Violent crime rates on the rise nationwide

SuzannePjam

Violent crime rates on the rise nationwide

FBI statistics show murders in the U.S. jumped 4.8 percent last year

• Juveniles increasingly involved in crime

ATLANTA - In Phoenix, they're terrorized by not one but two serial killers. In Boston, homicides are at a 10-year high. And with 14 murders since July 1, the nation's capital has declared a crime emergency.

The latest preliminary FBI statistics show murders in the U.S. jumped 4.8 percent last year while overall violent crime was up 2.5 percent.

And in many communities the upsurge is attributed to juveniles.

"We have a youth problem," says St. Paul, Minn., Police Chief John Harrington.

In St. Paul, where murders are up 20 percent, Harrington is seeing an increasing number of criminal kids.

"We are seeing them out on the streets later and later at night, and they are themselves into more and more difficulties," he says.

In Washington's upscale Georgetown area last weekend, a British man died after his throat was slashed. Among the arrested: a 15-year-old.

"Juvenile arrests are up 13.2 percent over last year," Washington Police Chief Charles Ramsey says.

Crime experts say America has been distracted by the war on terror.

"A lot of the resources devoted have been shifted over from hometown security to homeland security," says James Fox, a criminologist with Northeastern University.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino agrees.

"What happened is a lot of those community groups that we used to have don't exist today because the funding is not there," Menino says.

Experts say the solution is to return to what worked in the 1990s when crime rates plummeted.

"We need to go back to the hard work of crime control, cops and crime prevention, youth programs," Menino says. "They work, but it takes time and money."

As one law enforcement analyst put it, "Either we pay for programs now or pay for victims later."

© 2006 MSNBC

know1

Make the laws tougher and the punishments more severe (no death penalty, though).

world

More cameras

my2hands

know1 wrote:

Make the laws tougher and the punishments more severe (no death penalty, though).

thats just ridiculous... that approach obvioulsy has failed

NMyTree

Shocking.

Jobs (corporations) keep moving oout of country or outsourcing. The cost of living keeps rising (so parents either must work several jobs to survive), or the parents are out of work, poor or the living with broken families.

They close down parks, basketball courts, public pools, playgrounds or any activity the kids could possibily take part in. They prohibit kids from playing baseball, football, Basketball, hockey or any sport; in favor of only allowing league play or "Permit-ed " field time. They prohibit kids from doing anything, then they wonder why they're getting mixed up with bad people, getting in trouble and committing crimes and murders.

Not the mention of all the stress this administration had layed on the young generations with all their propaganda and 'Terror Alerts".

Yeah, brilliant.

Not saying it justifies what these kids are doing, it doesn't. These kids and their parents still have a responsibiity and accountability for their own actions or lack of parenting.

But it's a simple case od "cause and effect". For every action, there's a reaction. The trickle down theory also applies.

decides2dream

that's sad. :(
i think? for a good # of years, violent crimes were actually on the decline...i know they were in the NYC vicinity in any case, unsure about nationally. it definitely is an indicator of something amiss if we are now on the rise again, and especially juveniles, very sad indeed.

mookeywrench

i blame viva la bam and the other TV shows where its "cool" to have zero respect for anything or any person.

Commy

American culture is steeped in violence, and greed and selfishness are rewarded. This report is not that surprising unfortunately...

EvilToasterElf

Of course this report is surprising. Violent crime in the U.S. has been falling every year for almost 20.

It's not video games, or the culture of violence, because those things were getting much more intense for the entire period when crime was falling.

Our priorities have shifted from protecting people, making cities safer, and communities more tightly knit to protecting the idea of the nation.

Commy

EvilToasterElf wrote:

Of course this report is surprising. Violent crime in the U.S. has been falling every year for almost 20.

It's not video games, or the culture of violence, because those things were getting much more intense for the entire period when crime was falling.

Our priorities have shifted from protecting people, making cities safer, and communities more tightly knit to protecting the idea of the nation.

Right..but violence is a huge part of american culture. Its common place in almost every media outlet-cinema to sitcom to tv drama to whatever...

Everytime you turn on the tv someone has either just died, is dying, or is about die.

Not to mention the gov't, off to war every chance they get...everywhere you look violvnce seems to solve problems. Its only natural that people are going to be influenced by so many differnet factors reinforcing that belief.

EvilToasterElf

Commy wrote:

Right..but violence is a huge part of american culture. Its common place in almost every media outlet-cinema to sitcom to tv drama to whatever...

Everytime you turn on the tv someone has either just died, is dying, or is about die.

Not to mention the gov't, off to war every chance they get...everywhere you look violvnce seems to solve problems. Its only natural that people are going to be influenced by so many differnet factors reinforcing that belief.

I don't buy that for a second. Those outlets didn't become violent last year.

The police chiefs in these communities are all saying the same damn things. All of the outlets that were giving juveniles an option other than gangs and hard drugs, and violence are now underfunded. The priorities have shifted so crime is on the rise.

Commy

EvilToasterElf wrote:

I don't buy that for a second. Those outlets didn't become violent last year.

The police chiefs in these communities are all saying the same damn things. All of the outlets that were giving juveniles an option other than gangs and hard drugs, and violence are now underfunded. The priorities have shifted so crime is on the rise.

that's a good point, bulldozing the largest urban garden in south central LA a few days ago really helped a lot of kids out...

but I think that's the idea...if you look at statistics-life expectancy, birth rates, hospitals, schools, literacy, and so on-there is almost no difference between inner city ghettos and third world countries. And these ghettos and projects are primarily minority populated. They are kept in a perpetual police state, treated differently than the rest of the population and kept poor.

And in a capitalist based society like the US where material wealth is a sign of social progress, and with so many media outlets showing these kids violence has its uses...its only a matter of course that these kids are going to start robbing and killing people. I'm not surprised by this report at all. I see things getting much worse in the coming years.

keeponrockin

Commy wrote:

that's a good point, bulldozing the largest urban garden in south central LA a few days ago really helped a lot of kids out...

but I think that's the idea...if you look at statistics-life expectancy, birth rates, hospitals, schools, literacy, and so on-there is almost no difference between inner city ghettos and third world countries. And these ghettos and projects are primarily minority populated. They are kept in a perpetual police state, treated differently than the rest of the population and kept poor.

And in a capitalist based society like the US where material wealth is a sign of social progress, and with so many media outlets showing these kids violence has its uses...its only a matter of course that these kids are going to start robbing and killing people. I'm not surprised by this report at all. I see things getting much worse in the coming years.

Yet another intelligent post from commy! (no sarcasm, I enjoy your posts.)

know1

It's the parents' and the criminals' fault. It's not society's fault. How about locking up parents for crimes committed by people up until they're 30? Perhaps they'll start doing their job and raising their kids correctly instead of by remote control like they do now.

kenny olav

know1 wrote:

Make the laws tougher and the punishments more severe (no death penalty, though).

i'm sorry, but i can't calmly read remarks like this and not get pissed off anymore. because if there's one thing I've known pretty much since you began posting on this board, is that YOU don't KNOW shit!!! it's obvious that you care about the issues, but you keep espousing these antiquated notions of how to fix them, and i wonder if its because you don't want to deal with the roots causes... the roots causes of poverty - which is the root cause of most human violence. when we allow poverty, we take away the dignity of people - early on in their childhood - and they become spiteful monsters. the system of capitalism - YES CAPITALISM - which is a dog-eat-dog system, not a human system... THIS is the cause of insanity and violence. to increae law enforcement, which is really increasing the power of the capitalist state against its own VICTIMS, will do NOTHING to solve the problem, and will probably make it worse. it seems you have only allowed yourself to know what YOU want to know... i don't know why, but my friend you need to wake up!!!!!


and by the way, your last comment which was posted just before I posted this comment, is even more disturbingly ridiculous than the one i responded to! it seems the flaws in the policies you so deeply and tragically hold on to are leading you into a downward spiral where your defense of your position is increasingly absurd.

angelica

know1 wrote:

It's the parents' and the criminals' fault. It's not society's fault.

I can accept this, knowing it is an opinion.

When you start demonstrating understanding of social issues, I'll consider your opinions on social issues to be informed opinions.

NMyTree

Commy wrote:

but I think that's the idea...if you look at statistics-life expectancy, birth rates, hospitals, schools, literacy, and so on-there is almost no difference between inner city ghettos and third world countries. And these ghettos and projects are primarily minority populated. They are kept in a perpetual police state, treated differently than the rest of the population and kept poor.

And in a capitalist based society like the US where material wealth is a sign of social progress, and with so many media outlets showing these kids violence has its uses...its only a matter of course that these kids are going to start robbing and killing people. I'm not surprised by this report at all. I see things getting much worse in the coming years.

But it's not all cut and dry as you would make it to be.

We're talking about individual human beings with their own individual minds, opinions, behavioral problems, motivations; not robots.

While I agree some what, in general terms, with what you said. It's not the whole picture.

Many of them do not want to follow any rules, whatsoever. They are undesciplined, rebelious and unwilling to "conform" to a civil behavior or life.

They don't want to attend school, nor are they interested in learning or acquiring knowledge. In fact, in many of their circles going to school and learning is considered a bad thing.

Is this bad parenting? Is it society's fault? Is it their own fault?

I suggest it's a bit of all three.

No one keeps them poor, except themselves.

There are (and I know some personally) plenty of people who were born into impoverished families, who seek an education and work their asses off to rise above their place in life. Hell, I've known impoverished people who dropped out of high school and worked their asses off to make a better life for themselves and their family; without a formal education.

Regardless of race or ethnic background, whether you're refering to ghettos full of minorites, or run down, shabby "white trash" (as they're called by some) trailer parks; you can not discount and dismiss the element of personal responsibility and accountability.

Adults in poverty can't simply continue to bear child after child, and not be willing to put aside and compromise their rebelious, non-conformity attitudes for the sake of working their asses of providing their children a healthy environment to grow up in. Otherwise it becomes a vicious and disturbing cycle.

Yes, we as a society (and governemnt) need to stop pouring trillions of dollars into programs (such as wars), that mostly benefit the already wealthy; and put that money into our infrastructure and into helping them.

But there are millions of examples of poor people receiving tons of assitance (money, WIC...etc) only to squander every opportunity they are given. One must be willing to help themselves.

Undoubtedly, many suffer from severe pyscological/emotional problems, and that's understood. They need more extensive help.

But many simply suffer from being lazy, attitude problems and entitlement complexes.

you can't go to schools or jobs and expect them to make exceptions in the rules, because you're a rebel, unwilling to compromise and refuse to behave in a civil manner.

angelica

NMyTree wrote:

But many simply suffer from being lazy...

Have you identified the underlying issue to the cause of "laziness"? Or for attitude problems, or entitlement problems?

I don't expect myself to quit sneezing when I have a cold. It would be silly, really, when the symptom identifies a problem, and points to it. The symptom is quite different than the root cause. In order to eliminate symptoms, we must solve the problem. Not blame it.

People with behavioural problems must be addressed with specific skill, understanding and knowledge. I agree if you are saying behavioral problems are not to be condoned and that those with victim-complexes are not given license to do the inappropriate.

know1

Kenny Olav wrote:

i'm sorry, but i can't calmly read remarks like this and not get pissed off anymore. because if there's one thing I've known pretty much since you began posting on this board, is that YOU don't KNOW shit!!! it's obvious that you care about the issues, but you keep espousing these antiquated notions of how to fix them, and i wonder if its because you don't want to deal with the roots causes... the roots causes of poverty - which is the root cause of most human violence. when we allow poverty, we take away the dignity of people - early on in their childhood - and they become spiteful monsters. the system of capitalism - YES CAPITALISM - which is a dog-eat-dog system, not a human system... THIS is the cause of insanity and violence. to increae law enforcement, which is really increasing the power of the capitalist state against its own VICTIMS, will do NOTHING to solve the problem, and will probably make it worse. it seems you have only allowed yourself to know what YOU want to know... i don't know why, but my friend you need to wake up!!!!!


and by the way, your last comment which was posted just before I posted this comment, is even more disturbingly ridiculous than the one i responded to! it seems the flaws in the policies you so deeply and tragically hold on to are leading you into a downward spiral where your defense of your position is increasingly absurd.

I'm sorry you feel that way. We all have opinions and your and mine or no more valid than any other.

All I'm saying is the bulk of responsibility when somoene assaults someone or murders someone HAS to lie with the individual committing the crime and not society.

Think of it this way, if it was society's fault, then all the people who live in a neighborhood would commit the same crimes. But...there are people who do not commit those crimes so therefore the individual is in large part to blame because they chose to harm someone else.

kenny olav

know1 wrote:

I'm sorry you feel that way. We all have opinions and your and mine or no more valid than any other.

All I'm saying is the bulk of responsibility when somoene assaults someone or murders someone HAS to lie with the individual committing the crime and not society.

Think of it this way, if it was society's fault, then all the people who live in a neighborhood would commit the same crimes. But...there are people who do not commit those crimes so therefore the individual is in large part to blame because they chose to harm someone else.

i am not saying that someone who is criminally insane should not be dealt with, but in societies where people take care of each other - every man woman and child, they have much lower crime rates than we do. scandinavian countries are a good example. also, the 'christian socialist' country of Costa Rica has a violent crime rate that is much much lower than the U.S.

right now, in american society, its families and other groups of people (like religious organizations) that tend to take care of each other. but inevitably many individuals fall thru the cracks and become social outcasts. groups of oppressed minorities become groups of outcasts. countries that strive for social equality have greatly reduced this problem, they strive to treat every individual with dignity, and that's why they have less crime.


sorry if i blew up at you before, but honestly, i'm getting old and cranky... and sick of seeing my country go to shit!!!!!!!!!!!

NMyTree

angelica wrote:

I agree if you are saying behavioral problems are not to be condoned and that those with victim-complexes are not given license to do the inappropriate.

Correct.

I don't believe in making excuses for bad behavior. Help and encourage people to help themselves.