Do Campus Crime Statistics Make You Safer?

Since the early-1990s the Federal government, through the US Department of Education, requires more than 6000 colleges and universities to publish an annual report disclosing their campus security policies and three years of selected crime statistics related to that college or university.

US Department of Education collects this data and makes it available on web sites and in published reports. You can see the data for any particular institution that is required to report. You can sort the data by the size of institutional enrollment, or you can check institutions by states, or by the type of instructional programs they offer.

This is an impressive collection of data but it begs the question of whether or not it actually means anything. It's difficult or impossible to prove a negative but you have to wonder if the millions of man-hours that have been spent in collecting, compiling, and reporting this data has made one college student, anywhere, safer.

Crimes occur in big cities, small cities, and towns and villages everywhere across the globe. It should not surprise anybody to learn then that crimes also occur on college campuses in big cities, small cities, and towns and villages across the globe. As you might expect the statistics reveal that the campuses with the highest crime rates are located in big cities adjacent to areas with the highest crime rates. A small size art oriented college located in Boston always ends up near the top of the "Crimes on Campus" list. A little investigation reveals, however, that the majority of those reported crimes occur in and around a notorious subway station in a high crime area immediately adjacent to campus.

Other writers who have commented on the effectiveness of this data for keeping students safe have pointed out that some schools, particularly some located in major metropolitan areas, have been fined one or more times by the US Department of Education for failing to accurately report on campus crime. The bottom line is that if you are concerned about safety on campus, either for a school which you are thinking of attending, or a school that you currently attend, forget the statistics, do your own investigation, and use your own common sense.

Alcohol and violence go hand-in-hand on college campuses. The Harvard School of Public Health reports that 77% of students who hang around regularly with a binge drinker will either be a victim of or the perpetrator of an assault or a DUI. The old birds of a feather maxim still applies.

Keep your dorm room or your apartment door locked when you are out and when you are inside. Next to bicycle theft burglary seems to be the most common campus crime.

The same rules that apply to urban streets apply to urban college campuses and also to the pastoral rural college campuses. Walk in lighted areas and in a group whenever and wherever you can. Always be aware of your surroundings.

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Violent and Property Crime Statistics

Just how likely are you to become a victim of crime? It is believed that crime is increasing in many cities across the United States. Most of the country's large cities, from New Orleans to Los Angeles and everywhere in between, have disturbingly high numbers of violent crime (which include murder, rape, and assault) as well as property crimes such a thefts, burglaries, and break-ins. Living in today's world, it's no wonder why so many people have chosen to protect their homes, themselves, and their families with security systems, stun guns, pepper spray, personal alarms, and a whole host of other devices designed to give you peace of mind and help you thwart an attack.

What do the statistics show about the level of crime in the United States? Last year, there was a violent crime every 22.8 seconds, and an aggravated assault every 37.8 seconds. No matter your gender, age, or location, it is critical that you protect yourself before you become part of these statistics.

There were almost five million acts of violence with female victims reported in the United States last year. Three quarters of these women were attacked when alone, and half were attacked by multiple assailants. Thirty percent of female victims of violence were attacked by someone they knew well. There are more than half a million rapes reported in the United States each year. These statistics underscore the need for women, especially, to protect themselves. Carry pepper spray in your handbag everywhere you go. A stun gun shaped like a cell phone or pepper spray disguised to look like a pen can be great choices, especially when you consider that many of these crimes are perpetrated by attackers who know their victim.

According to the FBI, there are more than seventeen million property crimes such as burglary in the United States each year, including a burglary every twelve seconds and a violent robbery every 70 seconds. The average dollar loss per home invasion is about $1,725 to $2,000, and by far houses are the biggest target for break-ins. Clearly, property crimes are a huge problem in the United States. When you consider the danger your home is in, as well as how much property you are risking by leaving it unprotected, it makes sense to protect your home with alarms, security cameras, and other devices.

Much can be learned from the method of entry for most home burglaries. About two thirds of residential burglaries occurred during daylight hours, while many people mistakenly believe that their home is at greater risk at night. A third of all home invasions happen right through the front door, while another quarter enter through a first floor window, and nearly all of the rest enter through the back door or garage. In nearly all cases, any alarms or other security systems on the home were not turned on or armed at the time of the burglary.

Historically speaking, property crime tends to increase when the economy is not doing well. Since we are currently in a recession, it is all the more important to protect yourself, your home, and your family.

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UK Relocation, Crime Statistics and House Prices

"Burglaries rise fast as economy goes slow"was the headline on the front page of the London Times newspaper on 29th June 2011.

This much anticipated 'recession crime wave' is set to have a significant impact on both domestic and international relocation services.

According to the Metropolitan Police there were big increases in robbery, burglary and motor vehicle crime in the past 12 months, with other Forces' Chief Constables claiming clear signs that burglary and robbery are "on the turn", with commentators anticipating that crime rates can only worsen as unemployment increases.

A couple of days after the Times article appeared, the figures covering May 2011 for the whole of England and Wales were published on the Police UK website. Type in your postcode and you will be shown a map detailing the month's crimes broken down into various categories.

Not for the faint hearted, particularly for urban dwellers. The stark data can make genteel Hampstead or Holland Park look like Beirut on a bad night, and pointing out that a certain level of crime is inevitable, particularly in built up areas, does little to reassure those of a nervous disposition.

Or indeed anyone relocating and researching destination areas.

Publication of these crime statistics started in December 2010, so we now have a full six months worth to analyse. So what can it tell us and how does it impact on relocation services?

On the face of it, not much. Unsurprisingly, built up areas tend to have more crime than rural ones.

However, if one analyses the increase in crime rates nationally between December 2010 and May 2011 and then compares any target area against this benchmark, a different picture emerges in many parts of the country with, in many instances and counter to generally held beliefs, greater increases on crime in the rural rather than urban areas.

Furthermore, if one establishes national benchmarks for crime rates in areas of similar population density i.e., comparing like with like, thereby putting the 'Beirut effect' into context, you can get a real indication of whether an area is on the up or the slide.

Clearly this is precisely the sort of qualitative information a relocating family, whether moving domestically or coming in from abroad, would want to know.

Not only is it highly relevant to the issue of lifestyle choice, but also, given the coming recession crime wave, property values. Areas where crime rates are increasing faster than elsewhere, or are greater than neighbourhoods with similar characteristics, could quite easily experience a negative impact on property values. All very pertinent information when deciding where you are going to make your biggest investment.

And, if Additional Housing Cost Allowance (AHCA)/Mortgage Disparity Assistance/Housing Cost Disparity payment is part of the relocation package, it is now surely essential that this is becomes factored into the calculation.

Traditionally the concept of 'neighbourhood desirability' (as defined by the Differential Suppliers) has been based on the relatively static assessment of the residents' demographic profiles. Potentially, the much more volatile crime data turns this assessment on its head.

The data is out there for anyone to access and, given the current economic climate, it is bound to increase in significance. Fortunately, with regular and meaningful analysis, it should develop into a valuable tool not only for the relocating family, but also the relocation professional.

For more information about this and to see mapped examples, please visit our website at www.prsco.co.uk

Nick Draycott
Director
PRS Consultants
Property Price Disparity Data Consultants
http://www.prsco.co.uk

Alarming Statistics on Rising Crime Rates - Why is Crime So Popular?

Not only are the continually rising crime rates in the U.S. terribly alarming and valid cause for great concern, but equally curious and unfortunate is the public's perception that crime and its related drama are somehow entertaining.

The most popular television show in the United States is currently 'CSI' (Crime Scene Investigations). Drawing in an estimated 84 million viewers, the show has been a fan favorite since its 2000 debut. Now in its ninth season, CSI continues to pull in regular viewers.

Criminal Minds, a televised series now in its fourth season, also receives praise from regular TV watchers. The fascination with crime series and the topic of violence and unlawful activity on film is nothing new; people have crowded into theaters and gathered in front of their TV screens to watch this type of action play out for decades.

As life imitates art (or is it the other way around?), cities across America continue to see occurrences of crime increase. New Orleans, Louisiana, tops the list as the most dangerous American city, leading in areas of both violent crime (they had over 200 murders in 2008) and property crime. The small town of Gary, Indiana was a close contender in 2nd place. Los Angeles, California, New York, New York and Atlanta, Georgia all had disturbingly high numbers of violent crime, including murder, as well as thefts, break-ins and burglaries, car thefts, and other incidents of property crime.

American citizens, despite their inexplicable acceptance of criminal topic matter as venues for entertainment, spend a good deal of money to protect themselves, their homes and their families. Reliable security systems become more common every year, as people realize they need far more comprehensive home safety plans than a dog and a peephole on the front door.

Citizens arm themselves with mace, personal alarms and take classes on self-defense, making very deliberate efforts to devise potentially life-saving responses to an attack. Car alarms and the 'club' devices (an implement that attaches to a steering wheel to deter auto theft) are also regularly purchased.

Obviously, people are aware of the threatening danger of crime, and most people are responsible enough to make efforts to protect themselves, and yet they almost promote it by accepting crime-related subject matter as an acceptable form of entertainment. Isn't it possible that, if crime was not given top billing on television or in the cinema, maybe it would not be such a top-rated pastime amongst real-life citizens?

It's not unreasonable to imagine that, were the media to cease glorifying violence and unsavory behavior, it would become less attractive to act out in this manner amongst society. Actions speak louder than words. If our culture stops acting as if criminal lifestyles are essentially fascinating, we could very well witness an alarmingly positive decrease in the negative statistics that currently pervade the U.S. crime scene.

S.L. Robertson writes about GE Home Security, personal safety and house alarm systems. Robertson has long been regarded as an expert in the field of reliable home safety and affordable security systems.

Campus Crime Statistics - College Administrators Prefer You Didn't Know Them

It's a bit curious that during ten informational college sessions my wife and I attended between 2003 and 2007, not once was the issue of campus crime statistics discussed. Yet the "Jeanne Clery Campus Security Crime Act" requires US colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses.

The "Clery Act" is named in memory of Jeanne Clery, a nineteen-year-old Lehigh University freshman who was raped and murdered while asleep in her residence hall room on April 5, 1986. Jeanne's parents, Connie and Howard, discovered that Lehigh students hadn't been told about thirty-eight violent crimes on their campus in the three years before the murder. The Clerys joined with other campus crime victims and persuaded Congress to enact this law, which was originally known as the "Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990."

The law was modified in 1992 to require schools to give certain basic rights to victims of campus sexual assault; in 1998 it was changed again to expand reporting requirements. The 1998 amendments also formally named the law in memory of Jeanne Clery.

Additional amendments in 2000 and 2008 added provisions regarding registered sex offender notification and campus emergency response. The 2008 amendments also added a provision to protect crime victims, "whistleblowers", and others from retaliation.

In compliance with the "Clery Act", the US Department of Education now provides The Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool, an on-line program that offers instant customized reports of campus crime and fire data. By logging onto this tool - see below - anyone can view crime statistics specific to one school, or compare data from schools selected by size of enrollment, program, type of institution or state.

The Cutting Tool collects data from the Office of Postsecondary Education Campus Safety and Security Statistics database where crime statistics and fire statistics are submitted annually by all universities that receive Title IV funding - those that participate in federal student aid programs.

Additionally, as part of the "Clery Act", the US Department of Education requires that all universities that receive Title IV funding also comply with all regulations outlined in the Handbook for Campus Crime Report - a guide that walks universities through the "Clery Act" requirements. There is also an on-line companion to the guide called the Campus Crime Reporting Training Video - http://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/campus.html#training - I recommend that every parent of an incoming freshman watch it. It discusses how universities must establish security policy, record and disclose reported crime both on campus and off, and even discloses an invisible 'one mile rule' which is an extension of the college campus for off campus crime reporting.

I became concerned about campus security when taking my own daughter to a university in Wooster, Massachusetts to which she had been accepted. It was a small private school with an excellent academic reputation; however, a police precinct on the edge of campus worried me. That Wooster was a distressed town with a campus in the middle of the city did not help matters.

I approached one of the students the day we were visiting and asked about the school's safety. He told me that after 4 p.m. my daughter should find someone to walk her to classes. Obviously, this was a major concern and one of the factors that dissuaded my daughter from accepting admission.

Recently I used the online tool - http://ope.ed.gov/security/ - and discovered that the school had a light amount of crime in 2007 and 2008, the first two years my daughter would have attended - most crimes were burglaries. Moreover, the statistics the "Clery Act" collects are all reported crimes, not just those that lead to convictions; it is possible that some on the list were unsubstantiated or dismissed. But there is a lesson to be learned here. Do not let a depressed area around your university, prejudice your decision as it did mine.

On the other hand, knowing the statistics never hurts.

Barry Simmons is a freelance financial aid expert who sells his best selling book 'How To Send Your Child To College For Free Or Close To It' on his website (link: http://www.collegeisfree.com ). His site also offers quite a bit of free college resource material including his humorous blog following the first year and a half of his son's experience at college.

How Is Crime Data Collected - What Are The Statistics Today - And How Can A Crime Be Prevented

In 1929, the International Association of Chiefs of Police started a program called the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. This program was created to meet the need for reliable, uniform crime statistics in the nation. A year later, the FBI was responsible for collecting and publishing these statistics. Today, crime statistics are produced from data received by almost 17,000 law enforcement agencies in the nation. This data is then published through several annual statistical publications. This data is also used for special studies and reports on an annual basis.

Law enforcement agencies reported preliminary statistics for 2006, which resulted in an increase of 3.7 percent in violent crimes in the first six months of 2006 compared to the first six months in 2005. Violent crimes include murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Property crimes, which include burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft, actually fell 2.6 percent in the first half of 2006 when compared to the same period in 2005.

Arson, which is also a property crime but not included with the property crime data, increased 6.8 percent in the first six months of 2006 when compared to the first six months of 2005.

Crime in the U.S. is overwhelming. We have to help our law enforcement agencies, as well as ourselves and focus on the PREVENTION of crime.

There are a couple of ways you can help prevent the unthinkable. Couple these together for maximum safety. The first way is to read, recite and remember the do's and don'ts when in public. A few suggestions are listed below. The second way is to deter an assailant if a crime is about to happen. Deterring an assailant can be difficult if you are not prepared. Preparedness means personal protection. Personal protection can be purchased in different ways. The most popular personal protection item is Mace or pepper spray, which comes in various sizes. Stun devices are also popular. Stun devices include stun guns and stun batons and come in various voltages and sizes. And there are many types of personal alarms including Electronic Pocket Whistles, 130 decibal alarms and combination flashlight alarms.

Here are a few tips to remember:

AVOIDING VIOLENT CRIMES

Sexual Assault

1. Use initials instead of first names on mailboxes and phone listings.

2. Avoid remaining alone in an apartment laundry room or parking garage.

3. Never admit on the telephone or at the door that you are alone.

4. It is risky to accept a ride home from someone you have just met.

5. If you decide to physically resist assault, remember that your goal is to incapacitate the attacker long enough to run to safety and get help.

6. If you have been a victim of sexual assault, call police immediately. Do not bathe or change clothes or you may destroy evidence.

Robbery

1. Avoid carrying valuable items or large amounts of money.

2. Always think ahead. For example, when traveling at night, have your keys ready to enter the house or to start the car.

3. If you are confronted by a robber, the best advice is to cooperate.

4. If you resist, there is a greater chance that you may be hurt.

Bank Machines

1. When using an automatic bank teller, always be watchful of any suspicious people around you.

2. The chances of being robbed at night are much greater, especially if you are alone.

3. If you find someone waiting and watching outside in the area of an ATM machine, do not use it. Leave the area and report the incident to the police immediately. You could save someone else from being a victim of crime.

Street Safety (Use Common Sense)

1. Stay in well-lighted, busy areas. Avoid walking alone and avoid known trouble spots.

2. When you carry a purse, hold it close to your body rather than by the handles. Do not wrap purse straps around your wrist, because you can get hurt in a struggle.

3. Carry only what you need in a purse or wallet, not everything you have.

4. Avoid using shortcuts through dark alleys, fields, or vacant lots.

5. If you think you are being followed, cross the street and change directions a few times. Go quickly to a well-lit area with lots of people. Do not go home. You do not want an attacker to know where you live.

Always remember, if you think a crime is about to be committed or you are in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation, dial 911

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Campus Crime - How to Discover Campus Crime Statistics

Knowing the campus crime statistics of a College or University you're considering is vital to making an informed enrollment decision.  It's your first defense against preventing an incident against you or someone you love.

But, trying to find the crime statistics on the websites of every college you're considering can be frustrating and time consuming.

There is an easier way to discover campus crime statistics for any college on a single website.

The Campus Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool was developed by the Office of Post-secondary Education (OPE - part of US Department of Education).

The tool is designed to provide quick customized reporting.  The information is pulled from the OPE database used to aggregate the annual information submissions from required colleges and universities.  The campus crime statistics are all in one place so you don't have to search all over the internet.

A post-secondary institution is 'required' to submit specific crime statistics annually if they receive Title IV funding - those that participate in federal student loan programs.  This is a requirement of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

The campus crime statistics found with this tool are not going to match, exactly, information reported by the FBI.  It is more inclusive.  For example, it includes statistics on 'alleged' crimes reported to campus security and local police departments.

Some of the statistics you can check:

Illegal weapons possessions
Drug arrests
Liquor law violations
Murder and manslaughter
Forcible and non-forcible sex offense
Robbery
Aggravated assualt
Motor vehicle theft
And other categories...

Should you consider campus crime statistics just if you are a woman or have a daughter?  Of course not.  You or your son can be at risk too.

These crime statistics are not the only things you should consider either.  I have two sons and two daughters.  I'd like to know about the College or University's policies regarding handling of crime.

If they receive Title IV funding, they are required to comply with the Clery Act.  So what.  They report crime and alleged crimes.  What are their disciplinary policies?  Is it immediate expulsion if accused - you'd like to know that if your son is attending.

What are their past behaviors and actions with crimes.  Have them cite some examples of specific incidents and how they handled them.  Even better, do some research online about the specific school and ask about specific situations you learn about.

What about prevention?  Tools like alert systems, support groups and training classes?  Are they an institution more focused on complying with bureaucratic requirements, or do they have a culture of safety and prevention?

Remember, campus crime statistics can only tell you so much.  Some schools might be 'lucky' or under-reporting.  Only by conducting your own due diligence by asking the tough questions will you know the real meaning behind the crime statistics of the College or University you're considering.

How do protect those you care about? Get the "7 Strategies to Protect Yourself in Any Situation" Special Report Here and learn the simple steps you can take immediately to protect and, if necessary, defend against any threat. David Koons is the founder of Protect and Defend, a company specializing in self defense, personal protection and campus safety services. He is an expert of self defense, personal protection strategies and former member of an elite military special forces unit. http://protectanddefendinc.com

Teen Crime Statistics

Crime statistics show that approximately one-third of all victims of violent crime are teenagers, between the ages of 12 and 19. Today, homicide is the second-leading cause of death for young adults, after car accidents. Each year, more than 1,500 murder victims are children and teens. While many people think that crime doesn't regularly befall children, as it's part of living in a "grown up" world, the statistics show that this is clearly not the case.

Teens are not only the victims of violent crime, but sometimes the perpetrators, too. Almost half of all violent crimes are committed by perpetrators under 25 years old. In 2006, 15% of all arrests were made on people under the age of 18, while more than 1,100 homicide suspects were under the age of 18. Children and teens regularly become both the victims and the perpetrators of violent crimes. When watching the nightly news, it's not uncommon to hear about the shooting death of a teen, or of a group of teens who are accused of assault.

Those who watch the news every night or read the daily newspaper front to back might notice that teens who choose to do positive things for the community almost never ends up as the leading story or on the front page news. Such news simply does not sell.

Many news shows, not to mention politicians, are obsessed with the teen crime rate. We hear in the news daily how crime is increasing dramatically in this age group. While these statistics may certainly be shocking, in actuality they have not changed dramatically over the past decades. In fact, crime statistics show that in reality, the youth of today are not any more criminally inclined than the generations before them. In fact, some crime statistics show that today's youth are even less likely to commit certain crimes, although the FBI statistics show that the teen crime rate is rising across some categories.

With that being said, the statistics certainly do show that all too often, teens are the perpetrators of both violent and non-violent crimes. Psychologists know that adolescents' brains are undeveloped, and too often, unsupervised kids are left to their own devices and make poor choices. Most teens' risky behavior, including not only criminal behaviors but also drinking, smoking, and other poor choices, tends to peak between the hours of 3:00 and 8:00pm. With no supervision or constructive activities during this time, the U.S. Attorney's General's Office says, "we reap a massive dose of juvenile crime."

What can you do about the potential for teen crime? If you're the parent of a teen or preteen, practice "defensive parenting" by taking an approach that is both preventative and proactive. Keep teens occupied after school, and model good behavior. At the same time, recognize that they may also become the victim of a violent crime. Prepare them with pepper spray, personal alarms, and other devices, especially if you know they'll be out without adult supervision, such as at the mall or the skate park.

Resist Attack has a full range of Personal Alarms to keep you and your family safe. Also check for current specials on our pepper spray.

Campus Crime Statistics

Moving away to college is a huge step, and one that is often nerve-wracking both for parents and students. When the time comes to choose a college, you'll be looking at plenty of numbers, from GPA and SAT scores to the number of students attending the school. Although the crime rate might not be at the top of your mind when you're deciding which school to attend, maybe it should be. After all, you'll be living there for four years, and you should feel safe doing so.

For nearly two decades, the U.S. Department of Education has collected crime statistics from more than 6,000 colleges and universities nationwide. This annual report covers campus security policies and crime statistics related to the crimes happening on college campuses. This information is available through the Department of Education website and in published reports, where you can see data for any particular school, as well as combined data for all schools. For example, these statistics show that one in five women will become the victim of a sexual assault during her four years spent on campus. Overall, the staggering number of crimes committed on campus underscores the need for paying attention to campus safety.

The statistics gathered for each school include the rates of selected crimes, ranging from assault to vandalism, committed on the school campus each year. As you might expect, schools with the highest crime rates are those in large cities that themselves are known for high crime rates. Statistically, the safest colleges are located in smaller towns that have lower crime rates.

Schools keep statistics for crimes that happen on the campus itself, as well as in areas bordering the university property. The crime statistics shown in this report are broken down by offense, including major crimes such as homicide, sex offenses, hate crimes, robbery, and assault. The crime statistics also show "incidents" such as liquor law violations, drug possession, or weapons possession, which may result in disciplinary action on campus rather than an arrest by the police. In addition to the overall crime rate at the school, these statistics also show to what extent alcohol may be a problem on the campus, as the statistics show alcohol-related offenses such as DUI and minors in possession of alcohol.

So, what can you do with all of these campus crime statistics? Do they actually mean anything? You may be wondering if the time spent reading the crime report can actually make you or your son or daughter safer on the college campus. If you are concerned about safety on campus, certainly take into account the crime statistics when researching potential colleges.

However, it's also important to use your own common sense and prepare for the potential of crime. After all, as the statistics show, no college campus is 100% safe- and no city or town is, either. If you fall victim to a crime, you won't be comforted by statistics about how low the crime rate is. While college is an exciting time, it's also time to think about your safety. Carry non-lethal self defense products, such as a canister of pepper spray or a personal alarm, so that you can protect yourself and avoid becoming part of these statistics.

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Crime in Brazil Is Not As Bad As the Statistics Indicate

Brazil does not have a death penalty. Brazil has a liberal juvenile justice system that seems far too lenient on youthful offenders. These factors have contributed to the high level of crime in Brazil.

There is a considerable amount of freedom in Brazil. Freedom, as opposed to totalitarian police states, has its price in increased criminal opportunities for the criminal element of society. Illegal drug activity has increased in recent years in Brazil. There are gang wars, and turf battles over the drug territories, and some innocent bystanders are killed in some of the battles. Fortunately the majority of these drug related crimes are contained in the poorer sections of the largest cities in Brazil. If you are not dealing drugs, and not spending time in the high crime inner cities in Brazil, then you are in much less danger of becoming the victim of a crime that you would be in any place in the USA.

Actual Crime Rates in Brazil compared to the USA and Japan

An analysis was done using INTERPOL data for Brazil. For purpose of comparison, data were drawn for the seven offenses used to compute the United States FBI's index of crime. Index offenses include murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. The combined total of these offenses constitutes the Index used for trend calculation purposes. Brazil will be compared with Japan (country with a low crime rate) and USA (country with a high crime rate). The following figures are per 100,000 population.

Offense: Rape, the rate in 2001 was 8.50 for Brazil, compared with 1.78 for Japan and 31.77 for USA.

Offense: Aggravated assault, the rate in 2001 was 0.61 for Brazil, 23.78 for Japan, and 318.55 for USA.

Offense: Larceny for 2001 was 309.91 for Brazil, 1401.26 for Japan, and 2484.64 for USA.

Offense: Motor vehicle theft in 2001 was 88.51 for Brazil, compared with 44.28 for Japan and 430.64 for USA.

The rate for all index offenses combined was 927.41 for Brazil, compared with 1709.88 for Japan and 4160.51 for USA.

Source: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/samerica/brazil.html

A Comparative Criminology Tour of the World

Dr. Robert Winslow

rwinslow@mail.sdsu.edu

San Diego State University

Japan is considered one of the safest countries on earth, with a very low crime rate, however Japan has almost twice as much crime overall as Brazil. The USA has over 400% more overall crime than Brazil. However, these statistics are skewed and misleading. Brazil's crime is much localized, almost exclusively limited to the large inner cities. The crime rate in the rest of Brazil is comparable to the crime rate in Vatican City. In the rural areas of Brazil, hitchhiking is still common with very few criminal incidents. Even crimes against property are almost unheard of outside the large cities in Brazil. Outside of the inner cities, Brazil is pretty much the safest place on earth, with an outlandishly low crime rate. By comparison the USA is far more dangerous than Brazil.

There is one other exception to this low crime rate in Brazil. The popular tourist attractions and beaches do have some criminals taking advantage of tourists. These crimes tend to be pick-pocketing, purse snatching, camera snatching, and similar crimes. Even Vatican City has such pick-pockets working the tourists there too. This is an unfortunate fact of life worldwide in every tourist hotspot on earth. Savoy tourists can usually avoid being victimized by these petty criminals.

Do not flash expensive items such as camcorders, cameras, and notebook computers. The red light districts (AMOR à ZONA) should be avoided. The slums (favelas) are high crime areas. ATM machines tend to attract robbers. Thieves work the beaches looking for purses and wallets lying near sunbathers. They grab the purse or wallet and run. Solution: Do not leave your purse or wallet in view. Dress down. Try to look native. Do not stand out.

A word of warning about the Brazilian petty criminals and their methods.

Petty thieves commonly work the public transportation system looking for tourists. They ride the public transportation system (mostly busses) looking to identify a target, usually with a purse or expensive camera in easy view. They will wait until the bus is stopping and opening the doors, then they grab the item and jump off the bus. Lately they have been grabbing whole backpacks, when the tourist is so foolish as to take off his/her backpack on the bus. Solution: Be especially careful on the busses in Brazil. Do not take off your backpack. Do not make it easy for the thieves to grab your valuables and run. Fortunately it is incredibly rare for these petty criminals to become violent. They almost always run away no matter if they are successful or not in the purse snatching attempt. They run not because they are afraid of the tourist, but because they are afraid of a mob or the police catching them. However, you should NOT chase a purse snatcher. They are often armed. The inner city criminals in Brazil are especially afraid of the cops. The police in Brazil are almost as trigger happy as cops in the USA. Fortunately they seem to know the difference between tourists and the street criminals.

In summary, you are far more likely to have your wallet or purse stolen in any city in the USA than in even the tourist areas of Brazil. If you stay away from the inner cities and especially the favelas and if you do not deal drugs or buy illegal drugs you will be far safer in Brazil than in the USA, Canada, or even Japan. There is no need to be afraid of crime in Brazil. Come on, live a little. The sky is not falling down, and Brazil is not so dangerous if you just use common sense.

The author, Arthur Wyss is a resident of Beijing, China. He specializes in immigration assistance for those who wish to live in Brazil. He also operates Brazil Land Sales, which primarily sells land in the State of Tocantins, Brazil. He is the former President of Adventure Spa Cruise. His website is: http://www.brazil-land-sales.com/index.htm

Some Crime Statistics

Fighting crime is a priority of every country and every society, and the United States is definitely not an exception. Moreover, societies have to devote resources to fighting crime. Some countries have small budgets, while others have very large budgets. The United States has a very large budget to fighting crime. Moreover, there are a number of non-law enforcement entities that help fight crime. For example, public watchdog groups, advocacy organizations, and the courts also help hinder crime. In 2007, the United States was an impressive reduction in crime. Although addressing why that reduction occurred is important, simply looking at the statistics will reveal that the decrease in crime rates was notable.

Compared to the first half of 2006, the first half of 2007 in the United States saw rather large decreases in crime. Nationwide, violence fell 1.8% and property crime fell 2.6%. Moreover, in every one of the four regions in the U.S. violence crime in every category fell. Nationally,


murder dropped 1.1% rape dropped 6.1% robbery 1.2% assault 1.7%

Additionally, cities that had over 1 million residents saw significant drops in violent crime rates:


murder rates fell 6.5% rape fell 14.2% robbery 4.3% assault 3.3%

Furthermore, across the nation property crime fell in every category:


burglary rates dropped by 1.3% larceny-theft fell 2.1% motor vehicle theft fell by 7.4%

And amazingly, arson, not considered a violent crime or a property crime, dropped by 9.7%.

Clearly, the United States has met with notable success in reducing crime. But unsurprisingly, some crime has not decreased but has in fact jumped.


In non-metropolitan cities and cities that have between 10,000 and 24,000 residents, violent crime jumped 1.1%. Essentially, rural areas saw slight increase in crime. In metropolitan counties, cities with 50,000 to 99,999 residents, and non-metropolitan counties, murder rates jumped. Burglary rates jumped 3.5% in in metropolitan cities. The South saw a 0.4% increase in property crimes.

So, what do these statistics mean? What is the U.S. doing right, and what can be improved? What works and what does not? Those questions are difficult to answer and need to be answered (or attempted to be answered) by professional researchers. Reductions or increases can be linked to a variety of factors. Rarely can they be linked to only one factor.

Crime statistics show that the United States crime, while definitely being address in the United States, still can have more resources and attention to devoted to it. Crimes will occur, and people will be charged.

For more information on crimes, contact the Milwaukee criminal defense attorneys of Kohler & Hart by going to website.

Joseph Devine