Why Crime Has been Decreasing
Math 30-2 Research Project
History
shows we have statistics for everything; in fact, I can’t think of anything we
wouldn’t use statistics for. For example, which gender causes the most
accidents within a certain age group, retail sales trends, and population
comparisons from country to country, which model of cars are selling in a
particular year, and the list goes on. Crime rate increases/decreases from year
to year are no exception but what we will never be able to know unequivocally
and with one hundred percent certainty is why, in a decade, crime would
increase or decrease.
There
are theories, theories that would suggest we’ve made increases from our tax
dollars to hire more police officers and make them visible on the street,
better teaching methods to help those officers perform their duty, better
security from home alarm systems, etc. Another theory that is getting a lot
attention these days is social media. We all heard stories of how facebook has
helped catch people on the run from someone who has just committed a crime. The
police call it vigilantism and warn people not to get involved but can anyone
really stop this new generation of young people so obsessed and dependant on
cyberspace that it’s literally reshaped everything we do today? That’s only one
of the dangers of our modern tech world. Our tech world with tablets, cell
phones, computers, and video game have made this new generation addicted to all
the newest and greatest advancements in technology. Phone plans with unlimited
access to videos and texting has made communication become almost a thing of
the past. Who can blame them when video
games are so real and lifelike one might think you’re actually there. If you’re
socially awkward, it’s a great place to change their real world into the
fantasy they could only dream of being part of.
Some research has suggested, “the proof is in the pudding,” so to speak;
video sales appear to have correlated with the drop of influential criminal
activities stemming from the use of drugs or violent outburst that could lead
some to act out their aggression, physically. A coincidence?..- Maybe…but think
back to a time before we had video
games when young people were influenced by their peers to act out on their
emotions or from simply being bored. For
years, video games have been criticized for causing violent urges and then
acting on them but what if consideration was given to whether video games could
actually aid in refocusing that behaviour by acting out their fantasy in a more
controlled environment that is safe for everyone. In the fantasy world, you can
do as much damage as you want without actually hurting anyone or causing any
actual property damage; basically, it’s causing trouble without actually having
to legally be responsible for what you did. Kids are spending more time in
doors with friends playing these games where they would otherwise be on the
street. Even kids who are alone most of the time because both their parents
work are staying home more often which is great for the parents to know where
their kids are spending their time at.
There
are some drawbacks to all these great technical advancements, some kids are soo
obsessed that it can cause kids to do nothing else with their time except to
play these games; what about helping around the house, getting a job and
earning extra pay to buy these games instead of leaving it up to the parents to
buy them and then there is homework. It’s agreed that’s it’s a great
distraction, but how do we know which kids will or won’t continue with their
life responsibilities; well, I guess it’s like everything else that distract us
from life, we’re all prone to anyone of these depending on the distraction that
we choose to engage in. It’s always going to be about choices in the end and
what we choose to do with those distractions makes us into the people we
become. For now, some believe, evidence isn’t necessary to convince them that
video gaming has become a large part of keeping our streets safer. What do you
think has made our crime rates come down?
Shelley
Page
| 1990 | 3275 | |||||
| 1991 | 3300 | |||||
| 1992 | 3150 | |||||
| 1993 | 3075 | |||||
| 1994 | 3075 | |||||
| 1995 | 3075 | |||||
| 1996 | 3050 | |||||
| 1997 | 2900 | |||||
| 1998 | 2750 | |||||
| 1999 | 2650 | |||||
| 2000 | 2550 | |||||
| 2001 | 2550 | |||||
| 2002 | 2450 | |||||
| 2003 | 2350 | |||||
| 2004 | 2300 | |||||
| 2005 | 2250 | |||||
| 2006 | 2200 | |||||
| 2007 | 2150 | |||||
| 2008 | 2100 | |||||
| 2009 | 2000 |
| 1990 | 260 |
| 1991 | 275 |
| 1992 | 265 |
| 1993 | 260 |
| 1994 | 240 |
| 1995 | 230 |
| 1996 | 200 |
| 1997 | 185 |
| 1998 | 165 |
| 1999 | 145 |
| 2000 | 145 |
| 2001 | 145 |
| 2002 | 145 |
| 2003 | 140 |
| 2004 | 130 |
| 2005 | 135 |
| 2006 | 145 |
| 2007 | 140 |
| 2008 | 140 |
| 2009 | 130 |
| 1991 | 10 |
| 1992 | 9.5 |
| 1993 | 9.75 |
| 1994 | 9 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1996 | 7.75 |
| 1997 | 6.75 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1999 | 5.75 |
| 2000 | 5.5 |
| 2001 | 5.5 |
| 2002 | 5.5 |
| 2003 | 5.5 |
| 2004 | 5.25 |
| 2005 | 5.5 |
| 2006 | 5.5 |
| 2007 | 5.5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 1990 | 41 |
| 1991 | 42 |
| 1992 | 42.5 |
| 1993 | 41 |
| 1994 | 39.5 |
| 1995 | 37.75 |
| 1996 | 37.5 |
| 1997 | 36.75 |
| 1998 | 35 |
| 1999 | 33.5 |
| 2000 | 32.75 |
| 2001 | 32.5 |
| 2002 | 33 |
| 2003 | 32.5 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 32 |
| 2006 | 31 |
| 2007 | 30 |
| 2008 | 29.5 |
| 2009 | 28 |
