They Say Crime Is On The Decrease....

[ZenG]

On shows that I watch about crime stats.....insisting that numbers are way down since days of yore.

And that really we are a bit too paranoid.....apparently it's the safest time in history to be alive according to them.

Ok...so if that 's true then:-

(1) Why are more people being incarcerated than ever in the U.S.?

(2) Why have more prisons been built?

(3) Why do more police than ever respond to a single call?

(4) Why do police need more and more highpowered weapons and hi-tech equipment?

(5) Why are laws constantly being put on the table to give the authorities increasing carte-blanche to do what they do, putting aside previous civilian "rights"?

 

[Jazz Ad]

The expectations of citizens for security grows constantly. Insecurity is a feeling, it isn't based on figures or logic.

 

[ZenG]

So if the public errantly perceives crime to be on the increase then the government (or any lawmaking body involved) must treat the errant perception as true?

 

[monkeyfinger]

mandatory minimum sentencing.
long sentences for non-violent criminals.
sentencing for drug offenses

 

[Pacman]

Let's try this again. Keep this on topic.

 

[BAG]

(1) Why are more people being incarcerated than ever in the U.S.?

(2) Why have more prisons been built?

(3) Why do more police than ever respond to a single call?

(4) Why do police need more and more highpowered weapons and hi-tech equipment?

(5) Why are laws constantly being put on the table to give the authorities increasing carte-blanche to do what they do, putting aside previous civilian "rights"?

Here's my take......

(1) The population is much bigger. I would ask the question "is the proportion of incarcerated people higher as a percentage of the total population now or not". This is more indicative of crime than the actual number.

(2) See number (1)

(3) To protect themselves from violent offenders

(4) See number (3)

(5) Because there are too many people these days who constantly bleat "why isn't the government doing something". The government then does something to look as though they are tackling the problem when in many cases they haven't actually addressed the cause of the problem.

An example of this here in Australia is the constant new laws designed to reduce alcohol fueled violence. As a person employed in running licensed venues for over 20 years I can tell you the vast majority of violence in and around licensed venues is to do with amphetamine based drugs, quite often consumed in conjunction with alcohol. Unfortunately now every drinker, 99.9% of whom are well behaved, has to deal with lockout laws and other regulations.

 

[placedesjardins]

On shows that I watch about crime stats.....insisting that numbers are way down since days of yore.
And that really we are a bit too paranoid.....apparently it's the safest time in history to be alive according to them.
Ok...so if that 's true then:-
(1) Why are more people being incarcerated than ever in the U.S.?

Well, what are theses people being sentenced for? Are there more misdemeanor crimes being committed? Are there more felony crimes being committed? Are there more long-term sentenced being handed down, or are there more short-term sentenced being handed down? How many of these incarcerated subjects are going back in after being released?

(2) Why have more prisons been built?

It is usually a response to prison overcrowding. Every state is different.

(3) Why do more police than ever respond to a single call?

Depends. If you looked at all individual calls for service, there may be more cars dispatched for certain types of situations than were in the past and in other cases, there still may be only one officer dispatched. This may be because there was an officer death or injury that occurred in the past, where after reviewing the circumstances of that incident, it was deemed a standard procedure for dispatchers to send additional officers to a certain type of incident.

(4) Why do police need more and more highpowered weapons and hi-tech equipment?

Cops still mainly have one pistol, a baton of somekind, OC spray, and/or a Taser. Some departments also issue a shotgun and/or rifle. It is actually expensive to outfit every officer with all weapons you might see carried by a SWAT cop. Tasers for police-use are more expensive than the sold-to-the-public kind and because of that, the department I worked in only issued them to some officers. Maybe 1 in 20 cops had one. They had to evenly dispersed among daytime, evening, and midnight shift cops and among different shifts. One thing that was done was to transfer one's taser to another cop when you had an off day, and then he would give it back to you when he was off and you were on. Same thing with shotguns and rifles. It's expensive. Not everyone got one.
Really high-tech equipment is expensive and police departments are on a budget. People see one police department on the television with a high-tech or military-type of equipment and assume all police departments have it. That's far from true.

(5) Why are laws constantly being put on the table to give the authorities increasing carte-blanche to do what they do, putting aside previous civilian "rights"?

The state, county and cities with some kind of legislative branch make the laws, not the police departments.

 

[One Drop]

It is largely a North American phenomenon, more so in the U.S. but in Canada to an extent as well.

IMO a result of a campaign to create fear and insecurity on the part of people who benefit from the creation of a security state, combined with privatization of prisons, the adversarial nature of the justice system, lack of separation of the police departments and prosecutors, a culture of incarceration as revenge and removal of offenders from society rather than a belief in rehabilation, and an adversarial relationship between police forces and citizens that has become culturally enshrined.

Follow the money.

 

[monkeyfinger]

Very well stated my friend!

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I've read that the decrease in crime is directly related to decrease in leaded gasoline and lead in paint. I'm not a scientists so I don't know if it's true.

 

[One Drop]

I've read that the decrease in crime is directly related to decrease in leaded gasoline and lead in paint. I'm not a scientists so I don't know if it's true.

Probably related to demographics, an aging population in particular, but I'm guessing.

 

[Bent77]

On shows that I watch about crime stats.....insisting that numbers are way down since days of yore.

And that really we are a bit too paranoid.....apparently it's the safest time in history to be alive according to them.

Ok...so if that 's true then:-

(1) Why are more people being incarcerated than ever in the U.S.?

(2) Why have more prisons been built?

(3) Why do more police than ever respond to a single call?

(4) Why do police need more and more highpowered weapons and hi-tech equipment?

(5) Why are laws constantly being put on the table to give the authorities increasing carte-blanche to do what they do, putting aside previous civilian "rights"?

#4

In Law enforcement in the US, there has been a drastic change in the type and number of armament following the North Hollywood shootout. Body armor and automatic weapons in the hands of criminals. Weapons purchased illegally for that matter, so lets keep the political discussion on legislation out.

Fact is given the terrorist threat inside this country alone and the very real possibility of an active shooter situation, hand guns are not your best oprion if you "know" you are going to be engaging in one of these situations.
High powered rifles and shotguns are more accurate and effective

 

[One Drop]

#4

In Law enforcement in the US, there has been a drastic change in the type and number of armament following the North Hollywood shootout. Body armor and automatic weapons in the hands of criminals. Weapons purchased illegally for that matter, so lets keep the political discussion on legislation out.

Fact is given the terrorist threat inside this country alone and the very real possibility of an active shooter situation, hand guns are not your best oprion if you "know" you are going to be engaging in one of these situations.
High powered rifles and shotguns are more accurate and effective

Fact, really? Not so sure.

Threat is just as big in Europe street cops don't walk around like an invading army.

 

[Bent77]

Fact, really? Not so sure.

Threat is just as big in Europe street cops don't walk around like an invading army.

Im trained in Law enforcement in the US.

Keep on topic, off politics.

 

[One Drop]

Im trained in Law enforcement in the US.

Keep on topic, off politics.

I think it is on topic and not political. I'm happy to remove the comment if the mods feel it is.

 

[loveandbass]

On shows that I watch about crime stats.....insisting that numbers are way down since days of yore.

And that really we are a bit too paranoid.....apparently it's the safest time in history to be alive according to them.

Ok...so if that 's true then:-

(1) Why are more people being incarcerated than ever in the U.S.?

a.The collosal failure that is the war on drugs
b. Highly militarized police force that often acts with impunity
c. Our country's complete abandonment of assistance for the mentally ill.
d.mandatory minimums and DAs that need to appear "tough on crime" to appeal to their constituencies
e. The thin blue line causes many innocent people to be arrested/incarcerated every day
(2) Why have more prisons been built?
a. For profit prison systems that are also govt subsidized (probably americas worst horror story of the past 50 years)


(3) Why do more police than ever respond to a single call?

a. i dont know
(4) Why do police need more and more highpowered weapons and hi-tech equipment?

a. They dont need it but its another byproduct of the military industrial complex trying to grow/diversify their market
b. They are often given this stuff for pennies on the dollar
c. Many munis are receiving less money for community policing and instead are being outfitted for all out war. Very counterproductive.
d. I dont believe long guns are included in this. I mean like tanks and rocket launchers and whatnot.

(5) Why are laws constantly being put on the table to give the authorities increasing carte-blanche to do what they do, putting aside previous civilian "rights"?

a. Because for the most part, these laws are proposed and enacted by old affluent white males who have ZERO actual connection/understanding to how these laws affect most communities

 

[jmattbassplaya]

On shows that I watch about crime stats.....insisting that numbers are way down since days of yore.

And that really we are a bit too paranoid.....apparently it's the safest time in history to be alive according to them.

Ok...so if that 's true then:-

(1) Why are more people being incarcerated than ever in the U.S.?

(2) Why have more prisons been built?

(3) Why do more police than ever respond to a single call?

(4) Why do police need more and more highpowered weapons and hi-tech equipment?

(5) Why are laws constantly being put on the table to give the authorities increasing carte-blanche to do what they do, putting aside previous civilian "rights"?

1. Because there's a lot of $$$ in it. Also, mandatory minimum sentencing for (petty) drug offenses.

2. Because there's a lot of $$$ in it.

3. They're probably bored because less crime is happening.

4. Good question.

5. Because the general populace is too ignorant or complacent to fight for their rights. The 4th Amendment seems to be constantly under attack, but no one seems to bat an eye (IMHO, YMMV).

 

[jmattbassplaya]

One thing that I always found interesting is that police cruisers in the US are always painted very drab colors whereas cruisers in Europe are always very vibrant and easy to spot. Makes you wonder what the real purpose of law enforcement is in any particular country.

 

[Creede]

On shows that I watch about crime stats.....insisting that numbers are way down since days of yore.

And that really we are a bit too paranoid.....apparently it's the safest time in history to be alive according to them.

Ok...so if that 's true then:-

(1) Why are more people being incarcerated than ever in the U.S.?

(2) Why have more prisons been built?

(3) Why do more police than ever respond to a single call?

(4) Why do police need more and more highpowered weapons and hi-tech equipment?

(5) Why are laws constantly being put on the table to give the authorities increasing carte-blanche to do what they do, putting aside previous civilian "rights"?

1) Crime is based on percentage, not the number itself. Population is a lot larger now than it was 100 years ago.

2) Probably the same reason as number 1.

3) I'd say it's the safety of the police. A single cop against a criminal might not be the best for the cop's or public's safety. Multiple cops are more threatening than one.

4) Criminals are well armed. Having a strong police force will help crush crime (or criminals, if that's how you want to look at it).

5) When a "right" is taken away, it's because the gov't, whether local or not, decided that for the safety of the area, that right shouldn't exist.

 

[Robus]

On shows that I watch about crime stats.....insisting that numbers are way down since days of yore.

And that really we are a bit too paranoid.....apparently it's the safest time in history to be alive according to them.

Ok...so if that 's true then:-

(1) Why are more people being incarcerated than ever in the U.S.?

(2) Why have more prisons been built?

(3) Why do more police than ever respond to a single call?

(4) Why do police need more and more highpowered weapons and hi-tech equipment?

(5) Why are laws constantly being put on the table to give the authorities increasing carte-blanche to do what they do, putting aside previous civilian "rights"?

1 and 2: Drug prohibition.

3: Bored?

4: Military surplus from two wars in the last decade.

5: War on Terror.