Crime in the US – 2007
The FBI released the Crime in the United States 2007 report, dated 15 September 2008. Here’s a summary of the Crime Summary:
After rising for two straight years, the estimated number of violent crimes in the Nation declined from the previous year’s total. The declining trend continued for property crimes, as those offenses were down for the fifth year in a row… the estimated volume of violent crime was down 0.7 percent, and the estimated volume of property crime decreased 1.4 percent in 2007 when compared with 2006 figures. The estimated rate of violent crime (…was a) 1.4 percent decrease… the estimated rate of property crime was…. a 2.1 percent decline…
Note: Caution Against Ranking—Each year when Crime in the United States is published, some entities use reported figures to compile rankings of cities and counties. These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular town, city, county, state, or region. Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents.
Of course, I can hardly wait for the National Rankings to be compiled. Last year, Huntsville ranked #83, Birmingham ranked #13. Crime in Birmingham is up this year (roughly 5% over last year; murder down, robberies, burglaries, theft and car theft way up); crime in Huntsville seems to be down about 6% (murder up, theft and car theft down). Here’s the FBI data for 2007.
The Birmingham News is reporting that “Birmingham makes FBI Top 10 lists in violent crime, property crime and homicides”.
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I wonder if the State Department will be fair or hypocritical in deciding to issue No Travel Warnings to locations in the USA with a greater death/crime rate per square mile than the previous warnings issued for Israel and other places around the world.