Category: Crime

Currently, the problem of crime control is very acute; it is concerned about the national institutions of government and society, international organizations, and numerous public ones. The solution to the problem is possible with the help of various prevention systems, one of which is developmental crime prevention. It performs regulatory, educational, protective functions and aims at preventing the development of motivated offenders in the early stages of development and decision-making in favor of criminal life. This system also focuses on deterring the escalation of the arisen crime situations into conflicts, leading to violation of criminal laws.

Developmental crime prevention is a subsystem of special criminological crime prevention, the target of which is the pre-criminal forms of deviant and delinquent behavior of minors. The basis for developmental prevention is the need for prompt intervention in the process of asocialization of minors. It is due to the stage of preventive work that is maximally removed from the commission of a crime and minimally from the sources that give rise to this form of unlawful behavior. Other basics can also be noted:

• Improving the living conditions and education of minors in cases where the situation threatens their normal development;
• Suppression and elimination of the actions of subjects of antisocial behavior on minors;
• Impact on minors who admit deviating behavior to prevent antisocial attitudes and habits from gaining a foothold.

The risk factor in the prevention of crime predicts an increased likelihood of committing an offense in the future. Risk factor analysis plays a significant role in developmental prevention, as it allows determining which of the young people is most likely to become an offender (Lab, 2010). Research on risk factors is critical to improving prevention programs, which often have limited staff and funding. Identifying risk factors that can cause delinquency for certain groups of young people at certain stages of their development can help programs channel their efforts more effectively and cost-effectively. In addition, this approach also allows practitioners to tailor prevention programs to the unique needs of individual young people and communities.

Different concerns related to developmental crime prevention may relate to how such programs are carried out. Various methods and techniques of influencing the consciousness, feelings, and will of a minor capable of committing crimes can be used in two ways. Possible direct exposure or through other persons involved in preventive activities. The primary organizational and tactical forms of application of methods and techniques of individual influence on minors are conversations. Involving them in socially useful labor, social, sports, cultural and other nature is also an excellent way to familiarize themselves with the culture of healthy behavior in society. A matter of concern may also refer to question of how a person is to be prevented. One of the options is individual prevention, which is possible when negative phenomena are at the initial stage and when such phenomena have not yet been produced, but there is a possibility of their occurrence.

Crime on a significant scale requires decisive measures to prevent it, which involves the development of various programs and strategies. Developmental crime prevention has the potential to reduce juvenile delinquency and prevent corrupting influences on society. The effectiveness of developmental crime prevention lies in a thorough study of minors capable of committing crimes, determining the main measures and actions, which can be implemented to achieve the set goals.

Reference

Lab, S. P. (2010). Crime prevention: Approaches, practices and evaluations. Elsevier Science.

In the recent past, the rate of crime has been high in most cities in the country. Various people have lost their lives, properties, and other valuables through robbery, burglary, murder, and theft. The safety of citizens is at great risk because most individuals do have insight information about areas that are prone to criminal activities within the states. The local police departments have been structuring and storing data in their databases to aid in identifying the regions most likely to experience any form of violence. This paper will analyze the crime maps of Detroit, Michigan, and the available information in the Detroit police department.

The data accessible include violent crime rates for robbery, rape, assaults, and murder. There is also information on property criminality like burglary, theft, vehicle theft, and arson. Furthermore, the document contains other types of delinquency, such as drug crimes, vandalism, animal cruelty, and kidnapping. Moreover, the data also encompasses regions and the rate of any type of criminality that are likely to occur. The services provided by Detroit Police Department are assisting victims of the crime, enhancing civil rights, and promoting community and police advocacy (Police Department, 2021). It also facilitates cease-fire and receiving and recording reports, gun permit information, Project Green Light Detroit, and senior citizens 911 profiles.

The data provided contain valuable details that can enable people who are not familiar with the city of Detroit to have an overview of places that require protection. The information encourages accountability since the local police have pinpointed sites that are not friendly (Police Department, 2021). Furthermore, the analysis covers various aspects of crimes and their rates, hence giving insight into what is happening on the streets.

The site is easy to navigate and highlights key issues covered. Therefore, it is user-friendly. The mapping is essential since it provides important information about the nature and areas of criminal activities. According to the information provided, I would use the data when making the decision to visit the city. They have also included contacts that can enable citizens to reach the police. To conclude, having statistics about criminality on a platform that people can easily access gives people adequate information, thus enhancing vigilance amongst individuals in such areas.

Reference

Police Department | City of Detroit. (2021). City of Detroit. Web.

Every day we hear news of crimes within our nations. In most countries, crime has increased and the government does not know how to overcome it. Many people have been imprisoned but this does not seem to prevent these criminals from carrying out their evil activities. The question now arises on what needs to be done to control these crimes before they become hard to control. Going by the experience from Muslim countries, the introduction of cutting-off hands of those caught committing crimes would greatly reduce these crimes.

There is a need for the government to introduce tough laws and punishments to help in reducing crimes. In most cases, people who commit crimes are imprisoned for a certain period. Finally, these people are released before they have completed their term due to them appearing to have reformed or due to overcrowding of most of the prisons. This has lead to other people who have the intention of committing crimes not being afraid as they know that they will also be released. Cases have also been reported of those previously arrested resuming their criminal activities. This calls for the government to put in place tough laws that will lead to crime reduction. Cutting of arms has been one of the best laws that have greatly reduced crime incidences in those countries that practice it. To start with, cutting off hands prevents criminals from carrying out their activities, and also it is hard to conduct it on a person who has not been found committing a crime. By cutting criminals hands, it creates fear to those others who intended to involve themselves in crimes hence reducing cases of crimes. Most of the criminals who are not mad will think twice before they decide to commit any crime if they realize that their hands will be cut off if caught on crimes (English Baby Par. 3-6). Sentencing people to a life imprisonment does not lead to reduction in crimes. To most of the criminals the life they spend in prisons appears good than the one they spend in criminal life. There they enjoy having a nice accommodation, a bed, three meals a day of which most of them can not get at the expense of the innocent citizens. A person who has committed a murder crime being sentenced for life imprisonment would be very unfair not only to the family members of the killed person but also to the dead person. This has lead to many people committing crimes as they know of the life they will spend in prison. For those countries where criminals know that their actions might lead to them being amputated, they usually have a second thought no matter how they are forced by urge to commit the crime. Many have witnessed their colleagues hands being cut and they fear being cut also (Young 1&2).

Some countries have argued that the act of cutting criminals hands proves how the country is uncivilized. For most of them, they believe that there are other methods of controlling crimes other than cutting arms. Unfortunately, crimes in these countries have greatly increased. Such countries for instance have passed laws that ban people form owning riffles. This has not reduced the number of crimes involving guns with most of the criminals owning the guns even with the law barring them. Cutting of arms is not usually executed as revenge but it is aimed at correcting those who engage in unlawful acts. It also acts as favor to the community as the number of crimes is reduced hence reducing their suffering. Despite some people arguing that by amputating criminals, people disrespect their human rights; this is conducted depending with the size of the crimes they have committed. This punishment serves its role by bringing justice to those who fall victims of the criminal gangs as well as in restoring order within the society.

Most people would not like to face such harsh punishment out of their crimes. As a result, they keep away from crimes. Therefore this sentence is said to affect only those people who commit these crimes. One major problem associated with this is controlling crimes committed with family life by criminals who are relatives to the victims. It is argued that most of these criminals conduct their terrible acts out of emotional stress (Jaskaw Par. 1-4). If one is found to have committed a crime he or she is tried and if found guilty, he or she is sentenced to whatever punishment deserved as per his or her crime. By people knowing that on committing crimes their hands will be cut-off they try as much as possible to keep away from these crimes. Sentencing people to imprisonment and later releasing them has been one of the factors that have lead to most countries incapability of controlling crimes. For those countries that do oppose cutting of hands as a good method of reducing crimes, the problem is not that the method is not effective, the problem is that they have not tried it to realize its success. Opposing it without taking action does not help them in any way.

Works cited

English Baby. Crime and Punishment in Islam, 2009. Web.

Jaskaw. Shall we cut off the hands of a thief? 2009. Web.

Young, Angela S. Is the death penalty an effective crime deterrent? 2009. Web.

The case under consideration is a series of murders committed by John Wayne Gacy in Chicago. It was widely reported in the media due to numerous occasions of people disappearing near his house and the consequent trials (Rumore, 2021). In the beginning, the suspicions of the authorities were evoked by the criminals conduct as he was reported to look for young men in the streets while driving his car and was accused of various offenses (Rumore, 2021). Nevertheless, the investigation was complicated by the complete absence of evidence against him, and the claims involved only John and the affected people. The situation changed when the police found objects that belonged to missing people in his house and their bodies (Rumore, 2021). These events were followed by Gacys arrest and execution after a prolonged period of investigation, while the identification of victims lasted for many years after his death.

The crime series described above required careful consideration of all circumstances for timely revealing the involvement of John Wayne Gacy in the disappearance of young people in the area. As a specialist, I would begin examining the occasions by interrogating people living in the vicinity of Johns house to confirm that his behavior was alarming. I would also talk to the teenagers who claimed that the alleged criminals conduct implied his participation in the crimes committed in the place. Subsequently, I would converse with Gacys victims to learn more about his habits and other details, which can be potentially useful for further investigation. In the end, the gathered materials would allow the development of the measures to confirm that he committed the murders while doing so promptly. In other words, a case against him could be built earlier if more efforts were put into receiving evidence.

Reference

Rumore, K. (2021). John Wayne Gacy: Timeline of the suburban Chicago serial killers case and the efforts to recover, name his 33 victims. Chicago Tribune. Web.

When considering the case in question, it is possible to identify several alleged crimes. First, it is necessary to note that any reported crime is regarded as alleged until the necessary evidence is collected, a suspect is identified, other procedures are carried out, and the guilt of the suspect is proven in the court (Roberts, 2015). In simple terms, all crimes are alleged until the moment when the decision is made in the court, and the person found guilty or not guilty.

The woman reported a violent crime. She stated that an individual had beaten her and taken her money a few moments prior to her conversation with the police officer. The victim added that the suspect had had a weapon. The crime that involves property crime, physical violence against the person, and the use of weapons are referred to as the strong-armed robbery. This type of crime is the first one to come to ones mind when analyzing the victims report. Nevertheless, other versions should also be considered. The investigation results show that the primary version is not always what actually happened.

Another alleged crime associated with the woman can be aggravated assault. This type of crime involves the use of violence or a threat of using violence against a person (Kelly, 2015). Importantly, the woman could turn out to be a victim or the offender. There are chances that the woman attacked someone and had certain injuries in the fight. She could try to create an alibi for herself so she could make up the whole story.

These versions should also be taken into account when investigating the case. The crimes mentioned above are regarded as serious offenses and can often lead to imprisonment and long-term incarceration. Clearly, previous criminal activity (if any) is taken into account. In many cases, probation and parole can also be the legal actions taken against the offenders.

Several alleged crimes are related to the person injured by Officer Jones. This individual could be involved in illegal activity associated with drugs. For example, an alleged crime associated with the man who had drugs in his pocket is drug possession. This crime falls in several sub-groups as it can be related to personal use or distribution (Kelly, 2015). The latter type of crime will lead to quite strict penalties. In the case under analysis, possession of drugs with intent to distribute is likely to be the alleged crime.

The fact that the man had cocaine in his pocket, and the substance was placed in several small baggies can be regarded as the evidence in support of the version mentioned above. The individual accused of this type of crime can be fined or imprisoned. The factors that would affect the courts decision include the amount of substance found in the persons pockets, his apartment, car, and so on, prior history, and the like.

Another alleged crime can be more serious, although it is connected with the one mentioned above. Drug trafficking and drug dealing are serious crimes that are often associated with imprisonment (Kelly, 2015). The evidence proving that an individual is involved in this type of crime include a significant amount of the illicit substance on the individual or found in his belongings, considerable sums of money, crime history, witnesses reports, and so on.

As far as the civil action against the police officer is concerned, the most obvious issue is related to the use of excessive power. On the one hand, Officer Jones was in a high-crime neighborhood where he was to remain cautious. On the other hand, the suspect was only wearing clothes similar to the garments mentioned by the woman. The police officer had almost no other reason to stop the suspect. Moreover, the suspect did not have a gun. There was no threat to the life of the officer or anyone else, so there was no need to shoot. Nonetheless, the area was a high-crime neighborhood, and the suspect refused to comply with the officers demands to stop.

The suspect also turned out to be carrying illicit drugs. These factors are likely to become central to the case. Luckily, the suspect was only injured and not shot dead. The suspect can try to take civil action against the officer for the use of excessive power. However, there are high chances that the court will not find the police officer guilty as it was in the case of the United States of America v. Eric loan Parker (Campbell, 2016).

The police officer was found not guilty as he did not violate any procedures or policing practices, although the suspect was injured severely and turned out to be unrelated to any criminal activity. The challenges of contemporary American society make people more concerned about safety rather than liberties. Hence, Officer Jones actions will be viewed as justified, and no serious punishment will occur. Although the prior performance of the police officer will also be considered, and if various violations are revealed, he can be fired.

References

Campbell, A. (2016). Judge throws out an excessive force case against the officer who injured an Indian man. Huffington Post. Web.

Kelly, W. R. (2015). Criminal justice at the crossroads: transforming crime and punishment. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

Roberts, J. V. (2015). Criminal justice: A very short introduction. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Introduction

Organized crimes refer to all the illegal activities that are carried out by transnational syndicates that are formed and virtually run by criminals, and which represents exceptionally organized and highly centralized groups of criminals with an objective of generating monetary profits out of widespread participation in unlawful activities. Mostly, these gangs are referred to as mafias including the famous world gangs such as the American mafias, the Cosa Nostra of Italy, the Russian mafias, the triads of China, the Irish mob of Ireland among others across the world (Rudy, 2007). According to the United States organized crime control act of 1970, organized crimes are basically the illegal acts that are carried out by highly organized, centralized, and disciplined gangs whose main objective is to make money out of those unlawful practices (Grennan & Britz, 2006). Consequently, they are characterized by high levels of corruption, violence, high degree of sophistication, connection, highly organized structures, control, either strategic ideology or complete lack of it, a sling of enterprises and networks both locally and internationally, as well as close association with and involvement in legitimate business ventures. Mostly, the illegal business activities of organized criminal syndicates includes drugs trafficking, sex and prostitution, gambling and loan shaking, extortion, organized robberies and threats, smuggling among other illegal business enterprise (Rudy, 2007). However, organized crimes have been at time organized with a political motive especially those executed by terrorist groups like the infamous al Qaeda (Grennan & Britz, 2006). The American Mafias is one if the most dangerous organized crimes syndicate in the United States whose operations have since gone international. This paper there demonstrates how the federal tools and strategies as well as the federal anti-organized crimes legal statutes can be used to investigate the American Mafias with an objective of bringing the syndicate to extinction.

Federal tools and strategies to combat organized crimes (the American Mafias) in the US

Due to the threat that American mafias poses to the national security and as well as socio-economic well being of the united states, coordinated effort have been necessitated to carry out investigations aimed at unearthing and prosecuting the members and perpetrators of these crimes as affiliates. Ideally, the federal law enforcers including the federal bureau of investigations (FBI) are presented with appropriate approaches to combating organized crimes both in the US and internationally and which can be effectively used to combat the American Mafias. Such tools and strategies cover investigations into the organized crimes and operations, strategies to thwart planned crimes operations and preventions of the effecting, netting of criminals and affiliates of the groups as well as facilitating their trial and conviction in the federal courts the latter of which ensure protections of witnesses and their families (FBI, 2008). As such, the American Mafias are no exception hence the same tools can be used to uncover the illicit syndicate and bring the perpetrators to book. According to the latter, the most famous such tools and approaches that can be used to effectively uncover this syndicate includes undercover operations, highly planned and technologically aided round the clock surveillance in tracking criminals operations, use of highly confidential sources in investigations, use of intelligence analysis and sharing as well as use of staged and technologically-assisted forensic accounting. Furthermore, the mafias will also be uncovered using multi-agency investigations as well as using the power of racketeering decrees to uproot the whole organized crimes gangs networks. Since American Mafias operations have since become a matter of international concern, the team of investigation will work in close partnership with the international crimes investigation agencies and law enforcers which will virtually involve exchange of criminal investigations personnel with international countries in which the syndicate is expected to have spread, mainly to thwart and destroy the Mafias international links and making it easier to combat them (Grennan & Britz, 2006).

Undercover operations

The undercover operations present the most ideal tool to uncover the operations of the American Mafias. In regards to the operations of this syndicate, it is easy to track down their operations using informants the latter of which poses an extremely ideal tool to combat it via seeking to obtain information concerning a plan and impending operation by an organized criminals syndicate. However, the method effectiveness in achieving this objective depends of the ability of the investigation team to authenticate the dependability of the informant as well as rip offs. According to Rudy (2007) the shortcomings in the use of undercover operations is the fact the informants are infamously a challenge to control particularly in cases where established and experienced organized crime gangs are the subjects of investigations; the latter of which is a characteristic of the American Mafia. Although, Grennan & Britz (2006) asserts that the undercover operations are exceptionally useful when investigating organized criminal syndicate that are recently formed and with limited historical information, the strategy/tool presented by undercover operations can still be used to uncover the operations of the American Mafia. Nevertheless, the team must maintain the highest level of efficacy to obtain favorable results of which experience is of the essence. In the undercover operations, the team will work closely with the informants information and greatly use their intelligence and other model to ascertain the authenticity and reliability of the informants information in regards to the organization and operations of the Mafias. However, the investigating team must understand that any information from the informant regarding the American mafias is a resource to the investigations regardless of the degree of reliability of such information.

The Organized Crime Control Act of 1970

The Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 is a piece of legislation that was instituted in 1970 and that sought to provide legal framework to fight organized crimes in the United States of America. Basically the act was enacted with the American Mafia as the main consideration and reason behind the enactment. As such, the statutes contained therein guides the federal government, strengthens the ability of the federal in organized criminal investigations, trial, and convictions of netted criminals and syndicates affiliates as well as protection of informants witnesses and their families (Grennan & Britz, 2006). In effects it presents the team destined to uncover the American Mafias.

Ideally, application of the act would greatly foster the investigations teams effectiveness in the combating organized crime syndicates, particularly. More importantly, they offers the team a clear leeway of prosecuting, trying, and convicting (punishing) the netted members of the America mafias via the provision and establishment of a special grand of juries bestowed with the responsibility of investigating the multi-jurisdiction organized crimes within the United States (Rudy, 2007). As a matter of fact, the special grand juries established under the act would have the ability and power of investigating and presenting reports in regards to public corruption as all cases related to illegal activities perpetrated by the American mafias in the districts that constituted their specific areas of jurisdiction. Furthermore, the act virtually favors the investigations in to the illegal syndicates operations since it guarantees the witnesses of organized crime immunity from prosecution as well as guaranteed the absolute security of such and their families as a strategy of getting more Americans to come out and volunteer information valuable to fight such crimes.

Since its enactment, the act has been amended severally and improved to foster its efficiency and effectiveness in combating organized crimes. Among such amendments includes the Title IX of the act that incorporated the Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations Act (RICO) which is in fact the most significant law in the fight of organized crime and which has since its establishment predominantly used in prosecuting suspects of organized crimes in the US. Others amendments include Title II of Chapter IIIthe Comprehensive Forfeiture Act of 1984, Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000 and Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, which guides the fight against organized crimes in the United States. They also guide prosecution of netted organized criminal gangs and syndicates affiliates (Rudy, 2007) hence presents ideal guide for netting and prosecution of those suspected to be members and perpetrators of organized crime under the American Mafias syndicate. In effect the act coupled with the varying forms of its amendment presents the investigation team with a humble tool to fight the Illicit Mafias.

Lesson

From the knowledge and application of organized criminal investigations in the investigation, uncovering and prosecution of the American Mafias, what comes out is that tools and strategies for investigations cannot be static but should be flexibly varied to meet new organized crimes challenges particularly in regards to the American Mafia syndicate syndicates. Furthermore, state- of -the -art technology has been necessitated to effectively meet the challenge of organized crimes particularly the American mafias that keeps on advancing every other day in terms of organization and operations.

Conclusion

Combating organized crimes particularly the American mafias is indeed a daunting challenge for law enforcers and the federal government in the United States. Organized crime is ranked top on the threats to national security and economy. However, coordinated efforts to fight the organized crimes are evident across the US and elsewhere in the world and their achievement so far is unmatched. However, organized crime syndicates continue to advance in regards to organization, sophistication, and centralization as well as change in mode of operation. In retaliation, the strategies employed by law enforcers to investigate and prosecute organized crimes keep on being varied and enhanced to effectively meet the challenge. While this paper applies the knowledge o investigate and uncover the operations of the American mafia, the team made use of such tools and strategies as undercover operations, highly planned and technologically aided round the clock surveillance in tracking criminals operations, use of highly confidential sources in investigations, intelligence analysis and sharing as well as use of staged and technologically-assisted forensic accounting.

Furthermore, team employed multi-agency investigations and use of the power of racketeering decrees to uproot the whole organized crime gangs networks. Also the US Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 which guides prosecutions of organized crimes suspects and netted syndicates affiliates provides an ideal tool for investigation and prosecution.

Reference List

Federal Bureau of Investigations. (2008). Organized Crimes: US department of justice. Web.

Grennan, S. & Britz, M. (2006) Organized crime: A worldwide perspective. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Rudy, G. (2007). Organized Crime Investigation: Yes, Mr. Hoover, there is a Mafia. Web.

Does neighborhood watch programs really work in ensuring that crimes are not committed in an area? The main objective of these neighborhood watch programs were intended for the involvement of the neighbors of a certain community help prevent the possibilities of crimes being committed in the area. The programs tend to be fruitful in ensuring that the incidences of crime are dealt with if the neighbors are corporative. The essay that follows intends to look at the effectiveness of neighborhood watch programs and the theories that support these programs. Since neighborhood crimes pose a danger to the safety and security of residential homes, it becomes necessary for people to device ways in which the crimes can be reduced so that they can live in a safe neighborhood. The essay will thus include a brief explanation of the design I intend to take while addressing the issue followed by a selection of a criminological theory that supports the watch programs.

A neighborhood watch program most of the times consists of an inclusive set of packages that includes a neighborhood watch coupled with the presence of home security precautions and making boundaries to mark property. There are other modifications that could be made to ensure continued security such as the presence of recruitment drives that are conducted by special constables, an inclusion of foot work patrols by the polices and some times the residents themselves. Educating youths in the suburb about the detection of possible crimes is also an effective method and other services such as victim support.

A small suburb that is located in a big metropolitan area has opted for the neighborhood watch program as a way of ensuring that security is enhanced in the suburb. As a result, the mayor wants to find out whether the program has had any effect on the numbers of complaints being received concerning suspicious behaviors that may have been seen or those of deviant behavior and any incidences of crime. He has asked me to determine whether the program has had any of the mentioned effects in the neighborhood. To carry out the investigation I have to determine a survey design that will enable me to reach efficient conclusions that will give reasonable information to the mayor. During the research, I went from door to door or even asked questions on the street. From the research, I found that most of the residents of the small suburb had found that the neighborhood watch program had brought certain benefits to the safety of the suburb. The residents were generally delighted with the results that the program has had on the neighborhood. They attested to the fact that there were reduced incidences of complaints that are being reported by the residents about suspicious or deviant conduct or those of prevalent crimes. At the beginning of the program, complaints being raised by the residents at the police offices were quite high. The police had been having many incidences of reports from people raising concern about people with suspicious conduct in the area and several reported cases of deviant behaviors and small crimes such as prowlers and burglars. The presence of a service that supports victims of crimes in the area also plays a significant role in the lives of the residents and of the neighborhood watch program (Shuttleworth 2008).

After a period of consistent reports being made and the police carrying out investigations, few people were found guilty and put into custody. This created fear and the crimes gradually reduced such that few cases are currently being reported. All data I collected from conducting face-to-face interviews with the residents of there suburb. Though the method was somewhat time consuming, it enabled me to get detailed information both from the police and the residents themselves. I choose this research design due to the fact that it will enable me to have first hand information and at the same time get accurate information that would prove to be useful o the kind of information that the mayor had requested me to find out since I had a chance of asking direct questions.

The method also favored the research that I was doing since I already had an official identification note that was provided by the mayor. This made it easy for me to gather information from the residents since they willingly provided information that was readily handy. The added advantage that all these information will go back to the mayor made them open up and at the same time, they offered suggestions that they wanted me to present to the mayor since the collected data was to be presented to him. Another factor that favored this research design is that there was no possibility that there would be embarrassing information that would make the interviewees reluctant in providing the required information. To the contrary, they were quite responsive and at the end of the research, I had gained an adequate amount of relevant information that I would otherwise not have acquired if I had employed the other methods of data collection (Shuttleworth 2008).

There are various theories that are in support of the neighborhood watch program and one of these is the routine activity theory. Marcus Felson created the routine activity theory that states, that crime is normal and depends on the opportunities available. If a target is not protected enough, and if the reward is worth it, crime will happen. Crime does not need hardened offenders, super-predators, convicted felons or wicked people. Crime just needs an opportunity (Marcus, 1994, p. 24). The theory is created based on the fact that most crimes are incidences of theft that go unreported to the police. It formed on the premise that in most cases crime is neither spectacular nor remarkable; on the contrary, it is commonplace and occurs almost all the time. Another ground on which the theory is made is that for the most part crimes are rarely affected by social causes for example poverty, discrimination or incidences of unemployment. What Felson considers is that the more prosperous the contemporary society becomes, the greater opportunities people get to commit crimes that is, and prosperity creates a variety of things from which people can steal. The theory is employed during the analysis of crimes and during crime prevention efforts. The theory was developed on a different basis as compared to those that had been created before it. This is because it does not consider the motivation behind crime committed instead it is focuses on the convergence of convenient circumstances at particular locations and moment in time which provide an atmosphere that is both encouraging and motivating in committing a crime (Felson 1994).

The theory brings out the realization that in order for a crime to occur, three items have to play without even the premeditation of a crime. These three items include, an offender who has been motivated coupled with the presence of appropriate targets and the nonattendance of competent guardian who can prevent the occurrence of this crime. If it happens that in a particular setting one of these three items appears to be lacking, then the crime would not be committed since either no motivation to commit the crime or a capable guardian could be around to prevent the occurrence of the incidence. Consequently, the absence of targets would ultimately render a crime useless since a crime cannot be committed in the absence of one of the above-mentioned items.

This is exactly what is used in neighborhood watch programs. The presence of the neighborhood watch programs is supported by the theory. This is because, if the residents of a particular agree to have a watch program, then at least two of the items that support the occurrence of a crime would be eliminated. One of the factors that would be eliminated by the presence of a neighborhood watch program is the presence of a capable guardian who would help to prevent the occurrence of a crime. In such a program, the police offer enough capable guardianship, which would deter any motivated individual from committing a crime. If the police alone do not accomplish this, then the neighbors themselves can achieve this by patrolling themselves and ensuring that there are capable people in the neighborhood who can be able to prevent the occurrence of a crime (Felson 1994).

The neighborhood watch program is also supported by the routine activity theory because once a watch program is initiated in a neighborhood, it means that the neighbors are aware of the possibilities of vandalism and burglary in the area and the presence of prowlers who are likely to break into homes and cause big or small damages. The neighbors would therefore be on the look out and this would reduce the numbers of targets because most people would be observant of the possibilities of such incidences. The residents would also result to safety measures such as the installation of security systems that would alert them to such dangers. This would greatly reduce the incidences of crimes. This is something that is clearly brought out in the routine activity theory as it acknowledges the fact that a target has to be present so that a crime can be committed. Therefore, targets would be reduced if a neighborhood watch program were introduced in an area.

Considering the fact that there is reduction of potential targets and the presence of capable guardians, then it is less likely that an individual would be motivated to commit a certain crime. This is due to the fact that there is no target for the crime to materialize and even if the target is present then the presence of a capable guardian hinders the individual from committing the crime even if there was a motivation to commit the crime.

In most cases of crimes committed, the offender has to first identify an appropriate target before committing the crime. However, in such a situation, the existence or lack of a guardian would be a determining factor that will help to determine whether the crime would be committed or not. That is within a neighborhood watch program, it is highly recommendable that there is a guardian who is present because this greatly contributes to whether a motivated offender will act upon his impulse on a target or not. It is obvious that the society is dependent on the presence of law enforcement personnels and that of security guards but people also fail to notice that even a neighbor can provide enough guardianship to a fellow neighbors property. In such a case an offender might target a certain house butt the presence of a neighbor might deter them from committing the crime since the neighbor might report the incident. This is enough guardianship though the only difference between such a guardianship and that of law enforcement personnel is the capabilities that these two guardians have. Either way the two will still manage to prevent the occurrence of a crime, which is what a neighborhood watch program entails. This serves to show that a capable guardian does not necessarily have to be a security guard or a law enforcer. Nonetheless, things such as video cameras that can capture a scene and burglar alarms, which provide enough risk of exposure to a crime committed, can be enough to provide guardianship though the capability that these two have with a security guard is different. These are the kind of things that should be used in neighborhood watch programs to prevent the occurrence of crimes by eliminating all the three items that can leave people vulnerable to crimes. The neighborhood watch programs can eliminate potential targets, provide guardians with varying capabilities and ultimately motivated individuals would lack the opportunity to commit any crimes intended.

It is therefore likely that the presence of one of the components can eliminate the chances of crimes committed. Another likelihood is that neighborhood watch programs could be effective if the routine activity theory is applied in solving cases rather than looking at how punishment can be enforced on the perpetrators of the crime. A good demonstration of the above hypothesis is in particular residential area, there were continued reports of vandalism and burglaries, which caused the residents to raise questions and reports to the police department. Investigation into the matter showed that a good number of these crimes were committed during working days when nobody was likely to be at home. It also showed that either young people who were in school or those who had just left school committed most of the crimes. Most of these homes lacked security systems and since the burglaries were committed during working days, then nobody was likely to be at home. They deduced that installation of security systems would reduce the incidences of thefts and indeed this was the case when a couple of houses were fitted with video cameras. This meant that there were reduced targets and a form of guardian was present. The youths were also put in programs to keep them busy so that they could not be idle and result to such hideous crimes.

It is clear that the neighborhood watch program is a good method of ensuring that there are reduced incidences of crimes committed in an area. The routine activity theory also provides help in addressing the crime problems. It also makes available ways of finding solutions to possible crimes and how these crimes can be prevented in future.

Reference List

Felson, M. (1994). Crime and Everyday Life. Insight and Implications for Society, Thousands Oaks : Pine Forge Press

Shuttleworth, M. (2008). Survey Research Design. Web.

Major crimes that have been reported to be the top committed by women include drug trafficking, fraud, and murder. Despite many women getting increasingly involved in crime, the number of male offenders is still higher. More women are now being convicted for violent crimes; despite their numbers being small, the surge is higher than that of male convicts. Several reasons can be given for the crimes that women now commit. The most common reasons for the top crimes committed by women are the convergence of gender roles, the increase in financial pressures for women in households, and the leniency of the criminal justice system towards women related crimes.

Women now face the same financial pressures that men have been subjected to for a long time by society. In 40% of the households in America, women are the breadwinners, and if the bills of these houses cannot be paid, there is no other way but to resort to crime (Chun, 2020). Fraud, therefore, offers the perfect opportunity to bridge the financial deficit existing in women-dependent households. Another reason why women commit the stated crimes is that the social roles of men and women have converged to the point that women feel like equals to men in society.

Men have for a long time made society patriarchal in nature where they are the deemed as the heads of the households with defined gender roles. The convergence of roles creates behavioral changes in women due to the near equality with men (Estrada et al., 2019). Women are therefore motivated to commit crimes that men are accustomed to, such as murder. A good example is the Bad Barbies, a gang purely composed of women who have committed several murders as revenge (Chun, 2020). Women have also increasingly committed the stated crimes because women who commit crimes are given milder treatment than their male counterparts (Estrada et al., 2019). A female convict guilty of robbery with violence is more likely to be given a lighter sentence than a man with the same crime which acts as a motivational factor rather than being a deterrence.

References

Chun, R. (2020). Female fugitives: Why is pink-collar crime on the rise? The Guardian. Web.

Estrada, F., Nilsson, A., & Pettersson, T. (2019). The female offender  A century of registered crime and daily press reporting on womens crime. Nordic Journal of Criminology, 20(2), 138-156. Web.

Organized crime is one of the forms of offenses that groups of people conduct. It involves wrongdoings as bribery, theft, violence, kidnapping, fraud, and murder. Organized crime groups have their hierarchy, and it is essential to have a leader within the group. This leader acts as a headliner and guides the group on crimes they must jointly commit (Lampe, 2016). People who obey the leader should report all the organizations actions.

Moreover, ethnicity is an essential factor that plays a significant role in shaping organized crime groups. People of similar nationality and race are more likely to trust someone from the same ethnicity and mistrust others (Lampe, 2016). It is also essential to denote differences in organized crimes. Transnational organized crime is another type of offense where illegal groups act irrespective of geographical location. Compared to domestic crime organizations, transnational crimes are not limited to the boundaries of a single country (Lampe, 2016). In addition, the character of crimes also differs; transnational offenders are interested in economic gains and commit crimes connected with monetary benefits. Still, there are leaders and subordinates in international crimes, and it is similar to all organized crime groupings.

Mr. Bigs activity is related to organized crime due to several factors. He has an organized group that includes Mr. Muscle, Mr. Accountant, and Mrs. Mayor, who are aware of illegal actions and facilitate the continuation of offenses. The hierarchy, where Mr. Big is a headliner, is seen in the interaction of this group. Moreover, Mr. Big commits financial machinations and has illegal incomes through robbing governmental money reserves. Therefore, the activity of Mr. Big and his group is offensive and unlawful.

Facts

When union members refuse to make cash payments or pay exorbitant dues, Mr. Muscle or one of his associates pays them a home call. They are complemented and told of the tragedy that would ensue if anything happened to them. In the absence of money, arson and violence will erupt. When dissatisfied union members contact law enforcement with information about the crimes, the organization is immediately alerted, and Mr. Muscles squad is summoned.

The difficulties, as well as the witnesses, vanish. This action answers the challenges at hand and acts as a deterrence to similar unsatisfied members in the future. Rival sanitation and transportation unions have attempted to force elections on occasion to gain a footing in the representation of various groups of municipal employees. Mysterious accidents have often befallen the union leaders of these organizations.

Additionally, Mr. Accountant established a financial investment business to manage the funds embezzled from the union Pension and Welfare fund. Mr. Accountant generates fictitious account statements in the corporations name, falsely indicating that the funds used to fuel criminal activities are actively invested in stocks and bonds. Mrs. Mayor is responsible for establishing local labor and union rules that are complicated and difficult to comply with from a rival unions standpoint.

Law

The intergovernmental body, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), was founded at the G7 summit in Paris in 1989 to rising public concern about illegal money laundering. Not international law, but a set of generally accepted global principles based in part on United Nations (UN) agreements and Security Council decisions, the Recommendations are RICO, enacted in 1970, is a federal law designed to combat organized crime in the United States. Criminal and civil responsibility for racketeering acts performed as part of a continuing criminal enterprise is established under this legislation. Illegal gambling, bribery, abduction, murder, money laundering, counterfeiting, embezzlement, drug trafficking, and slavery are all examples of this kind of activity.

Legally Prohibited Activities

It is illegal to use or invest any part of proceeds from the collection of an unlawful debt in which people participating as principals was involved under section 2 of title 18 of the United States Code in the acquisition of any interest in, or the establishment or operation of any business by anyone who has derived income from a pattern or practice of racketeering activity or such activity. As a result of this prohibition, it is illegal for anybody to acquire and keep control of any business that engages or impacts interstate or international trade. Any employee or associate of a company involved in, or whose actions impact, interstate or international trade is prohibited from engaging in racketeering activity or criminal debt collection in any way. Subsections and of this sections paragraph prohibit anybody from conspiring to violate any of these requirements.

Charges against Individuals: Mr. Big

He violates Section 659, which is related to the theft from an international shipment. Moreover, his activity violates Section 1344 concerning fraud with financial organizations. He also misinterprets Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which concerns monetary corruption and criminal economic activities. Accordingly, Mr. Big gathered a criminal organized group motivated by financial benefits and violated Section 848 concerning setting up a group for illegal purposes.

Mrs. Mayors

He was found guilty of racketeering by the judges order. In the United States, a racketeering offense is defined as any act or threat involving theft, corruption, or dealing in a controlled substance or listed chemical (as defined by Sections 102 and 103 of the Controlled Substances Act), which is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year under State law. Sections 201 (bribery) and 224 (extortion) may be implicated in any action or threat.

Mr. Muscle

Counterfeiting and theft from interstate shipments are violations of Sections 471, 472, and 473 (counterfeiting), as well as Section 659 (theft from an interstate shipment). Among the many sections of the bill that deal with extortionate credit transactions, extortionate credit transactions, identity theft, fraud and related activity involving identification documents, and fraud and related activity involving access devices, are sections 664, 891894, 1028, 1029, 1084, 1341, and 1343 (obscene matter).

Mr. Accountant

He violated sections 1510 (obstruction of criminal investigations), 1511 (obstruction of state or local law enforcement), 1512 (tampering with a witness, victim, or informant), 1513 (retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant), 1542 (false statement in passport application and use), and 1543 (forgery) for his involvement in obstruction of justice (peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons). Interference with commerce, theft, or extortion, racketeering, interstate transportation of wagering paraphernalia, illicit welfare fund payments, and participating in monetary transactions in derelict property are all covered under sections 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1957 (embezzlement from union funds).

Investigative Strategy

Examine Social History

• Conduct interviews with family members and get records release forms:
  • Mrs. Mayor,
  • Mayors (sister), identical to the mother.
  • Mayors (father).
  • Mr. muscular Client, Jr. (brother), identical to father.
  • Mr. Accountants close associates.
• Acquire bank and corporate records:
  • Bank account status.
  • Financial records of the business.
  • Clientele of the business.
• Identify and interview union members:
  • Inquire about union membership plans.
  • Conduct interviews with union members.
  • Conduct interviews with casual union employees.
• Obtain records of prior court lawsuits brought against the union:
  • Obtain court records about union cases.
  • Conduct interviews with members who have previously filed lawsuits.
• Obtain all available tax and financial information for the town
  • Interview any town employees.
• Obtain all Mr. Muscles judicial records
  • Investigate union money laundering, drug, and human trafficking allegations.
• Create a preliminary life chronology and social history for each suspect.
  • Investigate social media accounts.

Conducting interviews might facilitate investigation of the case due to a variety of information from different interviewed members. However, it is not excluded that family members of convicted persons will tell a lie to confuse the police and mistreat existing facts intentionally. The abovementioned methods will help to understand which money operations were made to trace the financial flow. However, members of the crime group might cover their money transactions and use cash to guise a significant part of the money.

Investigate and Prosecute Alleged Crime

• Review of all past court records, recover papers, and conduct interviews with former attorneys:
• Obtain copies of the original case files from previous defense investigators/experts.
• Conduct a review of any town, court cases, and media for information on the following:
  • Mrs. Mayor.
  • Accountant.
• Collect all newspaper reports on witnesses and crimes; do a selective media search for pertinent information about state agencies/witnesses:
  • Confederation.
  • Anytown.
  • Mrs. Mayor,
  • Money laundering and trafficking in narcotics.
• Searches of the following individuals in federal and state courts:
  • Mrs. Mayor,
  • Accountant, Mr.
  • Mr. Muscle (defense witness).
  • Any manager of a towns wire services (state witness).
  • Cashiers in Anytown (eyewitness).
• Identify, interview, and investigate potential witnesses to crimes:
  • Any cashier who survives a town wire (eyewitness).
• Investigate the events surrounding Mayors Witnesses report a missing person:
  • Obtain police records.
  • Appoint lawyers to handle concerns.
• Conduct investigations into court infractions:
  • Gather documents.
  • Conduct interviews with lawyers engaged.
  • Interrogate witnesses.
  • Interview with the court caseworker/probation officer.
• Determine who the other suspects were and why:
  • Police records.
• Identify the police officers involved in the investigation:
  • Complaints made by union members in court 2. Complaints filed by witnesses.
• Prepare and submit Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for documents held by the federal government:
  • Mrs. Mayor (as a possible suspect).
  • Mr. Muscle (suspect).
  • Accountant, Mr. (Suspect).
  • Are there any others?
• Conduct investigations and prosecute capital charges in any town:
  • How many (and with what evidence) have been tried?

In gathering information, all approaches are hoped to bring results jointly. Thorough research involving police members should facilitate the investigation.

Suggestions and Evidence

In any case, ancillary to or in any civil action brought by the United States under this title, the court may decide whether to open or shut the proceedings to the public, taking into account the rights of affected people.

Requirement for Further Inquiry

A court judge can issue and serve a civil investigative demand on anybody or any business the person suspects may be in possession, custody, or control of documentary materials relevant to an ongoing racketeering investigation if he has reasonable grounds to believe they are.

1. There must be sufficient specificity and certainty in each demand to allow such material to be reasonably identified, as well as a return date that provides a reasonable amount of time for its return.
2. The nature of the alleged racketeering violation under investigation, as well as the applicable law, must be stated in each such demand.

References

European Commission. (n.d.). Commission Directive 2001/97/EC. EUR-Lex  Access to European Union law. Web.

Lampe, K. (2016). An introduction to the study of organized crime. SAGE Publications.

U.S. Department of Justice (2020). 9-105.000  Money laundering.

Crime and criminals have been in existence for as long as man has been. However, there is no distinct line dividing men as either being criminals or virtuous (Darrow & Baatz, 2009). Siegel (2010) defines crime as any act that is forbidden by the law of the land, and should be sufficiently serious to call for penalties for its commission. Surprisingly, punishment for a crime is not so much because the act is good or bad but due to the fact that a law has been violated. Virtually all countries of the world have varying rates and types of crimes within and sometimes across the boarders. There are numerous crimes committed in the United States of America and may vary from state to state (Jebb, 2011). This report will focus on crime in Virginia in terms of the nature and trends of crime in the state. These will then be compared with national trends. A historical analysis of the crime trends, peaks, valleys, and plateaus of crime trends by year will also be provided. The differences and similarities between crime trends in Virginia and national figures will be explained using relevant theories. The report will also describe and explain regional differences within Virginia. The possible real solutions to some of the crime problems in Virginia will then be suggested.

Nature of Crime in Virginia

In terms of population, Virginia is the 12^th largest state in America with a total number estimated as about 8 million people (Shahidullah, 2008). It is bordered to the east by Washington, D.C. and to the north by Maryland State; by the Atlantic Ocean to the east. North Carolina and Tennessee is to the south of Virginia while Kentucky is found on the western border of the state. West Virginia is to the north and west. The state of Virginia has five major geographical regions. From the west, there is Cumberland Plateau, Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge Mountains, Piedmont, and Tidewater to the east (Paynich & Hill, 2009). According to the 2010 census, non-Hispanic White constitutes the largest proportion, about 64.8%, of the population in Virginia. Black or African American, on the other hand, constitutes about 19.4%.

Crime Trends in Virginia versus National Trends

A number of reports and media services have pointed out the rise in violent crime across American states as well as the apparent change in the trends of crime since 2005 (Paynich & Hill, 2009). The number of violent crimes reported in the US increased for the second consecutive year in 2006. This was experienced for the first time since the early 1990s. According to a report released by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), violent crime increased by about 2.3% in America in 2005 (2006). The same report indicated an increase of 3.4% in murders, a 3.9% increase in robberies, as well as a 1.8% increase in the number of aggravated assaults. It was only the rate of forcible rapes that went down by 1.2% (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2006).

According to recent reports, the statistics for 2006 show a continued increase. Violent crime has risen by 1.9% relative to the number in 2005 (FBI, 2007). Robbery offenses have remained to be the one with the largest percentage increase at 7.2%. Similar reports show that murder went up by 1.8% in 2006. However, aggravated assaults and forcible rapes reduced by 0.2% and 2.0% respectively.

When the reports indicated the increase in crime in 2005, the monitoring of crime trends was prioritized by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). Following a violent crime summit held in august 2006 by the leaders, it was agreed that there was a clear surge in violence in the US (PERF, 2006). Preliminary statistics on crime were collected in 2006 from 56 law enforcement agencies in America.

Virginia Crime Trends: 1995-2004

Crime trends in Virginia have been documented and analyzed against those of the neighboring states as well as those of the nation at large. Since 1995, the trends of violent and property crimes in Virginia have been found to be significantly lower than the national rates and the rates of all except two of the bordering states (Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), 2005). Reports indicates that the rates of violent and property crimes have decreased by about 25% in Virginia since 1995 (2005).

Crime reporting is crucial in determining its trends over a given period of time. Virginia reports 100% of its crime data to the federal Uniform Crime Report (UCR) system (Roberts, 2005). This is achieved by using incident-based reporting (IBR) format which the state adopted in 1999. According to a report by FBI, the rate of violent crime in Virginia and the U.S from 1999 to 2008 decreased by about 19% and 13% respectively (Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), 2009). Violent crime rate is defined as the number of crimes reported per 100,000 population. Virginia recorded a decrease of 5% in violent crime rate between 2007 and 2008 while the national rate decreased by about 3%. It was in 2008 that Virginia experienced the lowest violent crime rate of all neighboring states and the U.S as shown in Table 1 below. Virginia was ranked 41 out of 50 (Jebb, 2011).

Violent Index Crime Rate

Percentage Change by State and Year

Table 1

Virginia Violent Index Crime Rate by Offense Type, 1999-2008

According to a report by the Department of Criminal Justice System(DCJS), the total index crime rates in Virginia decreased significantly from 1999 to 2008 (13.3) and between 2007 and 2008 (5.1) (2009). Furthermore, murder as well as forcible rape offense rates went down in the same period. It was observed that robbery was the only violent offense rate that rose over the decade period 1999-2008 especially in 2004 (2009). Robbery crime rate, however, declined between 2007 and 2008. The aggravated assault rate decreased over the 10-year period 1999 to 2008 as well as from 2007 to 2008. This recorded the largest rate decline of all the violent offenses. The findings are summarized in Table 2 below.

Percentage Change

Table 2

Virginia Violent Index Crime Rate by Region, 1999-2008

According to the Department of Criminal Justice System, the statewide violent index crime rate was 295.9 in 1999 and 256.4 ten years later (2009). This represented a 13% decline from that of 1999. The same report indicates that the violent index crime rate decreased across all regions of Virginia apart from Valley and West Central regions. The report also shows that in 1999 and 2008, the highest violent index crime rate was in Hampton Roads. The Northern region, on the other hand, recorded the lowest violent index crime rate in the same period. The table below shows the distribution of violent index crime rate by region, 1999-2008.

Violent Index Crime Rate by Region, 1999-2008

Table 3

Virginia Property Index Crime Rate, 1999-2008

According to the report released by the FBI, property index crime rates have been decreasing in Virginia as well as the U.S. since 1999. Property index crimes have been defined in the U.S. to include burglary, motor vehicle theft, and larceny while property crime rate refers to the number of property crimes that are reported per 100,000 population (DCJS, 2009). Statistics indicate that the property index crime rate in Virginia declined by almost 18% and by about 14% nationally between 1999 and 2008(). There was an increase of about 2% in the property index crime rate in Virginia from 2007 to 2008. Similar trends were experienced in three other states in the same time frame. In 2008, Virginia was ranked 39 out of 50 as far as property index crime rate is concerned. Table 4 below depicts the distribution of property index crime rate percentage change by state and year.

Property Index Crime Rate Percentage Change by State and Year

Table 4

From the table above, it is evident that the lowest property index crime rate (-17.7) was reported in Virginia in 2008.

Virginia Property Index Crime Rate by Offense Type, 1999-2008

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice System reported that the total property index crime rate declined by about 15% between 1999 and 2008 and increased by nearly 2% from 2007 to 2008 (2009). This was largely due to the increase in larcenies. Over the ten-year period, all property crime index rates went down across Virginia with motor vehicle theft rate having the largest reduction. There was significant change in the burglary rate in Virginia between 2007 and 2008. On the other hand, motor vehicle theft rate decreased by nearly 7% and larceny rate went up by almost 3% over the one-year period.

Virginia Property Index Crime Rate by Offense Type and Year

Percentage Change

Table 5

Virginia Property Index Crime Rate by Region, 1999-2008

According to the Department of Criminal Justice System, the statewide property index crime rate was 2,948.5 in 1999 and 2,500.2 in 2008 (2009). This represented a decrease of 15% over the ten-year period. All except the Southwest, West Central and Southside regions in Virginia recorded a decrease in the property index crime rate over the decade. Southwest region reported the lowest property index crime rate in while the highest was in Hampton Roads in 1999. Ten years later, Eastern region recorded the lowest property index crime rate as Hampton Roads still registering the highest. The results are tabulated below.

Virginia Property Index Crime Rate by Region, 1999-2008

Table 6

The major causes for the notable increases in the levels of crime over the recent years in most states of the nation are not obvious as one may think. A number of reasons to explain this rise may be suggested. There has also been a shift in what should take priority where attention has moved to counterterrorism issues to more criminal gangs, weapons, and junior violent offenders on city streets (Jebb, 2011).

When determining and interpreting the correlates of violent crime, it is important to know what matters (Chilton & Regoeczi, 2007). Researchers have used National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) counts as well as census data to compare the economic and social predictors of victim and offender rates. These two options will help in understanding the causes of various crimes and its victims.

The report has elaborately discussed crime in Virginia in terms of the nature and trends of crime in the state. An attempt to compare the findings with national trends has been made. A historical analysis of the crime trends, peaks, valleys, and plateaus of crime trends by year has also been provided. The differences and similarities between crime trends in Virginia and national figures have been presented and explained.

References

Chilton, R., & Regoeczi, W. C. (2007). Impact of Employment, Family Structure, and Income on NIBRS Offense, Victim, Offender, And Arrest Rates. Justice Research and Policy, 9(2), 9-29.

Darrow, C., & Baatz, S. (2009). Crime: its causes and treatment. Kaplan Publishing

Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) (2005). Virginia Crime Trends: 1995-2004. Criminal Justice Research Center.

Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). (2009). Virginia Crime Trends: 1999-2008. Criminal Justice Research Center.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2006). Crime in America. Criminal Justice Research Center.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (2007). Crime Trends in America. Criminal Justice Research Center

Jebb, J. F. (2011). True Crime: Virginia: The states most notorious criminal cases. Stackpole Books.

Paynich, R., & Hill, B. (2009). Fundamental of crime mapping. Jones & Barlett Learning

Roberts, D. (2005). Virginia Incident-Based Crime Reporting. Criminal Justice Research Center.

Shahidullah, S. M. (2008). Crime policy in America: laws, institutions, and programs. University Press of America.

Siegel, L. J. (2010). Essentials of criminal justice (7^th ed.). Cengage Learning.