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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Adult foster care providers protest home closures ... Employers, workers get clarity on Oregon minimum wage rules ... Former SOU VP Earl Potter mourned by colleagues in two states ... Adult foster care providers protest home closures ... Employers, workers get clarity on Oregon minimum wage rules ... Former SOU VP Earl Potter mourned by colleagues in two states ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Medford averages about two murders a year Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Jun. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News We have lived in Jackson County for almost 40 years. In 1978, murder seemed very rare. Now I see reports of murders or sentencing of murderers rather frequently. Is that just my bad memory? How does the murder rate compare then and now? — Dolores S., Medford While Jackson County murder records from 40 years ago aren't easily pieced together, we were able to dig up figures for the city of Medford going back to 1981. "That's usually a question I receive when someone is calling from Southern California," says Ruth Cox, a crime analyst for the Medford police tactical information unit. "When I tell them we have average about two homicides a year, they're amazed. They have that many every single day down there." For a 35-year period, from 1981 through 2015, Medford had 74 homicides. There were no killings in 1983, 1990, 1999, 2002, 2004 or 2014. On the other end of the spectrum, a half-dozen murders were committed in 1995, 1996, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Particularly grisly murders can get a lot of attention over a period of weeks after the incident, then again before and after the trial. In recent years, one murderer who drew national attention was Jordan Criado, who was given five full life sentences with no chance of parole for the July 2011 knifing deaths of his wife and four children. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501