Rising crime- what are your theories?

[PrettySquareGal]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060820/pl_nm/crime_usa_dc

Any suggestions on how to address this issue?

 

[Feraud]

An issue like this is many faceted. Most people have their "one issue" and think that is a solution. Some suggest getting rid of guns, others say get rid of the poor, disenfranchised folks. I say both and neither!
We need to get illegal guns off the streets and out of the hands of irresponsible people. Our society needs to address issues of low poverty which can lead to crime and violence. Our city, state, and federal governments need to keep their cities economically viable. Neighborhoods need to address on an individul level problems of local petty crime and drug use and distribution. We need police on the street who are willing to get out of their cars and do some work for the neighborhood.
Only by tackling the problem as a whole can we lower violent crime rates.

 

[scotrace]

Immediately question the story as it is the reverse of all I have been hearing for several years?

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Immediately question the story as it is the reverse of all I have been hearing for several years?

That's addressed here:

VIOLENT CRIMES INCREASE

A 2005 Federal Bureau of Investigation crime report, issued last month, showed violent crime increasing for the first time in four years in 2005, up 2.5 percent from the year before, with medium-size cities and the Midwest leading the way.

While New York, Los Angeles and Miami still are enjoying drops in crime, smaller cities with populations of more than 500,000 are raising the alarm, posting an 8.3 percent rise in violent crime in 2005. Nationwide, the murder rate rose 5 percent -- the biggest rise in a single year since 1991.

After dramatic declines in murder rates in the 1990s, some cities dropped programs that emphasized prevention and controls on the spread of guns, often citing budget cuts.

 

[Feraud]

Immediately question the story as it is the reverse of all I have been hearing for several years?

Good point.
I frequently read conflicting stories that cite "statistics" to support the claims.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, 2005

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/2005preliminary/index.htm

In my opinion, any crime is too much. I also read that gated communities in the Poconos have seen gang activity! I see rising crime rates in soutern Maine.

I'd like to see this increase reverse.

Some local theories offered by police are an increase in drug addictions fueling theft and robberies.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Good point.
I frequently read conflicting stories that cite "statistics" to support the claims.

I would think the FBI would be a good source?

 

[Feraud]

I would think the FBI would be a good source?

It sure is. Unless everyone claims the government as their source. [huh]

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

An issue like this is many faceted. Most people have their "one issue" and think that is a solution. Some suggest getting rid of guns, others say get rid of the poor, disenfranchised folks. I say both and neither!
We need to get illegal guns off the streets and out of the hands of irresponsible people. Our society needs to address issues of low poverty which can lead to crime and violence. Our city, state, and federal governments need to keep their cities economically viable. Neighborhoods need to address on an individul level problems of local petty crime and drug use and distribution. We need police on the street who are willing to get out of their cars and do some work for the neighborhood.
Only by tackling the problem as a whole can we lower violent crime rates.

I agree with what you are saying, I would like to hear your ideas on how to do all of this. I think a lot of people feel the frustration with the government at all levels, but I haven't yet heard any suggestions to put these ideas into place. It's so easy for all of us to say we should get the illegal guns off of the streets, be tougher on petty crimes, and crack down on drug dealers and users. With an up coming election, I hear candidates saying they will do this. Yet I haven't heard a game plan yet as to how to put these ideas in place. We can talk all we want as to how to stop these crimes, but as long as there isn't any action in place, these crimes will keep going, even elevate. There are so little consequences for the people committing these acts, that it tends to elevate them.
I think your thoughts on "tackling the problem as a whole" are very good ones. I'm glad to hear that someone else is so aware of the problems we are facing in all of our communities. Just this past January, 2 young people in their twenties, were murdered on my street. My neighborhood has always been a peaceful place. I bought property in this area because it is a safe and very friendly part of Boston. A good mix of college students and younger families and people just starting out in careers. I must admit that I was horrified by this "mistaken identity" murder. The crime rate is rising all over the country, and we are really affected by it here in Boston. I'm not sure if my numbers are right, in passing conversation I was told that the murder rate has gone from the normal 20 a year to 80 just over the half year mark. Our local government here is doing nothing to assuage these criminals. I keep hearing that they will be tougher on crime. I'm not holding my breadth.
We all appreciate the great ideas that are being spoken of. Here in Boston we have big billboards, one takes up a huge spot on the turnpike right next to Fenway Park, a display of mass proportions on the gun problem in the city. Put up all the warnings you want on how bad gun violence, and other acts of violence are. It doesn't stop the criminals from these acts. We know guns kill, we need more. Putting more cops on the streets who are willing to get out of their cars in neighborhoods like Roxbury. Well, I think it's a good idea. Addressing issues of poverty, well I have my own idea of how I feel about that. Sometimes you give people a hand and they want your whole arm. This is just my opinion, I don't know what your ideas are for addressing the issue of poverty. I know a lot of people in the city want to help this cause. I don't think that giving more money to those in need will really help the crime rate. Just my opinion again, you give and give, and they'll just take more. We have work and education programs, they work for people who take advantage of them. But it is two sided. Like I said this is just my opinion. We can put a number of programs in place for those in need, but they need to put in an equal if not more amount of work to raise there places in the community. I have heard great stories of success of people who took advantage of free schooling and job placement programs. But, there are still a lot of people who are waiting for a hand out.
We all want our streets to be safer. I don't think the government at any level is doing nearly enough to combat crimes. But, I also don't see the level of effort needed from the people in the communities either. Nothing is going to be solved if all of these entities don't work on the problem together. Spilling more money into a community is not going to solve the problem.
I just wish I could hear more outrage and see more action from the communities involved. I'd also like to stop hearing that individuals running for office are going to solve these issues without telling us what their plan is to solve them. No individual part of government, be it at the local or state or national level, can come in and fix this problem.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Daisy- I am with you.

Portland, Maine used to enjoy relatively crime free living. That has changed over the last five years. We now have graffiti on historic buildings, more car break-ins and vandalism, we even had two kids shooting pellet guns at moving cars on the highway last week, many more robberies, purse snatchings and so on. Even such "petty" crimes are of concern to me.

I don't want public safety to become something of the past when people become nostalgic for the good old days.

 

[raiderrescuer]

crime...

Can it be our society's lack of proper upbringings?

Back in the day all of our neighbors knew each other names and the kids knew that if the neighbor caught them doing something wrong they could correct it and if not they would inform your parents so you’d get it when you came home.

Most families where I grew up you could count on the Mom being at home now both parents work to make ends meet.

It was also not socially acceptable for a kid to say anything worse than "Darn" but now the Civil Rights people jump in because little 9-year-old Johnny has the Constitutional right to use the "F" word if he likes and there is nothing that can be done about it.

Things like Respect Your Elders have gone out the door.

Drugs especially Meth seems not to help either.

 

[Feraud]

Oh boy, now you are forcing me to actually think Daisy!

First, we all have to do our part. Everyone from the parents of these silly ipod snatching wannabe thugs to politicians in the highest levels of our government need to be committed to a safer and economically productive community.

Some people think the Government or police alone should keep us safe. We sit around and buy the b.s. spewed by politicians. We totally fall for their election year banter of "getting guns off the streets". I do not need nor want a 24 hour police escort to protect me. I can do that. At the same time, if I ever need to protect my family do not treat me like the criminal. This is where the Liberals of our society have failed us.
We as citizen must work on own and keep out streets clean, safe, and drug free. Drug dealers, petty criminals, graffiti artists, etc. all have families and live someplace. What are their families and neighbors doing to keep their own neighborhoods safe? What I have seen in my own neighborhood is people turn a blind eye for whatever reason. No one wants to "get involved".

Pro-active parenting is #1 on the list. New York City schools are a mess. I say this based on what teachers (a neighbor, friends) tell me! We need to stop coddling these pathetic parents who do not discipline their children but will sue the school systems if the teacher corrects their children. Pay teachers a fine salary for doing a job that ultimately benefits society and allow them to do it!

On a larger scale, we must be politically active to force our politicians to create and keep jobs in neighborhoods. People need jobs to keep productive, viable, and busy. Idle hands are the devil's plaything and all that. We cannot ignore the global economy but I cannot help wonder how finding the cheapest laborers in Asia or India will effect our blue collar working neighborhoods. This is where our more economically minded politicians have lead us. We can only blame ourselves when local contractors hire illegal immigrants for cheap labor then we complain about illegal immigration!

Poverty needs to definitely be addressed! I do not mean giving people an allowance to have children and stay at home for extended period of time. I say give everyone a decent job where they can sustain a family with dignity. That would wipe out a huge chunk of our social ills! I agree there are programs in place to help people and some take advantage. I believe there will always be a certain percentage of crime, unemployment, etc. We should strive to minimize it as much as possible.

We need more police on the street, not in cars! A policeman walking down the street is a fine deterrent for preventing the little crimes that pave the way for the larger problems we see in problem neighborhoods.

There are so many little things that everyone should be doing on their own to keep our cities safe. We can probably go on for a long time on solutions. Until people are committed to doing what is best for all our words will always have a hollow ring to it.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Drug dealers, petty criminals, graffiti artists, etc. all have families and live someplace. What are their families and neighbors doing to keep their own neighborhoods safe? What I have seen in my own neighborhood is people turn a blind eye for whatever reason. No one wants to "get involved".

I personally have gotten involved with some issues in my neighboordhood via city council, letter writing, and not turning a blind eye. It's not easy, but I don't see any other way. We all have to do something.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Here in Houston the rise in crime over the past year has been directly attributed to the Hurricane Evacuees that relocated (probably permanently) to the city. 17% increase in homicide.

 

[raiderrescuer]

Pay teachers a fine salary for doing a job that ultimately benefits society and allow them to do it!

How is it a reflection of our society when a Sports Player makes Millions a year but we baulk at paying our teachers educating our children any more than $ 40,000 a year ?

 

[Feraud]

How is it a reflection of our society when a Sports Player makes Millions a year but we baulk at paying our teachers educating our children any more than $ 40,000 a year ?

Yes, that is an ugly by product of capitalism and reflection of our society.

 

[Spatterdash]

I recall reading "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and being startled at how the Dutch community, despite their distrust of outsiders and disdain for any higher learning that distracted from labor, treated Ichabod Crane.
Crane was invited to meals at most houses, sought for contributions to the church, included in all higher social events and provided room and board at the school house.
Despite Gunpowder's undesirable traits as a riding horse, the beast was still loaned out to the schoolmaster so he could attend the Halloween party at the Van Tassel estate, a sign of respect and trust, grudgingly given.

I find it interesting that such a xenophobic and isolated town bent over backwards to accomodate the schoolmaster, even when one of their own was planning a terrifying prank in the shadow a dreadful local legend.

Those days are over. We don't look at teachers as much more than educated nannies and servants that should submit to every parent's demands completely.

And I agree, this is just one facet of a bigger problem in the arena of criminal activity. These days every single group or organization strives to paint all others outside their circle as inhuman, unpatriotic, a threat, anti-american. The rhetoric can be found in all levels, not just political or religious. It can be heard in every socio-economic structure, every cultural pool. People are scared, angry, struggling and feeling very threatened by almost everyone else.
I don't know if crime is on the rise, but society is stressed, so I wouldn't be surprised to learn it was.
I will say this, though. When we talk about an issue in this country, we generally tend to start moving on it. If we dismiss an important problem, the next generation tends to make up for it. We change slowly, but we do change, and talk in the streets/television/radio/online is where it starts.

 

[Twitch]

Look folks we can imagine anything we want but the FBI uniform crime statistics are the ultimate reflection of actual crime immune from what people "think" about crime.

The fact that violent crime is up 2.5 in the preliminary 2005 data reflects favorable if you realize that in 2004 is was down 2.2% from 2003. So it basically bounced back to the year before's level. So? Please note that since 1994 FBI figure reflect a whopping 33.4% DECREASE from 1994-2004!!!

Proper statistical data is based on occurances per 100,000 inhabitants so when TV news comes laong with hokey quotes about some crime being up we can easily ascertain if the NUMBER of crimes is up along with the population in relative terms or whether the amount per 100,000 has actually increased.

There is NO major violent crime wave in the US. Go to the FBI website http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm and study the accumulated data over the years and you'll put it in persprctive.

As noted in the conclusion of the FBI information statement http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/2005preliminary/index.htm "All data in this report are preliminary."

Please don't be psyched out by sensationism of the media. I still hear silly statements from police "officials" that they're fighting criminals with machine guns and more firepower than they have when FBI national stats prove that .22 and .38 caliber revolvers are used in more crimes than any other firearm.

Go to the FBI site and really spend time studying the data.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

There is NO major violent crime wave in the US. ..

How do you define major?

I am also going by what I see in my city. It's best to address it before it is a major crime wave, here and elsewhere. I am an optimist, which means, to me, that I look at the problems in front of me so I can live in the solution, whatever that may be.

Also, I bet many of those reductions in criminal activity have been offset by cyber crime. I don't think they addressed that in their stats.

 

[Lincsong]

Where's the respect for authority?

It all comes down to respect for authority. That is what is lacking in society. Government doesn't have respect for the people and some people don't have respect for the law.

If a kid comes late for school, does he get punished? Probably not. If a kid talks back to teacher does he get punished? Probably not. If parent gets called in to a parent teacher conference, who gets blamed for the kids behavior? The teacher. How many parents think their little Egghead is a pure and pius child and would never throw an eraser at another student or "flip the teacher off"?[huh] How or what is the schools response to hyperactive kids? (not kids who are disrespectful but just hyperactive) RITALIN! Drug the kids up.:rage: Kids come to school with their pants hanging to their calves and their underwear showing; send them home? No way!

My brother was hyperactive in school, late 1960's, and the teacher calls up and tells my Dad he better put him on Ritalin. So my Dad flat out told them to stick it where the sun don't shine because the teachers aren't doctors. Turned out my brother had a hyperactive thyroid. Once I smarted off to a teacher, and got smacked by my Dad for showing disrespect to a teacher. That's because my Dad knew that I wasn't an angel, neither was my brothers, but a child has to show respect to authority.

Another example of no respect; Eminent Domain abuses. Local politicians talk as though people are just leasing the land from the government. So they condemn property left and right for Car Dealerships, Hotels, Country Clubs etc. If government doesn't respect the people why should they expect respect in return.:rage:

Another example; one day I come to work at the car rental agency I managed and three cars had the doors kicked in. I suspected it was the hobo living in the parking lot because I chased him out the day before. So I see a cop driving by and I flag him down. The cops response; "oh this isn't my beat, what do you want me to do? You don't know it was that homeless person. You want me to fill out a report? What for?" well golly gee Manny, you're only getting paid $80,000 a year to what?, drive around town listening to the radio? Yes, I want you to fill out a report So I take down this cops badge number and call the Chief of Police to complain, what does the desk tell me; "oh the Chief is busy, if you have a complaint, you need to take it up with the officer." Well, it's the officer I want to complain about. Anyway, the Chief called me a couple hours later and we had a nice conversation.

Poverty is no excuse to steal or commit crime. I grew up with a kid who took butter sandwiches to school and he and his two brothers never stole or smoked pot. Three of the most honest boys/men I know.