Violent misdeeds in America today

Violent crimes in America today

Violent crimes in America today

Introduction

In today's society, violent crime has become an all too common aspect of modern life. What makes a violent individual snap? Among the various explanations for violent crimes are the availability of weapons, human characteristics, a subculture of violence that stresses violent solutions to interpersonal problems, and family conflict. Examples of violent crimes include rape, homicide, assault, robbery and a few others.

Violent Crimes in America Today

Rape has been described all through history, but in today's society, the delineation of rape has changed. Even though close to 100,000 rapes are described to U.S. police each year; studies show that the actual number of rapes is perhaps much higher as many women do not report rapes because they are embarrassed or feel as though nothing can be done. There are numerous forms of rape, including statutory, acquaintance, marital and date rape. Some rapes are planned while others are spontaneous. However, like other violent crimes, the rape rate is in decline. (Hallinan J. 1995)

Murder is defined as the unlawful murdering of a human being with malice aforethought. There are different degrees of murder, and the punishments vary accordingly. Murderers usually have had long involvement in crime and research shows that people who have been arrested for homicide are much more likely to have had prior trouble with the law. One important aspect of murder is that the victim and the accused often know each other. Like rape, the murder rate and the number of annual murders is in decline.

Assault and Battery are two more serious interpersonal violent crimes. These can often occur in the home in the form of child abuse and spousal abuse. Under modern law assault and battery can occur even if no injuries result from the blows. Battery can also involve offensive touching such as a man kissing or touching a woman against her will. (Beaupre, Becky, and Peter Eisler. 1996)

Robbery involves theft by force (or attempted theft), usually in a public place. Robbery is considered a violent crime because it often involves violence in the taking of goods. According to data released by the FBI, reported robbery offenses in 2006 increased in the Nations metropolitan counties; up 8.4% from 2005 while a stunning 12.8% increase was found in cities with populations of 10,000 to 24,999 (FBI).

Newly emerging forms of violent crime include terrorism, hate crimes, stalking and workplace violence. Terrorists are motivated by several factors, such as criminal gain, psychosis, grievance against the state, or ideology (Siegel, 2008). The Department of Homeland Security and FBI have been dealt the task of taking on terrorism in the United States. Iaccept as true, that on numerous events, hate crimes and terrorism can be one in the same. (Benedetto, Richard. 1996)

Violent crime is everywhere. As Americans we have become so used to morbid newscasts and graphic scenes from television that eventually the endless reports of homicides and rapes become nothing more than background noise as we go about our ...