>Users:   login   |  register       > email     > people    


The Many Myths Of Crime And Justice
By Leonard A. Sipes, Jr.
Published: 04/29/2019

Crime scene 3
As someone who has spent decades in the justice system, and after three university degrees, and thirty-five years of being the primary spokesperson for national and state criminal justice agencies, it bothers me that we can’t have an honest conversation about crime and criminal justice issues.

There are myths that are so persuasive that I sometimes don’t mention my background just to avoid conversations.

This all started decades ago when there was a national scare about stranger abductions of children, Washington Post. There were hundreds of articles and news reports of children being snatched by strangers.

But at the time, my law enforcement background told me that this wasn’t true; the overwhelming number of missing children was the result of family members, not strangers.

Crime Policy is Political

We need to understand that crime policy is often political or philosophical in nature. If you believe (and most do) that programs for offenders work to reduce recidivism, then the conversation often turns sour when I suggest that they don’t.

People have an innate and understandable desire to help those caught up in the justice system. But if you believe that “education worked for me, thus education will work for them,” that’s going to be a bedrock belief that will shape how you see the justice system regardless of the evidence.

Just understand that the discredited adult and juvenile boot camp movement also came from “it worked for me, it will work for them,” philosophy.

There are advocates and criminologists with impeccable credentials who will state firmly that (fill in the blank) works regardless as to the evidence that it doesn’t. They do so with passion because their value system mandates embraced philosophies.

The unfortunate part is that they propel policymakers (and like-minded reporters) to enact and write about strategies that are worthless and possibly harmful. Regardless as to your right or left-leaning philosophies, we all hold onto beliefs regardless of the evidence.

Finding Good Programs

I urge anyone contemplating justice solutions to spend time with Crime Solutions.Gov, a credible effort on the part of the US Department of Justice to set the empirical record straight. They offer objective analysis on most proposed crime reduction efforts.

Please note that there are reasons for crime control measures beyond evidence that they work. Adult boot camps have little to offer as to the reduction in recidivism, but they do move lower level offenders through prisons thus freeing up prison beds for more serious offenders.

The research base is simply inadequate. When I entered the justice system, we were promised a new era of research that would guide us through the minefield of social issues and crime. That promise was never fulfilled.

Most Popular Myths

There are immense complexities when studying crime and justice issues. Myths are understandable when you have competing (and credible) sources of information.

School Shootings Are A Recent Phanomium

From The Crime Report: The Columbine High School killings in 1999 seemed to usher in a new era of school shootings. Yet Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox says that school shootings were more frequent in the 1990's than today, the Associated Press reports. From 1991 until the Columbine shooting, an average of 19 fatal school shootings happened each year, with about 22 people killed. In contrast, over the past eight years, an average of about six fatal school shootings happened each year, with about 14 killed. Fox said, “schools are safe, and if you consider the over 50 million schoolchildren and the over 100,000 schools that we have, the risk of a student or a faculty member being killed by gunfire, it’s extremely low,” The Crime Report.

Programs for Offenders Reduce Recidivism

Most programs for offenders do not reduce recidivism, or increase it, or have reductions of ten percent or less. If 90 percent of offenders fail, how does that translate into success? See Offender Recidivism.

Hate Crimes are Exploding

Hate crimes per the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) are declining, see Hate Crimes. We have multiple federal measures of hate crimes, one from the FBI reporting a 17 percent one year increase, and one from the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics stating that hate crimes decreased by close to 90,000 since 2009. Because of their huge database, the BJS data is considered the most reliable.

Violence Is Increasing

America experienced twenty years of decreasing violent crime with increases in recent years. But the primary sources from 2015 to 2018 show mixed results, Crime in the US. Yes, there are cities and metropolitan areas throughout the country where violence is a major problem.

Violence is America’s Primary Crime Problem

Violence may be America’s greatest concern, but twenty-six million Americans are victimized by identity theft, far outstripping the number of violent and property crimes, Identity Theft.

Long Sentences for Violent Offenders

We are endlessly told that the American justice system is overly harsh based on extremely long prison sentences. Per the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, most violent offenders serve three years or less in prison, Violent Offenders-Time Served.

School Shootings Are Exploding

The U.S. Education Department said that in the 2015-2016 school year, “nearly 240 schools … reported at least one incident involving a school-related shooting.” The total is far higher than most other estimates. NPR reached out to every one of those schools and found that more than two-thirds of these reported incidents never happened. Only 11 incidents were confirmed, School Shootings.

Four Or Five Mass Shootings A Year-Not One A Day

While there is an increase in mass shootings, it’s certainly not the one a day figures often promoted by the media. A “mass shooting” is defined as a multiple homicide incident in which four or more victims are murdered with firearms, within one event, and in one or more locations in close proximity. It does not include family-related and other felonies (street crime) events. Some local and national media are still observed that crime in schools was increasing, and there is one mass shooting a day; all of which are incorrect, Mass Shootings.

The United States Is One Of The World’s Most Violent Countries

The United States is one of the world’s safest countries, Safety in America. When you look at individual countries, the United States ranks 35th out of 142 countries measured on Gallup’s Law and Order Index with a score of 84. In fact, many of the 34 countries posting higher scores than the US are small and lacking in the intense multicultural aspects of American life. Generally speaking, traditionally homogeneous societies have less crime. I’m not quite sure that comparing Singapore, Norway or Iceland (top three scoring countries for safety) to the United States indicates a level playing field. Same with Finland, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden and others who had better scores. It would be like comparing Montana to France.

Law Enforcement Solves Most Crimes

Endless television shows portray savvy detectives with endless technology solving all crimes. But less than two in five reported crimes are solved, Crimes Solved.

College Rapes Are High

A new study from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, actually finds that between 1995 and 2013, college-aged women were 1.2 times more likely to experience rape or sexual assault when they were not in college, College Rapes.

Most Citizens Don’t Trust Law Enforcement

There has been an endless stream of negative publicity (some of it deserved) about law enforcement officers regarding police shootings and use of force. But law enforcement is one of the highest rated professions in the US and the World. When I tell police officers this, most don’t believe me. Police agencies are having a hard time retaining and recruiting officers, Trusted Professions.

Other Topics

Crime in America offers data on all the topics below. Use the search button or categories at the bottom of the site.

Ban the Box: Many advocate “Ban the box” shielding criminal histories of job applicants, but the data suggests that it doesn’t work.

Men Have Highest Rates for Violence: We’re told that men have higher rates of crime than women, but it’s just the opposite. The violent victimization rate for males dropped below females in 2015.

Elderly Have Lowest Crime Rates: We’ve been told that the elderly have the lowest rates of crime but rates for property crime, fraud and burglary are all very high for older Americans.

Incarceration: We’re told over the course of decades that we rely too much on prison for those convicted of felonies.

About half (51%) of all defendants had five or more prior arrest charges, and more than a third (36%) had 10 or more. About 3 in 5 defendants had at least one prior conviction.

An estimated 43% of defendants had at least one prior felony conviction.

But only 42 percent of felony convictions result in a sentence to prison.

Victims Support Leniency: Every group advocating for less incarceration or other forms of leniency offer data stating the victims of crime do not want prison for their offenders. Considering that 53 percent of prison inmates are there for violent crimes, and most of the rest have multiple felony arrests or convictions, I believe these reports are disingenuous at best. I’ve worked with victims and their representatives for decades. Not one violent crime victim suggested leniency; victims want justice and accountability for violent and multi-repeat offenders.

Cops as Warriors: President Obama’s recent commission urged cops to be guardians, not warriors. But if an active shooter is in your elementary school, you want officers to have the training, tactics, and weapons (i.e., armored cars) to end the situation quickly. To do this, we have to train and equip them to be warriors. If the public demands protection from active shooters or terrorists, what choice do we have?

Reprinted with permission from https://www.crimeinamerica.net.

Contact us at crimeinamerica@gmail.com or for media on deadline, use leonardsipes@gmail.com.

Leonard A. Sipes, Jr has thirty-five years of experience supervising public affairs for national and state criminal justice agencies. He is the Former Senior Specialist for Crime Prevention for the Department of Justice’s clearinghouse and the Former Director of Information Management for the National Crime Prevention Council. He has a Post Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and is the author of the book "Success With the Media". He can be reached via email at leonardsipes@gmail.com.


Comments:

  1. alinachopralucknow on 04/11/2020:

    Men are being assured to stay highly pleased  being in the cooperation of these Lucknow call girl darlings. The entire romantic times independent Raipur escorts would be blissful enough for customers in having Nagpur escorts any of our girls to be present as their intimate Ranchi escort companions. 

    escorts girls in Lucknow

    escorts in Raipur

    Nagpur Escorts

    Ranchi call girls

  2. Anamika Jaipur on 02/18/2020:

    https://celebritiesfun.net/pushkar-escorts/ https://celebritiesfun.net/bani-park-escorts/ https://celebritiesfun.net/ajmer-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/salasar-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/udaipur-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/jodhpur-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/civil-line-jaipur-escorts/ https://celebritiesfun.net/durgapura-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/jaisalmer-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/mansarovar-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/escorts-service-ludhiana-call-girl/

  3. Anamika Jaipur on 02/18/2020:

    Hello, I am Anamika, I have provide the escort service in Ajmer at very low price. I have listed Genuine escorts. We have many types of call girls as your choice in Ajmer https://celebritiesfun.net/pushkar-escorts/ https://celebritiesfun.net/bani-park-escorts/ https://celebritiesfun.net/ajmer-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/salasar-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/udaipur-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/jodhpur-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/civil-line-jaipur-escorts/ https://celebritiesfun.net/durgapura-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/jaisalmer-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/mansarovar-escorts-service/ https://celebritiesfun.net/escorts-service-ludhiana-call-girl/

  4. locatmanecars01 on 01/30/2020:

    Location de voiture avec chauffeur Casablanca Location de voiture avec chauffeur Agadir Location de voiture avec chauffeur Marrakech Location de voiture pas cher Casablanca Location de voiture pas cher Agadir Location de voiture pas cher Marrakech Cheap car rental Casablanca Cheap car rental Marrakech Cheap car rental Agadir Car rental with driver Casablanca Car rental with driver Agadir Car rental with driver Marrakech rent car in Casablanca Services de location voitures Casablanca Agence de location de voiture Casablanca Location voiture Agadir rent car hyundai Marrakech cheap car rental Agadir clio car rental agadir Long Term Car Rental in Casablanca Casablanca airport transfer Rent a car in Casablanca Car rental Casablanca airport 4×4 rental at Casablanca Airport 4 wheel drive rental Casablanca Luxury car rental in Casablanca Economy car rental Casablanca Transfert aéroport Casablanca Navette aéroport Agadir Location 4×4 Casablanca aéroport Location Voiture de luxe Casablanca Location voiture économique Casablanca Car rental Casablanca airport location voiture Casablanca location voiture Casablanca aéroport location voiture Agadir aéroport Location Mercedes Casablanca تأجير مرسيدس الدار البيضاء Car rental Mercedes-Benz Casablanca Location BMW Casablanca تأجير بي ام دبليو الدار البيضاء BMW Rental Casablanca Location Jeep Grand Cherokee Casablanca تأجير جيب جراند شيروكي الدار البيضاء Location Jeep Renegade Casablanca تأجير جيب رينيجيد الدار البيضاء Rent a car Jeep Renegade Casablanca Location voiture Peugeot Marrakech Location voiture Marrakech Location voiture Marrakech aéroport Location voiture Hyundai Elantra Marrakech Location Hyundai Elantra Casablanca Location Hyundai Elantra Agadir Location Hyundai Accent Marrakech Location Hyundai Accent Agadir Location Hyundai Accent Casablanca Location voiture Marrakech Skoda octavia Location Skoda Octavia Agadir Location Skoda Casablanca Location voiture de luxe Marrakech Location voiture de luxe Agadir Location voiture de luxe Casablanca Location Range Rover Marrakech Location Range Rover Agadir Location Range Rover Casablanca Location Range Rover Évoque Marrakech Location Range Rover Évoque Agadir Location Range Rover Évoque Casablanca Location Range Rover Sport Agadir Location Range Rover Sport Marrakech Location Range Rover Sport Casablanca location Volkswagen Golf 7 Agadir location Volkswagen Golf 7 Marrakech location Volkswagen Golf 7 Casablanca location Volkswagen Golf 7 Casablanca Location BMW Agadir Location BMW Casablanca Location voiture diesel Marrakech Location voiture diesel Agadir Location voiture diesel Casablanca Location Mercedes Marrakech Location Mercedes Agadir Location Mercedes Casablanca Location Jeep Grand Cherokee Casablanca Location Jeep Grand Cherokee Agadir Location Jeep Grand Cherokee Marrakech Location voiture sport Marrakech Location voiture sport Agadir Location voiture sport Casablanca Location voiture Toyota Yaris Marrakech Location voiture Toyota Yaris Casablanca Location 4x4 de luxe Marrakech Location Jetta Volkswagen Marrakech location voiture VW Jetta Agadir location Volkswagen Jetta Casablanca Location Clio 4 Marrakech Location Clio 4 Casablanca Location Clio 4 Agadir Location voiture avec chauffeur Marrakech Location voiture avec chauffeur Casablanca Location voiture avec chauffeur Agadir Location Voiture Ouarzazate Location voiture Essaouira Location Voiture Porsche Cayenne Maroc Location Voiture Porsche Panamera Maroc Location porche Marrakech Location voiture pas cher Marrakech Location voiture pas cher Agadir Location voiture pas cher Casablanca تـأجير الرنج روفر سبورت اكادير تـأجير الرنج روفر سبورت مراكش تأجير سيارات رنج روفر سبورت الدار البيضاء تأجير بي ام دبليو مراكش تأجير بي ام دبليو الدار البيضاء تأجير بي ام دبليو اكادير تأجير مرسيدس الدار البيضاء تأجير مرسيدس اكادير تأجير مرسيدس مراكش تأجير رينج روڤر فوج اغادير تـأجير الرنج روفر ايفوك مراكش تـأجير الرنج روفر ايفوك الدار البيضاء تأجير السيارات اغادير تأجير السيارات مطار أڭادير ايجار السيارات اكادير تأجير السيارات مطار أغادير المسيرة تـأجير السيارات الدار البيضاء تأجير السيارات الدار البيضاء إيجار السيارات كازابلانكا كراء السيارات الدار البيضاء تاجير السيارات كازا تأجير السيارات كازا المطار محمد الخامس تأجير السيارات كازا المطار تـأجير السيارات مراكش المطار تـأجير السيارات مراكش تـأجير السيارات مراكش تـأجير السيارات مطار مراكش تأجير السيارات ورزازات مكتب تأجير السيارات الفخمة بالمغرب تأجير السيارات الفاخرة المغرب تأجير السيارات على المدى الطويل كازا تأجير السيارات مطار الدار البيضاء تأجير السيارات الفاخرة في كازابلانكا تأجير سيارات الدفع الرباعي مطار كازا تأجير السيارات الإقتصادية الدار البيضاء تأجير السيارات كازا المطار محمد الخامس تاجير سيارات افراح و زفاف اكادير تأجير السيارات اكادير ايجار سيارات في اغادير تاجير السيارات اكادير تأجير سيارات رخيصة مراكش تأجير سيارات رخيصة اكادير تأجير سيارات رخيصة الدار البيضاء تأجير سيارات رخيصة الدار البيضاء تأجير السيارات الرخيصة أكادير تأجير السيارات الرخيصة مراكش تأجير سيارة مع سائق الدار البيضاء تأجير سيارة مع سائق مراكش تأجير سيارة مع سائق اكادير Société de sécurité Agadir Nettoyage restaurant Agadir Nettoyage hôtel Agadir Société de sécurité Agadir société de gardiennage Agadir Société de gardiennage Marrakech Société de jardinage Marrakech Nettoyage fin de chantier Agadir Nettoyage fin de chantier Marrakech Nettoyage vitres Agadir Nettoyage vitres Marrakech Nettoyage bureaux Agadir Société de surveillance Agadir maître-chien Marrakech Agent cynophile Agadir Agence location voiture Maroc Location voiture Maroc Location Voiture Marrakech Aéroport Location Voiture Marrakech Aéroport location voiture Marrakech Location de Voiture pas cher Maroc Car hire Morocco location voiture Marrakech aeroport voiture de location Maroc location voiture Maroc location 4x4 Casablanca Location voiture Maroc location voiture Marrakech Agadir Casablanca location voitures Marrakech Agadir Casablanca location voiture Maroc location voitures Maroc location voiture marrakech locatmane cars Location voiture Maroc, Marrakech, Agadir et Casablanca Location voiture Casablanca Location voiture Maroc Location voiture Casablanca Location voitures Maroc Car rental Morocco location 4x4 de luxe maroc Car rental Morocco location voiture Agadir Location voiture Maroc location 4x4 de luxe Maroc Référencement Web Agadir location voiture luxe Maroc location voiture agadir al massira location voiture Maroc location voitures Marrakech Location voiture Maroc Morocco rent a car Louer une voiture Maroc location de voiture Agadir, Marrakech et Casablanca louer une voiture Maroc rent a car Casablanca Location voiture Casablanca Morocco car hire location 4x4 Maroc Locatmane cars Location voitures à Casablanca, Agadir et Marrakech

  5. Aarushi Khanna on 01/06/2020:

    Aarushi Khanna Offer The Affordable, cheap rate high-class sensual independent escorts services in Jaipur for sex of providing the best sexy Independent escort for the clients about Enjoy of erotic entertainment with very hot Sexy call girls in Jaipur. Ludhiana Escorts Mohali Escorts Zirakpur Call Girls Jaipur Escorts Hyderabad Call Girls Ahmedabad Call Girls Goa Call Girls Chandigarh Call Girls Lucknow Call Girls

  6. Cassylyn on 11/22/2019:

    Great article!Thank you for sharing this information. | official random number generator

  7. ankita555 on 09/06/2019:

    Amazing post I am really impressed by your blog. I enjoyed reading it Dehradun Escorts Sarita Vihar Escorts Ahmedabad Escorts Dehradun Escort

  8. ankita555 on 09/06/2019:

    Escort service in Dehradun

  9. ankita555 on 09/06/2019:

    Fulfill your sexual fantasy with Dehradun escorts at https://www.ankita-sharma.biz/dehradun-escorts/

  10. ankita555 on 09/06/2019:

    We provide you secure and safe escort services in Dehradun for your real pleasure and full on enjoyment. Visit at Dehradun Escorts

  11. Danielperez on 07/15/2019:

    I'm impressed with your work in writing this brilliant article of yours. Thanks for sharing with us! |deanhineslawyer.com

  12. mitzayapa on 06/13/2019:

    Comprueba los mejores batidos de proteina a traves del siguente enlace.

  13. louis2415 on 06/11/2019:

    Great posts! Very informative about the efforts of the Justice Department get data and find solutions to the crimes. watersoftenergurus.com/

  14. Daniel on 06/07/2019:

    https://edex.adobe.com/member/va2868e48

  15. Daniel on 06/07/2019:

    Good information https://edex.adobe.com/member/va2868e48

  16. run3 on 06/04/2019:

    The content is quite elaborate and detailed, but I think it needs more practical elements to attract readers' attention, thank you for sharing this article. Temple run

  17. casseverhart13 on 05/30/2019:

    I have recently been looking for facts about this subject for ages..... tow

  18. Alyia Sharma on 05/09/2019:

    Chandigarh escorts service offering high-class model Call Girls in Chandigarh available 24/7 hours to make your sexual demand complete. Chandigarh Escorts | Jalandhar Escorts Service | Ludhiana Escorts

  19. Tanu Sharma on 05/08/2019:

    Beautiful Chandigarh Escorts providing services in India. Daily updated Ads with companion girls quality photos, rates and services offered. Jalandhar Escorts | Dehradun Escorts

  20. Samuel on 05/07/2019:

    Appropriate information on your blog you've got accumulated. Thank you a lot in your posting.https://whatisahoverboard.tumblr.com/

  21. alvinrr on 05/02/2019:

    I love the way you write and share your niche! Very interesting and different! Keep it coming!

    Try one of our classic games candy crush


Login to let us know what you think

User Name:   

Password:       


Forgot password?





correctsource logo




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of The Corrections Connection User Agreement
The Corrections Connection ©. Copyright 1996 - 2024 © . All Rights Reserved | 15 Mill Wharf Plaza Scituate Mass. 02066 (617) 471 4445 Fax: (617) 608 9015