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New FBI Report: Crime Dropped (Again) in First Half of 2009

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 12:00:26 PM EST
Tags: crime rates (all tags)
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For the third year in a row, violent crime rates dropped across the U.S., according to a new FBI report released today. Property crimes also dropped. The only increase was burglaries in the South which rose slightly. The figures are for the first half of 2009. Some stats:

  • Murder (down 10.0 percent);
  • Forcible rape (down 3.3 percent);
  • Robbery (down 6.5 percent);
  • Aggravated assault (down 3.2 percent);
  • Burglary (down 2.5 percent);
  • Larceny-theft (down 5.3 percent); and
  • Motor vehicle theft (down 18.7 percent).

The FBI press release is here. A more detailed report is here.

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    New FBI Report: Crime Dropped (Again) in First Half of 2009 | 12 comments (12 topical)

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    Guns! More guns is the answer! (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by kcdrew on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 02:22:28 PM EST
    The obvious reason crime is down is because we have more guns!  More guns is the answer!  You just can't have enough!  Gotta problem?  Get out yer gun.  Problem solved.  Want 'em in yer National Parks?  No problem, go ahead.  Enjoy.  Want one in church?  No problem.  We'll have that soon.  

    Of course, here in the heartland (Kansas City), our murder rate is way up but, hey, we'll get more guns and that will solve all our problems.

    Just you watch.

    Mo Rage

    Don't forget... (none / 0) (#10)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 07:48:51 PM EST
    ...the schools.  Because kids should be armed too!

    Parent
    You joke ... (none / 0) (#12)
    by Peter G on Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 12:20:20 AM EST
    But the Second Amendment Foundation (NRA tax exempt "educational" arm) issued a press release suggesting exactly your "theory," KC!

    Parent
    Seattle's 2009 stats (none / 0) (#1)
    by shoephone on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 12:22:58 PM EST
    show a mixed result. Some crimes are down from last year, others are up.

    Interesting (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 12:33:54 PM EST
    I expect crime to be way up in the 2nd half. Deep recessions tend to make already bad situations in our cities even worse.

    That is one of the theories. (none / 0) (#4)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 12:39:38 PM EST


    Parent
    Burglary and robbery (none / 0) (#5)
    by shoephone on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 12:42:16 PM EST
    are way up in Seattle.

    Parent
    And in Philadelphia (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 12:42:36 PM EST


    Parent
    The steepest rise (none / 0) (#7)
    by shoephone on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 12:45:44 PM EST
    was in aggravated assault -- up 18%. But the Seattle stats to which I linked are for the entire year.

    Parent
    Crime down in Minnesota, but (none / 0) (#3)
    by DFLer on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 12:35:20 PM EST
    counties looking to cash in on the incarceration craze by building jails are now left holding the bag.

    Star Tribune (complete story only available in print edition)

    In the past five years, Minnesota counties spent tens of millions of dollars to add beds to their jail capacity.

    But there are now 18,000 fewer arrests than there were at the start of the building boom.

    The result is competition among the counties to rent the excess capacity to other jurisdictions.
    I know violent crime (none / 0) (#8)
    by CST on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 01:07:49 PM EST
    is waaay way down in Boston this year.  Something like 40%.

    Many theories why.  Most have to do with increased outreach by the police department to at risk groups, including the coordination of a cease fire between local gang members.

    They've actually been working on this for a few years now, so the idea is that increased support for community groups a few years ago is paying off now with kids who were reached at a younger age now growing up and not commiting crimes.

    We've had quite the rash... (none / 0) (#11)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 07:49:53 PM EST
    ...of bank robberies of late.  Christmas combined with a tough economy, so "they" say.  

    New FBI Report: Crime Dropped (Again) in First Half of 2009 | 12 comments (12 topical)

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