Us Crime Rate At Lowest Point In Decades. Why America Is Safer Now

[Mr Lee]

Interesting crime statistics, so while it appears the US crime is going down, it appears the Philippines crime is going up.The crime rate for serious crimes, including murder, rape, and assault, has dropped significantly since the early 1990s in part because of changes in technology and policing, experts say. The last time the crime rate for serious crime – murder, rape, robbery, assault – fell to these levels, gasoline cost 29 cents a gallon and the average income for a working American was $5,807.That was 1963.In the past 20 years, for instance, the murder rate in the United States has dropped by almost half, from 9.8 per 100,000 people in 1991 to 5.0 in 2009. Meanwhile, robberies were down 10 percent in 2010 from the year before and 8 percent in 2009.US crime rate is down: six key reasonsOne of them, the last one might surprise you.

[Jake]

Interesting crime statistics, so while it appears the US crime is going down, it appears the Philippines crime is going up.The crime rate for serious crimes, including murder, rape, and assault, has dropped significantly since the early 1990s in part because of changes in technology and policing, experts say. The last time the crime rate for serious crime – murder, rape, robbery, assault – fell to these levels, gasoline cost 29 cents a gallon and the average income for a working American was $5,807.That was 1963.In the past 20 years, for instance, the murder rate in the United States has dropped by almost half, from 9.8 per 100,000 people in 1991 to 5.0 in 2009. Meanwhile, robberies were down 10 percent in 2010 from the year before and 8 percent in 2009.US crime rate is down: six key reasonsOne of them, the last one might surprise you.

Now that FBI has redefined rape to include male victims, I really don't believe that we are generally safer.My current residence is in the city of Temecula, CA (60 miles north of San Diego) and I have personallyseen the overall drug problems getting worse and worse. What use to be only high school kids takingmarijuana, the drug of choice is now more synthetic (man made) like meth, ecstasy and heroin. Most ofthese are readily available and less expensive (more bang for the buck).I think the world in general, socials behavior in most countries will get worse before they get any better.World economies based on fossil fuel, worsening climate changes and corruption of politicians sleepingwith fat cat CEO's are just a few examples that societies of even the 1st world nations are destroyingthemselves. Look what's happening now in the Straits of Hormuz and the European countries unable toget their chit together regarding the Euro dollar. Throw in another bubble going up (Iran, Pakistan, Syria and North Korea), there will be plenty of immigrants(terrorists) invading our shores even if we won the war(s).Pessimistic -- Jake

[Bruce]

I think it related to 'creative' accounting prectices. Rather than to compile stats and then come to a conclusion. I believe that 'someone' wants to show that crime is down for political reasons, and then they compile data that show what they want us to see and ignore data that does not support their crime is down stance.You ask me what 4+4 is and I say 8. You ask an accountant the same question and he asks you do you want the answer before taxes or after, before fees and charges are booked or after?Depreciation factored in?Locally here in Florida there has been articles about police departments closing cases incorrectly or under filing cases (nooo it was not a burglary.... it was simple larceny..... ) so 'serious' crime stats are not accurate. In Arizona, that publicity hound Sheriff Joe's department is now answering questions as to why possibly HUNDREDS of cases of rape or sex charges involving kids were never investigated.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Bruce

[MikeB]

Interesting crime statistics, so while it appears the US crime is going down, it appears the Philippines crime is going up.

Are you talking about perception or facts? Here's another unbiased article.

[volstateguy]

Interesting crime statistics, so while it appears the US crime is going down, it appears the Philippines crime is going up.

Are you talking about perception or facts? Here's another unbiased article.

I wonder what the statistics for crimes against foreigners are. It seems like there have been lots of foreigner involved shootings/deaths lately.

[Old55]

US crime rate has gone down because most major criminals are now in Congress immune from prosecution.Off topic, there have been a larger number of Foreigners reported murdered lately in Philippines news. Who knows if overall crime is gone up or down local the statistics reports are not to believed IMO.

[MikeB]

I guess it's possible that crime in the RP has actually decreased over 20%, but you can bend statistics to say whatever you want. According to this crimes committed at the barangay level are not factored into the national average, a "statistical loophole", they call it. That's kind of crazy. Down towards the bottom of the article a member of this forum is quoted.Perceptions are important to countries actively seeking tourist and retiree dollars, euros, etc. A widely-held perception of the Philippines is that of corruption and crime, not fun.

[volstateguy]

I guess it's possible that crime in the RP has actually decreased over 20%, but you can bend statistics to say whatever you want. According to this crimes committed at the barangay level are not factored into the national average, a "statistical loophole", they call it. That's kind of crazy. Down towards the bottom of the article a member of this forum is quoted.Perceptions are important to countries actively seeking tourist and retiree dollars, euros, etc. A widely-held perception of the Philippines is that of corruption and crime, not fun.

I would think that's a pretty large "statistically loophole". If they are trying to bend statistics to show a downward trend, whos to say if crimes against foreigners are included, especially if they want foreign investment money.

[Mr Lee]

Interesting crime statistics, so while it appears the US crime is going down, it appears the Philippines crime is going up.

Are you talking about perception or facts? Here's another unbiased article.

Well Mike the second part of your statement makes more sense than what appears to be your opinion from the post above, so while I am no expert on many things and maybe you are with your vast experiences, it does appear as you said yourself, that many crimes never get reported, for instance where is the report in the news on the shooting injury of our nephew and shooting death of his older brothers wife this past Christmas in the papers or online, it did not make it into the news, where was the report in the news when one of my wife's cousins killed another over an election chat, it did not make it to the news, where was the report in the news when a neighbor hacked up one of my wife's brothers with a bolo because he stepped on his land, it did not make the news, and where was the report of the NPA and military shoot out below and above my wife's village 2 years ago, where a number of locals were killed, but much of it too never made the news and we only knew about all of it because our family told us about it and did not want me to visit their village at that time because of it, so how many more deaths no less lessor crimes might there be that have not made the news, or maybe not even into the crime statistics.Next I am taking my opinion from crime figures that I have found online, but so far their is no current data only common sense from reading all the daily crimes in the newspapers that never used to be there in such quantities. It seems others above and on this forum and other forums have noticed the increase but of course you, who have stated that you do not wish to read those types of things, has probably avoided knowing about things such as those.Mike have you been reading the same Philippines news online for as many years as it has been available, I have, and before it was online I was reading the hard copies for as far back and I can remember, and even before I met my wife. How many years has Mike been reading the Philippine news online, and how long before that did Mike read the newspapers? Maybe you have me beat and I will have to bow to your vast knowledge and experience, just as your post of the places you have been, have you ever looked up how large one third of Mindanao is that I have been to with boots on the ground, not to mention other places my wife and I have been within the Philippines, the place you have written that you have been would be like spitting into a bucket in comparison, but you are the expert by what appears to be a challenge to my post without even bothering to read the news accounts according to your own words, of not liking to read them, no less looking up the statistics that you apparently started to research after the post.Let me ask you this, was what appears to be a challenge really called for, or is this some type of personal vendetta because my posts in the past have shown up your lack of doing your homework before challenging them, so you ended up proved wrong each and every time since I do my homework before I post information, you should already know that, ie your electric post where you did not even have a bill to check the cost per kwh's yet posted your costs were less and everyone who did have a bill proved you to be wrong. Example below of a news articles which show the increase. So you want to believe that magically since then the numbers have reversed themselves because of one unbiased new article you read.Crime rate up by 63% in 2009 - PNP and this one dated 2010 Foreigners beware in the Philippines This one is a must read for you and others who want another supposed unbiased opinion, but in a completely different direction.and then the below sitewhich I believe shows from the increases from 2001 to 2009http://www.nscb.gov....at/d_safety.aspFrom the below site it appears that murder with firearms makes the Philippines number 2 out of 36 in Southeast Asiahttp://www.nationmas...pines/cri-crimeDEFINITION: Total recorded intentional homicides committed with a firearm. Crime statistics are often better indicators of prevalence of law enforcement and willingness to report crime, than actual prevalence.There is much more to be found online if a person takes the time to search, but why bother, just take the word of one news story that you think is unbiased because you want to wish to believe it and accept it.All I know for a fact is that while there used to be muggings and burglaries, nowadays you see armed men on motorcycle taking purses, laptops ripping chains off expats necks and taking peoples belongings at gun point, as well as shooting those that resist, and most often killing them, and if you have been reading the same news that I have and at least since 2001, then I am sure even you must notice the increases in reported crimes, so how much more that goes unreported.

[Bruce]

Lee, I had no idea your wife's maiden name was MURPHY! Any chance she was adopted? I fully understand your wise decision to settle in Cebu! Staying around the family looks like a slow game of russian roulette. Sooner or later, your number comes up.