This is
IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
Crime rates in the United States
have been dropping for a number of years. Rates of violent crime have fallen to
their lowest levels since the 1970s. President Bush noted this in his
declaration in April for National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
But this
week, a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation offered new evidence
that violent crime may be on the rise. Early numbers for the first half of the
year show violent crime was up three and seven-tenths percent over the same
period last year.
The F.B.I. reported earlier that violent crime increased more than two
percent in all of 2005. That was the largest increase in fifteen years.
The new report says the number of robberies nationwide increased nine and
seven-tenths percent between January and June of this year. And there were seven
percent more arson fires compared to the first half of last year.
The number of murders increased almost one and one-half percent. Other
violent offenses were also up more than one percent. But the F.B.I. says the
number of rapes decreased, though by less than one-tenth of one percent.
The report shows that violent crime rose nationwide, especially in cities
with populations between half a million and a million. But the largest increase
was in the West. Violent crime in that part of the country rose almost five
percent. Northeastern states had the smallest increase. It was three percent
over the same period last year.
While violent crime increased nationally, most property crimes fell in the
first half of the year. In all, property crime decreased more than two and
one-half percent
The information in the F.B.I. report comes from more than 11,000 law
enforcement agencies.
Researchers from the Justice Department are studying a number of cities to
look for reasons why violent crime is up nationally.
Experts suggest a number of possible reasons. These include too many illegal
guns and not enough law enforcement officers on the streets of American cities.
Also blamed are reductions in federal money for local law enforcement
agencies over the past ten years. Yet local agencies have more duties since the
attacks of September eleventh, 2001. Now they are expected to fight terrorism in
addition to traditional crime.
At the federal level, the F.B.I. and other agencies that often help local
officers investigate crimes have seen their duties change as well.
But other researchers believe an increase in young males and other population
changes have played a part in the rise in violent crime. And some point to
increases in the spread of street gangs.
In any case, the F.B.I. notes that in the years leading up to 2005, violent
crime kept falling. So officials say it is still too early to say if new trends
are developing.
IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English was written by Brianna Blake. I'm Steve
Ember.
crime rate : 犯罪率
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