee. |
| Theft From Building | A theft from within a building which is either open to the general public or where the offender has legal access. |
| Vandalism | To willfully or maliciously destroy, damage, deface, or otherwise injure real or personal property without the consent of the owner or the person having custody or control of it. |
| Other | Crimes including those categorized as crimes against society, NIBRS Group B offenses, and those affecting the safety of the general environment and roads. |
| Disorderly Conduct | Any behavior that tends to disturb the public peace. |
| Driving Under the Influence | Driving or operating a motor vehicle while impaired as the result of drugs or alcohol. |
| Drug / Narcotic Offenses | The violation of laws prohibiting the production, distribution, and/or use of certain controlled substances and the equipment or devices utilized in their preparation and/or use. |
| Hit & Run | Failure to perform duties of driver (hit and run). |
| Reckless Driving | Reckless driving. |
| Trespass of Real Property | To unlawfully enter land, a dwelling, or other real property with no intent to commit a felony or theft. |
| Weapons Law Violations | The violation of laws or ordinances regulating weapons. |
Dashboard Walkthrough
1. Report Overview
The Business Districts Crime Summary is an interactive data visualization that summarizes crimes reported to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) that occurred within business district boundaries. This tool is built to provide custom analyses of crime data to interested members of the community, especially as it relates to Portland's business districts. For a more detailed map of the business district boundaries, click here.
Crime reporting categories have been customized for this report to include crimes that are of interest to the Business Districts. The locations of reported crimes have been generalized to the block and the density of these locations are presented on the map. Due to the generalization of a location's point, some crimes may appear slightly outside the business district boundaries on the map. This report presents statistics for individual business districts only. Due to overlapping boundaries comparisons between business districts and overall business district crime statistics are not possible.
2. Technical Specifications
The report has been customized to work on personal computers, smart phones, and tablets. For the best experience, it is recommended you use a desktop or laptop computer.
No additional software is required to use this report. The report runs completely within the internet browser using JavaScript. Most modern browsers automatically activate JavaScript; however, it can be turned off based on the security settings of the computer. For more information on activating JavaScript, refer to the browser's help section or click here for help on Windows computers or click here for help on Apple computers.
3. Visualization Walkthrough
The Business Districts Crime Summary is an interactive data visualization. This interactivity allows users to filter the information based on the questions they are hoping to answer with this dataset. An overview of the pre-built filters is included below.
a. Business District FilterThe Business District Filter is the primary selection tool for the business district. The dropdown filter shows all 49 business districts in alphabetical order but only one may be selected at a time. To change the business district hit the down arrow to the right of the business district name and select the business district name you would like to view.
b. Date Filter
The Date Filter is the primary selection tool for the date range. The dropdown filter defaults to the 13 most recent months that data is available. To change the months in view, hit the arrow to the right of the displayed dates and select the check boxes next the corresponding months and years you would like to view. Click 'Apply' after selection(s) is made. There is no limit to the number of months; however, the Crime Count by Month chart gets crowded past 14 months.
c. Crime Count by Category
The table on the right side of the report provides a detailed listing of the reported frequency of crimes during the selected time period. For a definition of the crime type hover the mouse over the value (number).
The table does more than just provide information as it also doubles as a filter. Clicking on the name of a particular crime category, such as Burglary, automatically updates the Density Map and Crime Count by Month to show the distribution and frequency of those crimes. Multiple crimes can be selected by dragging the mouse while clicking and holding the CTRL button on the keyboard when clicking the crimes.
TIP: to filter for all crimes in their overall category (i.e. Person, Property, or Other) click that label instead of the individual crime types.
d. Density Map
The Density Map is an outline of the chosen business district overlaid with a density of the crimes reported. The map dynamically updates based on selected filters. Darker shaded colors signal a higher density of reported crimes.
Hover the mouse over a shape to get basic information about that neighborhood, including its name, coalition, and the count for all selected offenses.
Like the Crime Count by Category view, the map can also be used to filter results in the different tables and charts. Multiple crimes can be selected by dragging the mouse when clicking or holding down the CTRL button on the keyboard when clicking within the density map.
Instructions on finding the business district of a specific location can be found at Venture Portland. Click the link below the Business District filter next to the "Don't Know Your Business District?" text to be taken directly to the website.
Crimes occurring outside business districts are not included and locations within business districts have been generalized to mid-block or intersections. Due to the generalization of locations, some crimes may appear slightly outside the business district boundaries on the map. Some business districts have overlapping boundaries, so crime counts are provided for individual districts only and comparisons cannot be made between districts. Cases deemed sensitive due to the nature of the crime, victim, victim/offender relationship, or investigation status may contain data that cannot be shared openly at this time. Specific location information for sensitive cases are not included in the Density Map but figures are included in the crime counts by category and month.
e. Total Crime Count by Month
The final view on the main report is the Crime Count by Month bar chart. This chart highlights the total crime counts (or, if filtered, the total count of all selected crimes) for all months included in the overall date filer. Like the Density Map and Crime Count by Category table, the bar charts can also be used to filter results; select one (or more) months to view the crime category breakdown and density locations for that month.
TIP: select more than one month by dragging the mouse and holding down the CTRL button on the keyboard when clicking the month.
f. Toolbar
The toolbar, located at the bottom of the visualization, contains several buttons that assist in the analysis of the data.
Undo: allows the user to go back to a prior option or setting when adjusting filters. It only becomes active when a filter is applied. Note: do not use the browser's back button to deselect after a selection or applying a filter, use this button instead.
Redo: allows the user to re-activate a filter or selection. It only becomes active when the 'Undo' button has been clicked.
Revert: resets all filters and selections to their original settings. This is useful when restarting an analysis after applying several filters.
Share: launches a new window that automatically creates links to share the dashboard with others on the Web and social media.
Download: allows users to save a static version of the display. This option is great for printing copies of the dashboard or downloading data. Image generates a .png file of the report with all of the selections and filters. Data, Crosstab, and Tableau Workbook options are unavailable for use with the dashboard. PDF allows users to export the report with all of the selected filters as a PDF. The options dialogue allows custom scaling and paper size options. For best results, use the default options. PowerPoint options automatically generates and exports a .pptx file ready for use in Microsoft PowerPoint. This includes a screenshot of the dashboard that can be copied and pasted into any new or existing presentation.
Full Screen: enlarges the dashboard to encompass the entire screen of your current device. To exit, press the 'Esc' key or click the button again.