FBI: Violent Crime On The Rise

Report Shows Violent Crimes Up By 1.3%, But In Some Cities It Jumped By More Than 10%

(CBS)  For the second year in a row, the FBI's Uniform Crime Report — scheduled to be published Monday — shows violent crime on the rise: Overall, violent crimes were up 1.3 percent. Robbery is up 6 percent and homicide is up .3 per cent.

But those numbers only tell part of the story, reports CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston.

“I think you have to look at real cities,” says Chuck Wexler, of the police executive research forum. “I think you have to look at places like Cincinnati and Indianapolis and Milwaukee, Boston, Oakland, Calif., — real cities — and you'll see there’s been real significant increases.”

Wexler heads a research group that tracks crime in medium and large cities.

In those locations, between 2004 and 2006, homicides increased 10.2 percent and robbery was up 12.2 percent.

Wexler points to several factors for the increase.

“I think it's people coming out of prison in record numbers, I think it's more guns on the street.”

The increase in crime is a dramatic reversal from the 1990s when violent crime was at all time lows, dropping 26 percent. The murder rate went down 34 percent. The reduction is credited in part to a federally funded program called C.O.P.S. that added 100,000 police officers to America’s streets.

Democrats in Congress blame the latest crime spike on Bush administration budget cuts in the police hiring program.

On Friday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales insisted the numbers do not indicate a national trend.

“No one answer, no one approach, no one government agency can solve the violent crime problems that these communities face,” he said at a news conference. “Each city’s solutions must be tailored to its particular situation.”

Gonzales says violent crime impact teams will be sent to four more cities, bringing the total to 29 receiving special federal assistance. But Democrats want the Bush administration to restore federal funds, so cities can hire more police officers.

[likeitis5050]

%u201CI think you have to look at real cities %u2014 and you'll see there%u2019s been real significant increases.%u201D

On Friday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales insisted the numbers do not indicate a national trend.

How many more cities have to be noted before he understands the meaning of the word NATIONAL?

But Democrats want the Bush administration to restore federal funds, so cities can hire more police officers.

It all becomes clear now. Homeland Security apparently is just a catchy phrase Bush likes to take credit for coming up with and, not unlike No Child Left Behind, he really hates the idea of spending money to insure success. But he's ready to sink billions into Africa for AIDS research and treatment. Whata guy.

[brianbwb-2009]

Human nature is predictable, people will find the easiest path to a goal, even water does that, without having to think. In a capitalist system one must get capital to survive, People will take the easiest rout to capital. What we call "crime" is often the easiest way, because of the unavailability of legal "work", or because the pay of the legal "work" is insufficient. People will take the easiest path to capital. Even our president is not above murder, racketeering, and other forms of crime to enrich himself.

I posit that the rising crime rate is due to the rising cost of living, and the diminishing number of legal means (jobs)to make a living. Anyone who thinks that crime is easy, fun, or "the lazy way", is delusional, most only resort to crime after all other options fail, the notable exceptions being politicians, and corporate officers

[brianbwb-2009]

To darkmeat, ask yourself if meth were legal and cheap, would there be a need to commit crimes for it? What if a future government decides that cigarettes, or beer, or guns, or high sugar breakfast cereal is illegal?

My issue with your logic is you posit criminals be locked up forever, cut out, and more severely punished, without giving the public the right to decide what is, or is not criminal.

Marijuana used to be legal, who gave the government the right to make it illegal? Why should your son be subjected to your draconian treatment because what you legally enjoyed at one time has been declared illegal for him?

One man's criminal might be another man's only hope, be careful about who you presume to condemn

[brianbwb-2009]

To Darkmeat

Thank you for your insightful answers, your points are well taken. However my point was not about marijuana and/or crank per se, but the principal that the US government, without permission of the people it is supposed to serve, dares determine the legality or illegality of anything, then people make sheep-like calls to crucify anyone who is punished for actively disagreeing with the governments edict.

To say that a "criminal" should be treated inhumanely, by necessity includes not only those who might deserve such, but also those who don't, but are labeled criminal for simple non-conformity.

But then again, illegal meth labs burning babies wouldn't be necessary if the local pharmacy had it cheap...

[brianbwb-2009]

To Darkmeat

Wow, Talk about a "blast from the past", I didn't even know High Times still existed, I used to read it in the '70s, it featured some now legendary comic artists, and articles on how to safely enjoy marijuana. It was also considered to be "drug paraphernalia" in Wayne County, Michigan, one could be arrested for possession of it, several of my friends were.

[brianbwb-2009]

to Darkmeat

I admit having been away from the US for a good while, but wasn't "smack" the slang for heroin, ans "speed", "crank" and "ice" slang for methamphetamine? Different substances, different effects, each needing its' own approach to how society deals with each.

As someone said, on this topic, "Blaming guns is like saying forks make you fat." I believe the same principal applies to drugs, they are used as excuses for crime, they are not the root cause of it. A rapist rapes not because of drugs, but because he (or she) is a rapist. Same for other violent types.

[brianbwb-2009]

please excuse the misspellings, methinks I type too fast sometime

[larry0091]

We're just too easy, plain and simple. Ever watch those prison documentaries on TV? It's like a (rough) hotel for them where the staff treat them like guest and severe punishment is a thing of the past. Same with law enforcement in general, same with society as a whole: we go to great extents to dignify the sanctity of life, even if that life is a mis-fit sociopath. We continue diluting punishment for offenders, allow them extradionary "rights", and when prosecuted, give them "holiday" sentences.

Personally, I do not believe humans are wise enough for democracy; we still yield to primeval temptations and gratifications, still are susceptible to addiction and vice, and in general still driven by animal instincts although the trappings of civilization obscures this fact. Democracy is NOT for animals.

[brianbwb-2009]

to larry0091, as far as the literal definition of democracy, we have never had one, at first, only landowners could vote, then, only white males. Now all citizens can vote, but the bushes can throw away any that aren't for him. Do the elected officials actually reflect what you elected them for? What is this "electoral college" that nullifies your vote if it is not that of the candidate who paid the bribes, we could go on forever...

Actually, animals other than humans handle democracy far better than humans, "witness the ant, thou sluggard, and be wise", someone once said...

[barbaraf4]

Apparently Bush has billions and billions of dollars to send to Africa to fight/prevent/treat/whatever, AIDS, but we don't have adequate funds for the inner cities to hire the police and security forces required to protect the average citizens.

Before he died, my father predicted that we would reach a state of anarchy - the "have-nots" would prey upon the "haves".

[cfin5]

Alot of prisons were closed due to state budget cuts and like reasons for mental hospitals. Now we have a "mysterious" crime rate increase? It could not be "another" government caused artificial crime rate problem could it folks?.....Naaaah! They would never do that.

[kindrox]

Ok so if the overall violent crime rate went up 1.3%, but in some large cities it went up 10%, that must mean that in other places it went down. Or at least not up. I know that in Dallas TX the crime rate fell to a 40 year low in 2007.

I suspect crime is up in the gun control mecca cities, and generally flat or down in the free cities.

[omega39-2009]

The increase in crime is a dramatic reversal from the 1990s when violent crime was at all time lows, dropping 26 percent. The murder rate went down 34 percent. The reduction is credited in part to a federally funded program called C.O.P.S. that added 100,000 police officers to America%u2019s streets.

And perhaps the the fact that the economic prosperity of the 90's was real and was shared by everyone played a part. The pseudo "good economy" of the last 6 years has benefited those at the top most while damaging the middle class.

[harp1963]

If we keep shipping American jobs to China and other 3rd world countries to exploit slave labor for bigger profits, it will only continue to get worse. Most Americans working for minimum wage while a very small percentage of Americans prosper is not the way to a well balance society where a "all for one and one for all" attitude prevails. We're so smart, we're stupid in America.

[kailumego1]

It's always easy for Republican imperialist to argue it's unilateral rhetoric supporting economic hegemony for a few while millions are conveniently left out of the equation, it's for their own self-aggrandizement.

Crime has always been linked to poverty, unemployment, and social/class inequality, so therefore, it should not be a huge surprise that it continues to rise, especially as the "gulf" continues to increase between the rich, middle-class and poor.


I'm simply tired of the Republican ideologues throwing dirt at Democrats and vice-versa, when neither is taking a serious stance to ensure all citizens are included in the economic equation of prosperity instead of a selected few.

Most "multi-billionaires and millionaires", with the exception of "Oprah Winfrey", only care about their profit margins and appeasing the stockholders.


I'm appalled at the so-called American patriots who insensitively and selfishly disregard other citizens as nothing more than tumorous growths that need to be circumcised, while upholding their malignant narcissistic belief of superiority.

[kailumego1]

It's always easy for Republican imperialist to argue it's unilateral rhetoric supporting economic hegemony for a few while millions are conveniently left out of the equation, it's for their own self-aggrandizement.

Crime has always been linked to poverty, unemployment, and social/class inequality, so therefore, it should not be a huge surprise that it continues to rise, especially as the "gulf" continues to increase between the rich, middle-class and poor.


I'm simply tired of the Republican ideologues throwing dirt at Democrats and vice-versa, when neither is taking a serious stance to ensure all citizens are included in the economic equation of prosperity instead of a selected few.

Most "multi-billionaires and millionaires", with the exception of "Oprah Winfrey", only care about their profit margins and appeasing the stockholders.


I'm appalled at the so-called American patriots who insensitively and selfishly disregard other citizens as nothing more than tumorous growths that need to be circumcised, while upholding their malignant narcissistic belief of superiority.

[toolmangler-2009]

Someone please take kailumego1's thesaurus away;0p

Posted by darkmeat4 at 07:32 PM : Jun 03, 2007

He would probably google it anyway. maybe if we were to wax more verbose than he.... "Prone as we are to a pretiliction to predicting possible precipitation..... Nah! nevah mind.

[toolmangler-2009]

I'm appalled at the so-called American patriots who insensitively and selfishly disregard other citizens as nothing more than tumorous growths that need to be circumcised, while upholding their malignant narcissistic belief of superiority.


Posted by kailumego1 at 04:17 PM : Jun 03, 2007


Maybe it would work better like this,
I am tired of our patriotic wannabe's that don't care for anything but their own wants.

[gunownerdan]

Many of the cities that have experienced the largest rise in violent crime also have very strict gun control laws.
Criminals prefer unarmed victims!
www.a-human-right.com

[lightflow73]

Number 1: As long as there are companies producing arms, guns... somebody will buy and use these guns. Why not stop the production of guns ? Number 2: As long as there are people not having enough to live, not having enough money to pay rent, food... they will have to get the money from somewhere - and here, the social system, the governement is clearly not doing the right things. If those people would have enough money for food, enough to live normally, if the governement would make sure they life normal, they would not need to turn into criminals.
Number 3: As long as there is violence and crime on TV & movies, as long somebody gonna copy it into the real live. 10 years ago, there was not so much criminals sitcoms on TV. Now it is. And what is the result ? See the statistics.
Number 4: As long as the governement is not taking care of the people who have no jobs, they turn easier into streetgangs. In other countries, the governement put those people into learning-programs where they can learn new things to find better jobs faster. If other countries can do it, USA should be able to do it too, right ?

[WarHippy1%]

I live 20 miles from Mesa Arizona. I haven't seen any increase to warrant FBI teams here. I did a crime search and saw a MONEY top 100 cities survey. Mesa WAS number 3, I got a print screen saved showing it, a half hour later, I came back and Sugar Loaf, Texas was number 3. Sorry Feds, Ya didn't hide the facts soon enough. With Mesa voted number three best cities to live, there must be another reason to send the Feds here. What is it? More of Senor Gonzalez made up stories. When is Congress gonna do something about him??OH, the crimes that increased in Mesa were Rapes and car thefts. Does the FBI consider those safe enough to investigate??

[WarHippy1%]

I live 20 miles from Mesa Arizona. I haven't seen any increase to warrant FBI teams here. I did a crime search and saw a MONEY top 100 cities survey. Mesa WAS number 3, I got a print screen saved showing it, a half hour later, I came back and Sugar Loaf, Texas was number 3. Sorry Feds, Ya didn't hide the facts soon enough. With Mesa voted number three best cities to live, there must be another reason to send the Feds here. What is it? More of Senor Gonzalez made up stories. When is Congress gonna do something about him??OH, the crimes that increased in Mesa were Rapes and car thefts. Does the FBI consider those safe enough to investigate??

[WarHippy1%]

I live 20 miles from Mesa Arizona. I haven't seen any increase to warrant FBI teams here. I did a crime search and saw a MONEY top 100 cities survey. Mesa WAS number 3, I got a print screen saved showing it, a half hour later, I came back and Sugar Loaf, Texas was number 3. Sorry Feds, Ya didn't hide the facts soon enough. With Mesa voted number three best cities to live, there must be another reason to send the Feds here. What is it? More of Senor Gonzalez made up stories. When is Congress gonna do something about him??OH, the crimes that increased in Mesa were Rapes and car thefts. Does the FBI consider those safe enough to investigate??

[WarHippy1%]

I live 20 miles from Mesa Arizona. I haven't seen any increase to warrant FBI teams here. I did a crime search and saw a MONEY top 100 cities survey. Mesa WAS number 3, I got a print screen saved showing it, a half hour later, I came back and Sugar Loaf, Texas was number 3. Sorry Feds, Ya didn't hide the facts soon enough. With Mesa voted number three best cities to live, there must be another reason to send the Feds here. What is it? More of Senor Gonzalez made up stories. When is Congress gonna do something about him??OH, the crimes that increased in Mesa were Rapes and car thefts. Does the FBI consider those safe enough to investigate??

[yesult]

"I'm simply tired of the Republican ideologues throwing dirt at Democrats and vice-versa, when neither is taking a serious stance to ensure all citizens are included in the economic equation of prosperity instead of a selected few."

Agree, Insted of the blame game let's se something done about it.


"I'm appalled at the so-called American patriots who insensitively and selfishly disregard other citizens as nothing more than tumorous growths that need to be circumcised, while upholding their malignant narcissistic belief of superiority."

That seems to be the American way now.