Violent crime jumps 18 percent in 2011, first rise in nearly 20 years

FoxNews.com ^ | October 18, 2012

[E. Pluribus Unum]

WASHINGTON –  Violent crimes unexpectedly jumped 18 percent last year, the first rise in nearly 20 years, and property crimes rose for first time in a decade. But academic experts said the new government data fall short of signaling a reversal of the long decline in crime.

The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics reported Wednesday that the increase in the number of violent crimes was the result of an upward swing in simple assaults, which rose 22 percent, from 4 million in 2010 to 5 million last year. The incidence of rape, sexual assault and robbery remained largely unchanged, as did serious violent crime involving weapons or injury.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I wonder if this has anything to do with Eric Holder refusing to enforce the law against "his people?"

[ken5050]

If you subtract out the Chicago crime stats, crime is actually DOWN.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

If you subtract out the Chicago crime stats, crime is actually DOWN.

Is that hyperbole, or documented fact?

[Roccus]

The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics reported Wednesday that the increase in the number of violent crimes was the result of an upward swing in simple assaults, which rose 22 percent, from 4 million in 2010 to 5 million last year

The "Knockout game" and "Herbing"

[DCBryan1]

I'd like to see an unbiased study on the increase in crime SINCE the Trayvon Martin/Zimmerman incident. Methinks those statistics would be just too much for most liberals to accept.

Oh...and BLOAT!

[StandAndDeliver1]

Ominous

[Uncle Miltie]

"The growth in violent crime experienced by whites, Hispanics, younger people and men accounted for the majority of the increase."

[TurboZamboni]

without delving into the data, my guess would be it’s just higher in the same places it’s been higher than average for the past decade.

the offspring of those in prison are just now getting to the age where they can exploit the “gunshow loophole” to get their pistols (sarc)

[SampleMan]

Violent crime rates mirror the increase in the welfare state.

People are given something for nothing and then told that they deserve it. Further, they are told that they would be getting more if other people, who have more (and don’t really deserve it), weren’t so greedy.

It doesn’t take much of a leap for the Takers to then justify taking what they want by force. After all, they are repeatedly told by their political leaders that it is their “fair share”.

There is also the factor that the welfare state destroys self-respect, and a person without respect for themself will have none for others.

Violent criminals may not vote often, but when they do, they vote Democrat. When is the last time you saw a group of young Republicans looting a store?

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Let me rephrase these ‘simple assault’ statistics somewhat.

“The number of assaults investigated by and resulting in arrest by police has risen by 22 percent.”

This can be parsed to say that either there has been an upswing in the public reporting of simple assaults; or there has been an upswing in police arrests based on simple assault, where previously they did not arrest.

The simpler of these two, that police are arresting people for simple assault they previously would not have arrested is the simplest explanation. But why?

LEOs are very responsive to crimes emphasized by their leaders, local, state and federal. Has there been such an emphasis in the last year or more that would focus on the arrest of simple assault cases?