Violent crime in Arizona rose 13% in 2016, while property crime declined
The violent crime rate in Arizona rose 13 percent in 2016, making it the highest violent crime rate the city has seen in nearly a decade, according to the FBI.
(Flickr photo)
(Flickr photo)
PHOENIX — The violent crime rate in Arizona rose 13 percent in 2016, making it the highest violent crime rate the city has seen in nearly a decade, according to the latest Unified Crime Report data from the FBI.
While the violent crime rate in the state has increased for another year, the bureau found that the rate is still 34 percent less than the highest violent crime rate in Arizona’s history, which was 715 violent offenses per 100,000 residents in 1993.
More specifically, the rates for murder, rape, robbery and assault have all increased in Arizona over 2015, the FBI found.
The murder rate increased from from 4.5 to 5.5 per 100,000 residents, while the rate of rape increased two percent over 2015, from 45.5 to 47.5 per 100,000. Robbery increased from 93.3 to 101.8 and assault increased from 266.9 to 315.4, marking a new high since 2006.
However, the property crime rate in Arizona has declined since 2016, continuing a six-year long trend of declining. In 2016, the property crime rate was 2,978 property crimes per 100,000 residents, the lowest rate since 1961, which had 2,969 crimes per 100,000 residents.
The increase of violent crimes in Arizona, coupled with the decrease in property crimes, has “basically reflect[ed] the same overall crime rate as last year,” the bureau found.
According to a statement from Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, the office is working to “better our partnerships with law enforcement and the community” in order to combat any increase in crime rates.
Under the community-based prosecution model, Montgomery said, officials will increase the number of prosecution bureaus “for a more focused partnership between prosecutors, law enforcement, and business and neighborhood leaders.”
“With our increased focus approach, we will be able to identify individuals or unique local circumstances impacting public safety earlier and not have to wait for an annual report that lags almost a year behind what we see on the ground,” the statement read.
The statement said the approach will be completed in the first week of October.
Related
TSMC Arizona and city of Phoenix schedule semiconductor industry job recruiting event
Man dies after being shot by Chandler police officer
Arizona cartel leader who trafficked guns via Facebook sentenced to 11 years
Music promoter Danny Zelisko lists 2,100 items from his Phoenix archive for charity
Glendale SWAT arrests man with 5 felony warrants after hours-long barricade
Which Arizona cities, counties, law enforcement agencies have stopped using Flock cameras?
Comments
4 Comments
Thanks, Obama. ;-)
The violent crime rate is only going to increase. You can blame social media for at least some of the increase in violence. Several studies have found that violence displayed on social media is perpetuating violence, particularly in young people. No, this isn't the violent video game theory. That was debunked long ago. Social media is real life, not a video game; there's a distinction. People watch violence on social media and are either appalled and turn it off, or they watch the trainwreck in awe. Sometimes, people even root for it, especially if it involves karma. Read the comments on YouTube and tell me I'm wrong. Youngsters hear their parents read, watch something or make comments about slapping the taste out of someone's mouth. The behavior of adults online, making threats to each other. What's a child going to think is ok for them to say and eventually move into action on? Social media is a double-edged sword.
There are some exceptions, but it's certainly not the rule. You have to look across a lot of big cities in CA, AZ, NM, TX and FL to see the correlation not add up. I'm sure there are a fair amount of illegal immigrants committing crimes. It's fault of the federal government failing to enforce laws for decades and giving 7 amnesties to 6 million illegal immigrants since the 80s.
As for teens and young adults, the issue is not alcohol or drug related because statistics have shown that use by teens has plummeted since the early 90s. Alcohol, sex, and drugs are being replaced by social media, video games, and YouTube. There is an increase in bullying. General crimes linked to social media sites went up 780% in 4 years. 9/10 teenagers have witnessed cyber bullying. 77% have experienced it. 35% of youth have been threatened. 33% of those bullied ended up in a physical altercation. Kids are mean little F'ers. And we thought the 80s - early 90s stuffing you in a trash can/locker, being tripped or punched in the face was a tough go.