What Is the Violent-Crime Rate?
The violent-crime rate is a measure of the number of incidents such as murder, rape and aggravated assault that occur annually. In the United States, the violent crime rate surged during the 1980s and early 1990s, but has experienced a decline in the years since.
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Identification
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A 2010 "Wall Street Journal" article cites U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics which show that violent-crime rates decreased across the country in 2009. According to experts interviewed for the "Wall Street Journal" article, the decrease can be largely attributed to better policing across the country.
Features
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The decline in violent-crime rates can be seen in cities across the country. For example, the incidence of violent crimes such as murder and rape fell by 15 percent in Los Angeles, 10 percent in Dallas and 7 percent in Boston from 2008 to 2009. Cities with a population of 25,000 or less saw violent crime rates fall by nearly 5 percent during the same time period.
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Considerations
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Experts believe that the decrease in violent crime rates disproves the theory that more violent crimes occur during an economic downturn. However, it can take several years after violent crime rates decline for the public's perception of whether or not the streets are safe to change.
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