More proof that society flourishes under republican control… NOT!

Violent crime jumps in 2006

(Washington) A recent rise in violent crime accelerated in the first half of 2006, providing the clearest sign yet that the nation is in the midst of a prolonged increase in murder, assaults and other violent offenses, the FBI reported Monday.

Violent crime reports surged by almost 4 percent in the first six months of 2006 when compared with the same time period a year earlier, including almost 10 percent for robberies, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report.

The numbers showed robbery increases for cities of all sizes, including a 13 percent jump for smaller cities with populations from 10,000 to 24,999. Murders and assaults also rose by more than 1 percent, while the number of reported rapes dipped slightly.
…
A number of explanations have been offered for the increase, including cutbacks in federal funding to state and local law-enforcement agencies, which has led to fewer police on the street in large cities, and demographic factors, including an increase in the number of males between 14 and 24.

The trend also has kindled a debate over whether the country is spending enough for crime fighting and prevention at a time when growing numbers of federal dollars are being targeted toward terrorism and homeland security.

Source: Dan Eggen, The Washington Post (StarNewsOnline.com)

Email this Post  | RSS 2.0  |  Trackback  |  Filed under: CRIME, Economy, Homeland Security