Violent Crime Rate Down
The United States is known as many things, one of those being the most violent and dangerous countries in the world. However, according to a new report released by the FBI earlier this week, the violent Crime Rate is down, and the US has almost never been a safer place to live.
The FBI stated in their report on June 18 that the violent crime rates dropped across the nation for the fifth straight year, this time by 4 percent.
The report, which pulled information from 14,000 law enforcement agencies from Florida to Hawaii, reported that violent crimes rates dropped in all four major US regions:
- 4.7 percent in the West,
- 4.9 percent in the midwest(a region where the murder rate actually rose slightly), 4.5 percent in the South, and
- 0.8 percent in the Northeast.
The national murder rate dropped approximately 1.9 percent.
Property and White Collar Crimes
Car thefts and larceny also decreased across the country; however, there was a slight increase in burglaries in all regions except for the South.
With the US in its worst economic state since the Great Depression, criminologists say they are confused since crime usually increases exponentially during rough times.
With that being said, there have been a lot of improvements in US policing and sentencing laws that deter people from committing crimes.
However, even as crime rates are approaching record lows, some officials say there is some cause for concern.
Violent Crimes Rates Coming to an End?
A large number of violent and property crimes in the second half of 2011 partially offset the numbers, causing criminologists like James Alan Fox of Northeastern University in Boston to suggest that the nation may be coming to “the end of the trough” in violent crime.
In locations where individuals tend to know their neighbors more intimately, there are indications that communal solidarity may have begun to slip.
For example, the murder rate in towns with 10,000 or fewer people spiked last year, increasing by 18 percent.
At the same time, some officials say that may be a statistical anomaly, since the violent crime rate in small-town America dropped by 23 percent just the year before, in 2010.
The last time the crime rate for serious crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, and assault, fell to these levels, gasoline was 29 cents a gallon, and the average income for a working American was $5,807. That was in 1963. Click here for more statistics.
The Strom Law Firm Represents Crime victims.
Whether the result of a drunk driving accident – stalking – or police brutality, every day, innocent people are injured and even killed because of criminal activity. The South Carolina crime victim attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC serve as victim advocates and are here to help you fight back. We represent crime victims and their families. While we cannot change what happened, we can help you recover just compensation for your injuries or loss.
Sometimes the prosecution is not a favorable result for the family. Even if there was no prosecution, crime victims could still file civil lawsuits against offenders and other responsible parties. Unlike the criminal process, the civil system does not attempt to determine an offender’s guilt or innocence.
Civil courts try to determine whether an offender or a third party is liable for the injuries sustained as a result of the crime. If defendants are found civilly liable, courts can demand compensation for the monetary damages that they caused. While money awarded in civil lawsuits can never fully compensate a victim for the loss of a loved one, it can be a valuable start to help crime victims rebuild their lives.
Helping Victims of Crime Find Justice and Compensation
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Our crime victims attorneys can help ensure that you have fully explored all legal remedies against any criminal offender, causing your injuries.
Taking legal action is an important first step in overcoming the trauma many crime victims experience. We offer you the legal support and confidence you need to face the future.
Protect Your Rights through Civil Litigation
Whether you are the victim of poor building security or identity theft, we can help you hold property owners and other individuals accountable. We also pursue wrongful death claims on behalf of surviving family members against a killer or third-party defendant in cases of homicide. Even if an assailant is found not guilty in court, they may still be held liable in a civil court case.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a crime, contact our South Carolina victim’s assistance attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to see how we can help. While we cannot change the past, we can help you secure a better future.
