Essay/Term paper: Crime in the united states

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Politics

Crime In the United States

Introduction:

Our report is on Crime in the United States. Crime is a major problem all over
the world, but we are focusing on the crime problem right here in our own
country. We have listed some different statistics, problems, and solutions.

FBI Crime Statistics:

Final 1995 crime statistics showed that 13.9 million Crime Index offenses were
reported to law enforcement across the Nation. The 1995 total represents a rate
of 5,278 offenses for every 100,000 United States inhabitants. The number of
crimes was down 1 percent from 1994, while the crime rate declined 2 percent.
The number of violent crimes dropped 3 percent, while the rate of violent crimes
dropped 4 percent. In the eight U.S. cities with more than one million
population, the decrease in the number of violent crimes was 8 percent. In the
64 largest cities, with populations over 250,000, Crime Index totals dropped 3
percent.

Crime Volume:

In 1995, the Crime Index total of 13.9 million offenses, 1 percent lower than
the 1994 total and 7 percent lower than the 1991 total, represented the fourth
consecutive annual decline. A comparison with 1986 figures, however, showed a 5-
percent increase over the last 10-year period.

By region, the Southern States recorded 38 percent of all Crime Index offenses
reported to law enforcement. The lowest volume was reported in the Northeastern
States, accounting for 16 percent of the total. All regions except the West
showed Crime Index decreases compared to 1994 figures.

Property valued at $15.6 billion was stolen in connection with all Crime Index
offenses.

Crime Rate:

The 1995 Crime Index rate, 5,278 per 100,000 population, was 2 percent lower
than in 1994. For 5- and 10-year trend increments, the 1995 rate, the lowest
since 1985, was 11 percent lower than the 1991 rate and 4 percent lower than
1986. Geographically, the total Crime Index rates ranged from 6,083 in the West
to 4,180 in the Northeast. All regions recorded rate declines, 1994 versus 1995.
The Crime Index rate was 5,761 per 100,000 inhabitants in the Nations
Metropolitan Statistical Areas and 5,315 per 100,000 for cities outside MSAs.
The lowest rate was registered by the collective rural counties at 2,083 per
100,000 inhabitants.

Violent Crime:

Violent crimes (murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) reported
to the country's law enforcement agencies during 1995 dropped below 1.8 million
offenses resulting in the lowest violent crime rate since 1989; 685 violent
crimes for every 100,000 inhabitants.

From 1994 to 1995, the violent crimes collectively decreased by 3 percent. The
1995 total was 6 percent below the 1991 figure, but 21 percent above the 1986
figure.

Data collected on weapons used in connection with murder, robbery, and
aggravated assault showed that personal weapons (hands, fists, feet, etc.) were
used in 31 percent of the offenses and that firearms were used in 30 percent.
The proportion of violent crimes committed with firearms remained relatively
stable from 1994 to 1995.

Aggravated assaults accounted for 61 percent and robberies for 32 percent of all
violent crimes reported to law enforcement in 1995.

A special study focusing on the use of weapons in violent crimes is included in
this year's publication.

Arrests:

During the year, law enforcement agencies made an estimated 15.1 million arrests
for all criminal infractions excluding traffic violations. The highest arrest
counts were for larceny-theft and drug abuse violations, each at 1.5 million.
Arrests for driving under the influence and simple assaults followed at 1.4 and
1.3 million arrests, respectively. Relating the number of arrests to the total
U.S. population, the rate was 5,807 arrests per 100,000 population.

The total number of arrests for all offenses except traffic violations increased
1 percent from 1994 to 1995.

Of all persons arrested in 1995, 44 percent were under the age of 25, 80 percent
were male, and 67 percent were white.

Larceny-theft was the offense resulting in the most arrests of females and of
persons under the age of 18. Adults were most often arrested for driving under
the influence, and males most frequently for drug abuse violations.

Aggravated Assault:

For the second consecutive year, aggravated assaults dropped over 1 percent in
1995 to an estimated total of 1,099,179. Aggravated assaults comprised 61
percent of the violent crimes in 1995.

There were 418 victims of aggravated assault for every 100,000 people nationwide
in 1995, the lowest rate since 1989.

In 1995, 33 percent of the aggravated assaults were committed with blunt objects
or other dangerous weapons. Personal weapons such as hands, fists, and feet were
used in 26 percent; firearms in 23 percent; and knives or cutting instruments in
the remainder.

Law Enforcement Employees:

A total of 13,052 city, county, and state police agencies submitting Uniform
Crime Reporting data reported collectively employing 586,756 officers and
226,780 civilians in 1995.

The average rate of 2.4 full-time officers for every 1,000 inhabitants across
the country in 1995 showed a slight increase from the 1994 figure, 2.3 per 1,000
inhabitants..

Geographically, the highest rate of officers to population was recorded in the
Northeastern States where there were 2.7 officers per 1,000 inhabitants.

Solution:

Avoid dark vacant places.

Be alert. If you are being followed, head quickly for a lighted area or to a
group of people.

When walking:
Avoid shortcuts.
Walk where there is plenty of light and traffic.
Never walk alone at night unless absolutely necessary.
Report any suspicious activity or misconduct to the Department.

Give your car the quick "once over" before entering with a critical eye for
possible break-ins or persons in the rear seat of floor area.

Report any crimes that you see to the police.

Information to give:

What's happening?
Where is the incident?
When did it happen?
Then: Stay on the phone!