CRIME IN THE US Stats, Rates, and Reports

What is criminal?

Create a crime continuum like this: More SeriousLess Serious

Using the person’s name, rank the following from most to least serious: A. Robert pushes crack cocaine and uses the money to support his mother B. Lilly approaches a man for prostitution C. Ted robs a liquor store at gunpoint D. Pat kills a child while driving drunk through a school zone E. Company pollutes a river with waste from its factory F. Ellen leaves a store with change for a $10, even though she gave the cashier a $5

Factors that influence criminal laws Increases severity:  Repeat offender  Lack of remorse; Intent  State of the victim (how badly they are hurt, etc.)  Weapons  Multiplicity of acts  State of mind of the actor  Deliberation/Premeditation Decreases severity:  Ability to reform  Mental retardation  Addiction  Past good deeds  Attempting to pay back the victim (restitution)  Age  Extreme emotional/mental distress Aggravating FactorsMitigating Factors

National Crime Data

Rank these 10 cities from largest to smallest  Pueblo, CO  Colorado Springs, CO  St. Louis, MO  Pittsburgh, PA  Minneapolis, MN  Oakland, CA  New Orleans, LA  Honolulu, HI  Salt Lake City, UT  Miami, FL 1. Colorado Springs, CO 2. Miami, FL 3. Oakland, CA 4. Minneapolis, MN 5. New Orleans, LA 6. Honolulu, HI 7. St. Louis, MO 8. Pittsburgh, PA 9. Salt Lake City, UT 10. Pueblo, CO

How much crime happens in the US? Every year, the FBI releases a “crime clock,” which takes the number of certain criminal incidents and divides them by time. FBI Crime Clock 2009

What cities have high crime rates? Per 100,000 people, the following are violent crime rates from 2007: Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports, and US Census Bureau

Cities with the highest murder rates: Per 100,000 people Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports, and US Census Bureau

Large cities with the lowest murder rates: Per 100,000 people Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports, and US Census Bureau

Murder Victims and Offenders by Age 2003 Data What groups are most at risk of being victimized? Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports

Murder Weapons of Choice What conclusions can you draw from this data? Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports

Murder Circumstances by Relationship What observations do you make about victim/ offender relationships? Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reports

COLORADO SPRINGS Recent Crime Trends

Calls for Service What is the trend over time? Source: springsgov.com

Response Times for Serious Crimes Source: springsgov.com

Murder Rates in Colorado Springs What might account for the drop in 2005? Source: springsgov.com

CSPD Murder Clearance Rates Many clearances are the result of so-called “murder- suicides.” Source: springsgov.com

Juvenile Arrests in Colorado Springs What tends to the juvenile crime of choice? Source: springsgov.com

Violent Crime and Population What happens to the violent crime rate as population increases? Source: springsgov.com

Violent Crime Rates in Colorado Springs How does Colorado Springs rate? Do we live in a “safe” city? Source: springsgov.com

Meth Lab Seizures Why the drop in 2005? Source: springsgov.com

Weekly Crime Maps

Cities with the Highest Crime Risk Index CityCrime Risk Index 1. St. Louis Atlanta Birmingham, Alabama (tie) Orlando (tie) Detroit Memphis Miami Baltimore Kansas City, Missouri Minneapolis (tie) Cleveland (tie)331 Source: US News and World Report, February 2011 Data from Onboard Informatics and the FBI