New FBI Report Shows Falling Crime Rates, But Police Spending Still High
With crime rates falling and police budgets expanding, those accused of crimes may have a tougher row to hoe.
December 13, 2012
On October 29, the FBI announced the results of their latest crime survey: in 2011, violent crime fell for the fifth year in a row, while property crime rates declined for the ninth consecutive year.The new numbers are the latest in a precipitous drop in criminal activity that has spanned nearly two decades. But, while crime rates continue to fall, law enforcement spending remains a government priority; this could mean that if you are accused of a crime, plenty of resources will be aligned against you.
Crime drops again as part of 20-year trend
According to FBI figures, violent crime fell by 3.8 percent last year; across the country, there were 1.2 million reports of a violent crime being committed. Property crimes dropped by 0.5 percent, to a total of 9 million reports.
The latest decline in reported crimes extends a twenty year trend. According to government figures, since 1993, violent crime has fallen by 65 percent. The decline in serious crimes has been especially pronounced in recent years: since 2007, FBI number show declines of 14.7 percent for murder, 9.4 percent for rape, 20 percent for robbery and 13.3 percent for assaults. Even so, law enforcement spending remains at historically high levels.
According to the Justice Policy Institute, U.S. law enforcement agencies are currently spending more than $100 billion a year, much of which derives from federal subsidies. In 1993, the year crime rates began to drop dramatically, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that police spending added up to just under $65 billion.
In the same period during which violent crime fell by 65 percent, police expenditures have ballooned by 54 percent. While some experts attribute a portion of the drop in crime rates to policing strategies, demographic factors (such as fewer people in the peak crime-age category of teens to 25-year-olds) have arguably played a much larger role.
More resources at law enforcement disposal means you need a strong legal defense
In the past couple years, law enforcement spending has leveled off as local governments try to slash budgets in the wake of the Great Recession. Even so, with police, corrections and judicial expenditures still at historic highs, and crime rates that continue to fall, the government has more available resources to focus on arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating you.
If you've been accused of a crime, you have a great amount of power aligned against you; that is why it is so important to retain a quality, aggressive criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Remember, a strong legal defense could be the difference between moving on with your life, and winding up behind bars.
Article provided by Wolfe & Stec, Ltd.
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