‘Violent crime in US hits new surge’
The violent crime rate in the United States has increased for the first time in seven years, indicating a shift in the national trend.
The FBI released a report this week showing a 1.2 percent increase in violent crimes in the United States in 2012, after yearly declines since 2006 – due to a surge in crimes committed in cities with large populations.
œIt is a disturbing trend and it™s something that shouldn™t be happening in the United States….But as these statistics show in many big cities, the crime rate is going up and is continuing to do so,” Isabella Fabens, a member with the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, told Press TV.
In cities with populations between 500,000 and one million people, the violent crime rate rose by 3.7 percent including an increase of 12.5 percent in murder rates, according to FBI.
Cities with more than a million people witnessed a 1.4 percent increase in violent crimes including 1.5 percent for murders and 3.2 percent for rapes.
Violent crime is classified as an offense that includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Experts are puzzled over the change in criminal behavior though the trend may indicate cuts in social services due to the recent spending cuts.
œI think that has impacted things other than the police force, that maybe there isn™t as good education or there aren™t other services to deal with people who don™t have jobs or there aren™t health services. To go along with that, the police force can™t operate within all of this happening even with a low budget,” Fabens stated.
GMA/KA
This article originally appeared on: Press TV
Source: http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/violent-crime-in-us-hits-new-surge/39586/
