Ch 7 Crime in AmericaRyan’s Law

The Nature of Crimes• A crime is something one does or fails to do

that is in violation of a law.– …behavior for which gov’t has set a penalty.

• Ideally, the goals of law are to protect human rights for all and to regulate human conduct so that people can live in harmony.

• Turn to page 75 in your textbook – Problem 7.1

Preventing crime is not an easy task.

• About 50% of victims reported crimes against themselves to the police

• Less than 40% reported property crimes

• About 20% lead to an arrest• However, the arrest rate is

considerably higher for violent crimes reported to the police

Causes of Crime• Poverty• Permissive courts• Unemployment• Lack of education• Abuse of alcohol &

drugs• Inadequate police

protection• Rising population

• Lack of parental guidance

• Breakdown in morals

• Ineffective correctional system

• Little chance of getting caught

• Influence of television & films

Would tougher penalties curb crime?The U.S. already has some of thetoughest criminal laws – as well as thehighest incarceration rate – of anyindustrialized nation.

Crimes on CampusTop 5 Universities in the United States

What do you think are the top FIVE most dangerous campuses

in the US?

Crime on Campus5, Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio   Total enrollment: 55,014

Criminal Incidents (most recent 3 calendar years):  Murders: 0  Negligent Homicides: 0  Forcible Rapes: 158  Non-forcible Rapes: 1  Robberies: 36  Aggravated Assaults: 7  Burglaries: 776  Car Thefts: 59  Arsons: 29

Crime on Campus4, University of Wisconsin-Madison  Madison, Wisconsin

Total enrollment: 41,654

Criminal Incidents (most recent 3 calendar years):  Murders: 0  Negligent Homicides: 0  Forcible Rapes: 23  Non-forcible Rapes: 2  Robberies: 22  Aggravated Assaults: 47  Burglaries: 410  Car Thefts: 53  Arsons: 21

Crime on Campus3, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities  Minneapolis, Minnesota

Total enrollment: 51,659

Criminal Incidents (most recent 3 calendar years):  Murders: 1  Negligent Homicides: 0  Forcible Rapes: 48  Non-forcible Rapes: 0  Robberies: 49  Aggravated Assaults: 37  Burglaries: 796  Car Thefts: 63  Arsons: 5

Crime on Campus2, Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois

Total enrollment: 19,853

Criminal Incidents (most recent 3 calendar years):  Murders: 0  Negligent Homicides: 0  Forcible Rapes: 13  Non-forcible Rapes: 0  Robberies: 23  Aggravated Assaults: 16  Burglaries: 615  Car Thefts: 28  Arsons: 3

Crime on Campus1, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor  Ann Arbor, Michigan

Total enrollment: 41,674 

Criminal Incidents (most recent 3 calendar years):  Murders: 1  Negligent Homicides: 0  Forcible Rapes: 119  Non-forcible Rapes: 0  Robberies: 83  Aggravated Assaults: 225  Burglaries: 230  Car Thefts: 142  Arsons: 20

Where we live…

• What do you think is the major crime problem at NWR?

• In our community?• Have most crimes increased or

decreased over the last three years?