Thursday, October 18, 2012

US Violent Crime Rates Increase (Or Do They?)

Violent crime in America is up, says a study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (they are an arm of the Department of Justice). 
Violent crime in America rose 17 percent last year, a study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics finds.
In 2011, 5.8 million Americans age 12 older -- 22.5 of every 1,000 -- were victims of violent crime, up from 19.3 in 2010, the study found.

Violent crime includes homicide, rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated or simple assault.

About 17.1 million more Americans were victims of property damage crimes, an increase of 11 percent.

The study notes the percentage increases seem large because overall crime rates are at near-historic lows, so even a slight increase in the actual number of incidents produces a large percentage increase.

The increase from 2010 to 2011 is slightly below the average increase in the raw number of violent incidents reported annually, the study said.
 
In Georgia, the definition of "Aggravated Assault" has gotten to where hands and feet are considered "weapons" and basically every bar fight and schoolyard tussle can be charged as a FELONY.  I wonder how much of that is going on in other states.  Is violent crime really increasing, or are we just considering more things as "violent crimes" that wouldn't have been considered violent a few years ago?

Link

- John Steakley
Steakley Law - Stalnaker App Studios