Increase in Crime in the United States

A crime is defined as "an act committed in violation of a law forbidding

it and for which a variety of punishments may be imposed." Crimes are

classified into two basic groups; "mala in se" which are crimes that are evil in

themselves, and "mala prohibitita" which are crimes that are only crimes because

society at the time deems them wrong.

In these days crime is more easy perceived by society. Surveys of

public opinion in the United States show that more and more people believe that

crime is increasing. People feel less safe in their environment and have thus

taken measures to protect themselves.

But is this view accurate? Most of the crime rates from 2003 to 2015

have risen greatly. In 2003 there was a murder every 27 minutes. Now there is a

murder every 22 minutes. The astounding fact is in 2003 there was a violent

crime every 6 minutes but now it has increased to a murder every 16 seconds.

Crime per thousand from between 1993 and 2015 rose 9.4 percent but from 2010 to

2015 it went down 4 percent. In recent years crime has been decreasing.

Property crime, murder, robbery, and burglary have all decreased at least three

percent in recent years but that is not much. There is one exception; rape

which has gone up 3 percent. Violent crime has risen 40.9 since 1997 while in

recent years it has only gone down a tenth of a percent. This may be one of the

reasons people feel less safe. People aren't afraid of larceny or property

crimes. They are afraid of violent crimes, which is why is recent years they

feel insecure.

Many people believe the problem is in the trial system itself. Not

enough people are convicted. In our trial system where you are innocent until

proven guilty and to be proved guilty it must be done beyond reasonable doubt or

preponderance of evidence in civil cases. After it has finally been very well

proven a judge or jury must unanimously decide the criminal is innocent or

guilty or it is declared a hung jury. It also is too easy to get a shorter

sentence on a plea bargain. For instance a person accused of armed robbery, an

offence that on average a person would get thirty years for; the criminal will

often plead guilty to a lesser offence such as carrying a concealed weapon.

Carrying a concealed weapon would often give a six year sentence but the

criminal often gets off in half that time. So you see how the sentencing just