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10.31.2011

Despite the data most Americans believe that crime is worsening

Gallup reports that despite the 17 year decline in violent crime reported by the bureau of justice, 68% of americans say that crime is worse today than it was a year ago.

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2 comments:

  1. This is probably related to a false belief people have (I don't have the citation off the top of my head) that crime will rise in the event of hard economic times. Less jobs = more people who will resort to crime to get by. This has not happened in the past and the statistics refute this belief. I'd wonder if this belief in more crime is just perpetuated by political demagoguery and media sensationalization.

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  2. Yeah, I remember when the recession first happened sociologists and criminologists were wondering that exact thing. And you're right. This recession hasn't led to a spike in crime like previous ones have.

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