CRIMECRIME

Violent Crime decreased 3% in Violent Crime decreased 3% in 2003. That was the 11th year in 2003. That was the 11th year in a row it had dropped. It is the a row it had dropped. It is the lowest since the FBI first lowest since the FBI first reported stats in 1973. It reported stats in 1973. It declined 2% for the first 6 declined 2% for the first 6 months of 2004.months of 2004.

Overall crime rate has dropped Overall crime rate has dropped 50% in the last decade.50% in the last decade.

Murder rate increased 4 years in Murder rate increased 4 years in a row It increased 2.1 % in the a row It increased 2.1 % in the first 6 months of 2005. The first 6 months of 2005. The murder rate today is about the murder rate today is about the same as it was during the same as it was during the 1930’s.1930’s.

87% of all crimes are crimes 87% of all crimes are crimes against property.against property.

Most crimes are committed Most crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.drugs.

Homicide is the leading cause Homicide is the leading cause of death for blacks under 34 of death for blacks under 34 years of age. (89% of those years of age. (89% of those deaths involve firearms)deaths involve firearms)

Homicide is the second leading Homicide is the second leading cause of death for all people cause of death for all people aged 10 - 19. Accident is first.aged 10 - 19. Accident is first.

In 1952, homicide was the 11th In 1952, homicide was the 11th leading cause of death for all leading cause of death for all citizens. Today it ranks #10.citizens. Today it ranks #10.

71% of all murders involve the 71% of all murders involve the use of firearms. use of firearms.

More teenage males die from More teenage males die from gunshot wounds than from all gunshot wounds than from all natural causes combinednatural causes combined

The US spends $163 Billion each The US spends $163 Billion each year to fight crime. This is 2/3 year to fight crime. This is 2/3 of what it costs for national of what it costs for national defense and is five times what defense and is five times what the federal government spends the federal government spends on educationon education

It costs $30,000/year to house a It costs $30,000/year to house a prisoner in PA. PA houses prisoner in PA. PA houses 40,000 inmates.40,000 inmates.

Prison population has doubled Prison population has doubled since 1990.since 1990.

The US imprisons more people The US imprisons more people than any country in the world - 1 than any country in the world - 1 in 138 people are in prison. 1 in in 138 people are in prison. 1 in 31 are either presently 31 are either presently imprisoned, on probation or on imprisoned, on probation or on parole.parole.

In state and federal prisons, 1 in In state and federal prisons, 1 in 109 males are presently 109 males are presently imprisoned. For women, the imprisoned. For women, the number is 1 in 1613. When number is 1 in 1613. When county and local jails are county and local jails are included, the number for men is included, the number for men is 1 in 75.1 in 75.

The US has <10 % of the world’s The US has <10 % of the world’s population but 22% of the population but 22% of the world’s prison populationworld’s prison population

Recidivism Rate: 33% of those Recidivism Rate: 33% of those released from prison return released from prison return within 1 year. Within 3 years of within 1 year. Within 3 years of release, 57% return to prison.release, 57% return to prison.

The younger the age at first The younger the age at first arrest, the higher the rate of arrest, the higher the rate of recidivismrecidivism

African Americans, about 13% of African Americans, about 13% of the population, account for 25% the population, account for 25% of all arrests (40% in PA) and 46 of all arrests (40% in PA) and 46 % of the prison population % of the prison population (whites make up 36%). (whites make up 36%).

61% of the prison population 61% of the prison population belongs to a minority groupbelongs to a minority group

6% of US population is black 6% of US population is black malemale

44% of US prison population is 44% of US prison population is black maleblack male

32% of black males aged 20-29 32% of black males aged 20-29 are either in jail, on probation or are either in jail, on probation or on parole. The rate for the on parole. The rate for the population as a whole is 2.7% (1 population as a whole is 2.7% (1 out of 32 adults are presently in out of 32 adults are presently in prison, on probation or on prison, on probation or on parole).parole).

The odds are 1:3 that a black The odds are 1:3 that a black man will do time at some point is man will do time at some point is his life.his life.

It is 1:17 for a white man. It is 1:17 for a white man.

The rate for Hispanic males is The rate for Hispanic males is 1:6.1:6.

Whites account for 75% of the Whites account for 75% of the nation’s drug users. Blacks nation’s drug users. Blacks account for 75% of the nation’s account for 75% of the nation’s drug prisoners.drug prisoners.

Trafficking in 5 grams (.17 of an Trafficking in 5 grams (.17 of an ounce) of crack carries a ounce) of crack carries a mandatory five-year prison mandatory five-year prison sentence, but it takes 500 grams sentence, but it takes 500 grams of cocaine powder (17.5 ounces) of cocaine powder (17.5 ounces) to warrant the same sentence.to warrant the same sentence.

60% of Federal prisoners are 60% of Federal prisoners are serving time for drug offensesserving time for drug offenses

Death row inmates:Death row inmates:

Whites: 46 %Whites: 46 %

Blacks: 42%Blacks: 42%

Hispanics: 10%Hispanics: 10%

Executions for interracial Executions for interracial murders since 1976:murders since 1976:

Black defendant, white victim: Black defendant, white victim: 179179

White defendant, black victim: White defendant, black victim: 1212

Males account for 77% of all Males account for 77% of all arrests in the USarrests in the US

Males make up > 95% of the PA Males make up > 95% of the PA prison population.prison population.

80% of juveniles who are sent to 80% of juveniles who are sent to detention centers are there for detention centers are there for committing misdemeanors.committing misdemeanors.

70% of juvenile offenders 70% of juvenile offenders currently in long-term currently in long-term correctional facilities grew up in correctional facilities grew up in homes without a father present.homes without a father present.

25% of white children live with 25% of white children live with one parent.one parent.

67% of black children live with 67% of black children live with one parent.one parent.

Children who grew up in a single-Children who grew up in a single-parent family are twice as likely parent family are twice as likely to later develop severe to later develop severe psychiatric illnesses, commit psychiatric illnesses, commit suicide or acquire an alcohol suicide or acquire an alcohol related disease.related disease.

Girls who grew up in a single-Girls who grew up in a single-parent family are three times as parent family are three times as likely to acquire a drug likely to acquire a drug addiction. Boys are four times addiction. Boys are four times as likely.as likely.

Female inmates are twice as Female inmates are twice as likely to be raped and six times likely to be raped and six times as likely to be otherwise sexually as likely to be otherwise sexually abused while behind bars than abused while behind bars than their male counterparts.their male counterparts.

Female inmates are most often Female inmates are most often sexually abused by other inmates.  sexually abused by other inmates.  Male inmates are most often sexually Male inmates are most often sexually abused by prison staff. abused by prison staff.