They Say Crime Is On The Decrease....

[loveandbass]

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$

Crime RATES are down
Also, we have the highest incarceration RATE of any country in the world by a large margin

 

[Creede]

Crime RATES are down
Also, we have the highest incarceration RATE of any country in the world by a large margin

Yes, I understand that. We have a lot of people in prison, and that could very well be the reason there isn't as much crime on the streets.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

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.

Add to that that prisons in some circumstances are becoming private for profit businesseshttp://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/acl...FcJaiAodzXgESg&adurl=http://cca.com/about-cca

 

[48thStreetCustom]

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

The theory is that exhaust fumes in the atmosphere caused people to be more violent. I just don't know enough to say whether the guy is FOS or not.

 

[dabaumtravis]

The theory is that exhaust fumes in the atmosphere caused people to be more violent. I just don't know enough to say whether the guy is FOS or not.

As the saying goes, correlation is not causation. It's probably bull.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

As the saying goes, correlation is not causation. It's probably bull.

Well, read it for yourself (Invalid Link Removed). I'm not saying it's right, I'm just passing the info along.

 

[One Drop]

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.

To be fair a lot of countries use unmarked cars as well.

But in general the cops in European countries are not confrontational and are well trained not to escalate situations. They also know how to treat the mentally ill and have good medical training too.

It really depends, though, and one interesting statistic that arises from research in the U.S. Is that a huge majority of police brutality and racist incidents is the fault of a small minority of policeman.

If forces were better at removing the bad apples the reputation of the police and the amount of incidents would improve hugely. I don't believe for example that many forces are institutionally racist.

 

[bolophonic]

Private prisons, mandatory sentencing, drug prohibition instead of treatment, etc.

 

[Mr Gaston]

It's the war on drugs and it's worse than the drugs.

BTW : I don't use drugs.

 

[hrodbert696]

Just to throw an obvious possibility out there - isn't it possible that crime rates are down BECAUSE incarceration rates are up? That seems prima facie like a more probable correlation than decline in lead-based paint etc. More criminals locked up, fewer out there committing crimes. I'm not claiming that IS the connection, I do think there's a lot of reason to be concerned about the prison system in the US running amok, but it does seem like a rather obvious possibility to consider. The other thing I wonder about is the comparative crime rates and incarceration rates by community, as opposed to nationally. Some communities may be experiencing less crime and have less felt need for intensified law enforcement, while others experience the opposite.

 

[Marial]

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

For-profit prison system (if that isn't perverse I don't know what is).

It would be interesting to follow the money and influence trail between the prison lobby, gun and military hardware manufacturers and their respective lobbies, and government programs and policy.

 

[monkeyfinger]

The rate of recidivism is way up too. People going into jail for small offenses are coming out career criminals.

 

[loveandbass]

Just to throw an obvious possibility out there - isn't it possible that crime rates are down BECAUSE incarceration rates are up?

to put it simply....No

 

[hrodbert696]

to put it simply....No

Fine, but why not?

 

[HaMMerHeD]

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) Old-fashioned racism. (Caucasians account for more than 60% of arrests for incarceratable crimes, but less than 20% of incarcerated convictions, while Hispanics and African-Americans account for less than 40% of arrests, but more than 70% of incarcerations.)

2) Prison is a profitable industry.

3) They need to be visible to retain their "value" to society.

4) They'll tell you that it's an answer to the increase in quality and capabilities of civilian arms, but you don't really see police actually use their hi-tech stuff against well-armed civilians. It's really to keep them safer while they violate your rights.

5) Because once we showed we were willing to have personal liberties curtailed in the name of security, they seized the opportunity and haven't let go of it since.

 

[sparkyfender2]

I get the warm and fuzzies when I drive past a prison.

Probably a few good people in there, sadly, plus a LOT of bad actors that I don't want or need around me or my family. They made the choices, now accept the consequences.

I am all for revenge and punishment, don't really care about rehabilitation for the major offenders. I believe murderers that don't get the needle should be paroled from prison when their victims are paroled from the grave..............

 

[metron]

I read global warming rates are up while simultaneously piracy levels are down. Those stats seem suspiciously related to crime rates. It's hot (except where it's cold), people are ornery, and pirates are disappearing.

 

[loveandbass]

I get the warm and fuzzies when I drive past a prison.

Probably a few good people in there, sadly, plus a LOT of bad actors that I don't want or need around me or my family. They made the choices, now accept the consequences.

I am all for revenge and punishment, don't really care about rehabilitation for the major offenders. I believe murderers that don't get the needle should be paroled from prison when their victims are paroled from the grave..............

We are a society that has knowingly put innocent people to death.

 

[monkeyfinger]

Revenge and punishment actually have very little place in criminal justice. They are completely counter to the most important goals: protect the innocent and decrease the burden on society. Also, there have been numerous cases of people on death row who were later proven innocence because either the case was mishandled or better investigative techniques disproved the prosecutor's case.

 

[two fingers]

There have been several studies done that show how crimes are reported is driving the numbers moreso than an actual drop in crime. Elected officials at the local level have a vested interest in crime numbers going down.

Short version without getting into local level politics is that I don't trust the numbers.

I think the National agencies are reporting the numbers they are given. And the people who give them those numbers need them to come down.

I don't think we are any safer today than we were 10, 20, or 30 years ago. If anything, criminals are more sophisticated and more brazen than ever.

In my area, a college town, criminals are literally kicking in doors, pistol whipping victims, and robbing them to the point that in the area behind the University people have been advised not to walk alone at night and even to hang out at a friend's house until your roommate returns so as not to he left alone in your own home. (How's that for a nice runon sentence?)

Of my child were a cop I would want her to have lots of big ugly equipment protecting her as she does her job. If you are doing no wrong, then the big ugly equipment won't be pointed at you.

As for crowded jails and drug dealers I think we should get away from jail time. What we should do is confiscate all of their property and sell it to pay for rehab programs and medical bills of addicts. Sure, you are free to go. But you can't take anything with you. Good luck with that.