2004 crime rate stays at 30-yr low (more in prison,more police since 90s?)

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN/AP: Crime rate for 2004 stays at 30-year low


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's crime rate was unchanged last year, holding at the lowest levels since the government began surveying crime victims in 1973, the Justice Department reported Sunday.

Since 1993, violent crime as measured by victim surveys has fallen by 57 percent and property crime by 50 percent. That has included a 9 percent drop in violent crime from 2001-2002 to 2003-2004.

The 2004 violent crime rate -- assault, sexual assault and armed robbery -- was 21.4 victims for every 1,000 people age 12 and older. That amounts to about one violent crime victim for every 47 U.S. residents....

***

Murder is not counted because the bureau's study is based on statements by crime victims. In a separate report based on preliminary police data, the FBI found a 3.6 percent drop between 2003 and 2004 -- from 16,500 to 15,910. Chicago was largely responsible for the decrease....

***

Many explanations have been advanced for decline in violent crime, including the record prison population of more than 2 million people, the addition of 100,000 police officers since the mid-1990s and even a deterrent effect that terrorism might have had on street crime....


http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/25/crime.rate.ap/index.html

[Deep13]

1. Fewer criminals born since 1973.

[Inland]

3. That's actually right.

Violent crime tends to be a young man's game, and the general aging of the population is a long term demographic trend against violent crime.

[populistdriven]

6. Half of that is because of ROE v WADE - proof here:

If you doubt it read 'Freakonomics' written by a University of Chicago economics professor

www.freakonomics.com

MORE PROOF THAT CNN IS AFRAID

[DrZeeLit]

8. Excellent book! I saw at least 3 people reading it in the airport as

I waited for my flight to DC. So, it must be getting more and more coverage by media.

I read it a month or so ago, but I had to put my name on the list at the public library and I was 9th. Very popular. And very very interesting.

I'd love to get that guy (the numbers guru) onto the last election "results" -- the descrepancy between exit polls and "reported" votes.

[mike923]

13. Eugenics is the worst argument for abortion, and should be avoided.*

nfm

[Roland99]

2. Not around here. We've been seeing our murder rate at or near highs

each year.

[firefox]

4. A lot of crime goes unreported

The police do less and less if you report a crime. I know someone that reported something stolen from his yard and was told they do not investigate things stolen out of the yard. I have reported someone dumping gas in the neighborhood and they would not even come out and said call the state environmental people. I know a person that had his cell phone stolen and all the calls proved who took it. That was two years ago and they still say it is an ongoing operation. I could go on.

People often do not bother calling the police because they know nothing is going to happen.

[LisaL]

5. So true.

[robcon]

7. Yes, a lot of crime is unreported.

But that was true 10, 20 and 30 years ago, too.

I think the reduction in crime is real and palpable - at least the NY area where I live.

[firefox]

9. Where I live in NC

The economy was really going great until 2000. In the last 20 years population has nearly doubled and now there is a scale of poverty, I have not seen before. I am sure thefts are up from 5 years ago, but to tell you the truth, in the last year or so I am all but afraid to be out after dark.

Sure there were unreported crimes in by-gone days, but now the police have all but said we cannot do anything about robberies. If someone steals the tires off your car, it is not going to do any good to call the police. That is the new unreporting I am talking about.

[FlaGranny]

10. The police might not do anything, but

you better make a report to the police if you have insurance coverage. If you make a claim to your insurance company, the first thing they want to see is the police report.

[robcon]

11. Crime, at least statistically, has little to do with the economy

There have been numerous studies of the connection between crime and the state of the economy. I think most of them came up with nothing.

There is a strong connection between crime and poverty. But the state of the economy - whether it is in growth or recession - had little statistical effect on the growth of crime from WWII to the early 90's, and has had little statistical effect on the decline in crime from the early 90's through the present.

edit:clarification

[1932]

17. Perhaps because improvements in the economy are rarely distributed evenly

throughout society, especially since the 1970s when improvements in the economy have largely accumulated only in the top quintile (or even more narrowly).

[goforit]

12. The numbers con!!!!.......don't ya luv it!

[pitohui]

14. murder is not counted?

then it is worthless

look at police superintendent eddie compass statement abt crime rate in new orleans for the first half 2005

violent crime overall was "down" yet the murder rate had soared something like 11 percent

in other words victims were not being left alive

in a world of "3 strikes" & extreme sentences, criminals have no reason to leave any potential witness alive

if you don't include murder rate, yr violent crime stats aren't worth a roll of charmin

Murder is not counted because the bureau's study is based on statements by crime victims

[sarcasmo]

15. You need more police for a police state.

[Dark]

16. Weed and other drugs decriminalized.

Fewer drug addicts in jail= fewer peaceful-people-turned-monsters coming out.

[shavedape]

18. much of the credit goes to clinton

he put more cops on the streets.