U.S. Crime Rates Fall

The FBI has released its crime stats for 2007 and it's good news:

All four of the violent crime offenses declined in 2007 when compared with figures from 2006. The estimated number of forcible rapes declined 2.5 percent; the estimated number of murders and nonnegligent manslaughters dropped 0.6 percent; and the estimated number of aggravated assaults also decreased by 0.6 percent. The estimated number of robberies decreased 0.5 percent in 2007 when compared with 2006 data….

Each of the property crimes also declined in 2007. Motor vehicle theft decreased 8.1 percent when 2007 data were compared with the 2006 data. The estimated number of larceny-thefts decreased 0.6 percent, and the estimated number of burglaries declined 0.2 percent.

And yet violent video games and online pornography continue to proliferate. 

FBI press release on crime stats here. 

Comments

[James Butler]

The Surge? is WORKING!

[Warren]

Look for crime rates to start climbing as the global economy collapses.

doom
Dooom
DOOOOM

[Colonel_Angus]

We're winning the War On Drugs! Give us more money!

[J sub D]

All four of the violent crime offenses declined in 2007 when compared with figures from 2006.

Arresting all those pot smokers sure paid off, didn't it?

[James Butler]

When the report on violent crime going down is combined with the report of marijuana busts going up ... does it describe a causal relationship? Or maybe it's just an indication of law enforcement dollars being targeted at the "real" outlaws in this fine country?

[Raphael]

Electrocute and castrate them and it will go even lower.

[J sub D]

Really, it's good news. I'm a bit cycnical today, but good news is always welcome.

The economy must be doing well because crime rates are down. Or the crooks are staying at home to catch America's Got Talent.
Or something.

[Michael]

Hey, J Sub D, you shouldn't scoff at the ability of such a show like America's Got Talent to change the behavior of a potential miscreant away from crime.

[BakedPenguin]

Electrocute and castrate them...

In that order...

[TallDave]

I blame Bush. This just proves the violent criminals peace-challenged activists of America are worse off than they were 8 years ago.

[libertymike]

J sub D-

Go ahead, feel better. Why shouldn't you? After all, the government has just released its official statistics. Statistics upon which you can rely. Official, accurate and reliable.

[Paul]

For the love of God, please, someone, tell Mayor Nickels.

[Gorgeous Gus the Wonder Dog]

"And yet violent video games and online pornography continue to proliferate."

So we can also rule out rising unemployment too, right?

[Neu Mejican]

And yet violent video games and online pornography continue to proliferate.

What an odd non sequitur.

I declare JsubD thread winner, btw.

[joe]

So we can also rule out rising unemployment too, right?

It's comparing 2007 to 2006, so yes.

IIRC, changes in crime rates lag changes in unemployment rates by about a year.

[BDB]

We locked everyone up in the 80s for 35+ years, that's why it's declined.

[BDB]

Nevertheless good news.

Hey, did everyone know that Bill Benett said the 1990s and 2000s would be the era of "the superpredator" and we would have "crime rates approaching Brazil's"?

It's true!

[Matilda]

"IIRC, changes in crime rates lag changes in unemployment rates by about a year."

Can you support that claim, joe? I'd be interested one way or another. I read somewhere years ago that the crime rate was relatively low during the Great Depression, so I've always wondered.

[BDB]

It declined drastically during the Great Depression--but mostly because prohibition was repealed.

[Matilda]

"It declined drastically during the Great Depression--but mostly because prohibition was repealed."

Same question, BDB, can you support that? Because that sort of contradicts joe.

[jtuf]

I try to get all the violent criminals I know to watch porn. It keeps them off the streets.

[Paul]

"And yet violent video games and online pornography continue to proliferate."

What an odd non sequitur.

And how, exactly whas this an 'odd non sequitur'? Or haven't you read?

Violent Video Games
Now, the most important point that I want to make today, revolves around the video games, the violent video games. What I want you to realize is, that these video games have reached a new level. All of the data, every lick and stick of the data, on movie and television violence causing violence in our society, applies directly to the video games, with bells on.

[Robbie]

It was a non sequitur because the fact that crime rates are dropping despite violent video game use and pornography does not mean that violent video games and porn don't cause violence. It just possibly means that there is some other factor that is addressing a cause of crime other than porn and games. I would hardly think that even the anti video game nuts would try and argue that violent video games and porno combined were the only two causes of crime.

This is not to say I think porn and violent video games are bad. Hell, they may even cause violent behavior in some, I don't know, nor do I care. Point is, Ron's piece had nothing to do with the violence causing aspects of video games or porn, so yea, it was a non sequitur.

[joe]

Matilda,

I don't have anything handy, I'm just remembering charts I've seen showing the two trend lines.

I wouldn't look to the 1930s, though. The end of Prohibition is a big, fat thumb on the scale.

[TrickyVic]

"""Go ahead, feel better. Why shouldn't you? After all, the government has just released its official statistics. Statistics upon which you can rely. Official, accurate and reliable."""

Come on libertymike, this administration wouldn't ever edit an agency's report to fit it's ends. 😉

Crime could be going down, but that's a mixed bag. Less likely you'll get mugged on the street, but more likely you'll get shot in a raid for something stupid. When those guys don't have real crime, they take the next best thing. Heaven forbid if all real crime ended, LEOs would have to use their new military hardware to issue traffic tickets.

Cop #1 Why is that car shot up so bad?
Cop #2 Doing 40 in a 25 zone.

I'm half kidding but I wonder if there is a rise in "isolated incidents" and if so, if the numbers go up as crime goes down.