[Pendergast]

According to a press release dated from yesterday, the FBI announced that some crimes were on the rise, while others were decreasing in the US for the period covering January to June 2006.

Here is the downloadable document (.pdf) from the FBI.

Increases for murders were stronger in cities of 500 000 to 999 999 of poplation. Violent crimes increased in all 4 regions of the US.

There are also decreases, especially in property-related crimes.

Arson offenses increased 6.8% times.

When I saw the news this morning, a commentator said that Houston was the city the most affected in terms of increases, and that was probably related to the displacement of refugies from Katrina, and lack of employment.

What do you think? Although on one hand I can understand that some causes can be regional, I am not sure what to make of the overall increases in violent crimes and arson, while a decrase of property crimes seems to be happening at the same time.

[Dakar²]

I'd need to see some trending over the course of a few years to be fully convinced.

[Pendergast]

Well, I understand your point, but the FBI's point is that there was a rise on the above mentioned crimes for the first 6 months of 2006. This does not mean there is a permanent rise, but rather, from the data they abstracted, there was more or less of specific crimes between January and June 2006.

Also, my question was pretty clear; what do you think makes such a difference between property crimes and violent crimes?

I understand the set of possible causes may be difficult to figure, but I am asking an honest question, hopefuly beyond the usual "Bush policies that suck" and "only in America" superficial answers.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Pendergast 

According to a press release dated from yesterday, the FBI announced that some crimes were on the rise, while others were decreasing in the US for the period covering January to June 2006.

Then why does this topic say "FBI: Crime on the rise in the US"

Deceptive!

[Pendergast]

Originally Posted by Kevin 

Then why does this topic say "FBI: Crime on the rise in the US"

Deceptive!

Guiilty as charge: bad title, I admit. My apologies. but what do you make of the question I asked?

[Dakar²]

Originally Posted by Pendergast 

Also, my question was pretty clear; what do you think makes such a difference between property crimes and violent crimes?

I understand the set of possible causes may be difficult to figure, but I am asking an honest question, hopefuly beyond the usual "Bush policies that suck" and "only in America" superficial answers.

Ok. I wasn't trying to imply you were doing something dishonest here.

I'm not sure I understand what constitutes a property crime though. Breaking intot a house? Robbing a store? And then violent crime is shooting someone? Rape?

[Pendergast]

Originally Posted by Dakar² 

Ok. I wasn't trying to imply you were doing something dishonest here.

Sorry if my tone lead you to that impression.

I'm not sure I understand what constitutes a property crime though. Breaking intot a house? Robbing a store? And then violent crime is shooting someone? Rape?

If you read the press release, it provides a general description. Here is the link to the press release page.

Here is a press link (ABC) on the topic: "FBI: Violent Crime Still on Rise in 2006".

Also, according to Reuters, the FBI has not released any likely cause for the increases, although the previous link has a police representative provide the usual speech on lack of resources. Yet;

The officials have rejected any suggestion that an emphasis on preventing terrorism since the September 11 attacks and funding cuts for federal programs to put more police officers on the street were to blame for the increase.

Of course, I doubt we will see a lot of agreements in regards to the possible causes of this last increase. Nevertheless, I cannot find a way to explain why one type of crime can increase, and the other not. Certainly there are ways to explain this for specific locations, but since there are increases in all regions for violent crimes, yet a decrease in property related crimes, I can't wrap my head around that one.

I did a little search on Google News (.ca) with the terms "fbi crime", and they provide articles with specific locations with the type of increases they got.

[Dakar²]

Yeah, I read it but I didn't get much out of it.

Suffice it to say nothing comes to mind immediately.