8 Crime
Crime From 1950 to 1980: An Overview
During the 1950s, crime rates were stable and low, with violent crime remaining nearly unchanged and property crime only slightly increasing. Some crimes, like homicide, even decreased. However, starting around 1964, crime rates began to rise significantly for both property and violent crimes, leading to a period of intense research and debate about these trends. While the late 1960s and early 1970s saw a clear rise in crime, studies after 1973 show mixed results, leaving the true crime trends still uncertain.
The Criminals
The 1960s saw a notable rise in criminal behavior, particularly among specific demographic groups. The majority of criminals during this time were male, who accounted for 90 percent of violent crime arrests by 1974. Most of these criminals were also young, with a significant increase among those under twenty-five years old. While Black individuals had historically higher arrest rates for violent crimes, the proportion of Black arrests actually decreased from 57 percent in 1954 to 52 percent in 1974.
Homicide, which has reliable historical data, revealed that Black males experienced a significant drop in victimization by 22 percent from 1950 to 1960. This decline was unexpected, especially considering the increase in Black migration to urban areas where homicide rates tend to be higher. However, by 1972, it became far more dangerous to be Black compared to earlier years, with urban living conditions presenting a greater risk of murder than combat for American soldiers in World War II.
Arrest statistics showed that by 1960, Black individuals were arrested for violent crimes at ten times the rate of whites. The period from 1965 to 1970 marked a dramatic surge in crime rates for Black individuals, with an increase in violent crime arrests seven times that of whites. This spike coincided with significant racial unrest, during which many Black individuals rejected white societal norms. Despite the initial context of protests and conflicts, the high crime rates persisted throughout the 1970s, indicating deeper social issues beyond the turmoil of that decade.
The Victims
Victims of crime, particularly poor black victims in inner cities, have been largely overlooked in discussions about the American justice system. Data shows that they suffer more from crime compared to white victims. For instance, in the mid-1960s, while middle-income whites faced a robbery rate of 42 per 100,000, poor blacks experienced a much higher rate of 278. As crime increased in the late 1960s, the effects on poor and especially black communities were far worse than on wealthier whites. This situation is reflected in victimization rates from 1965 to 1979, which indicate that rising crime created a significant "excess" in victims among poor blacks and whites compared to middle-income whites.
On a broader scale, before 1968, federal efforts to combat crime were minimal, primarily focused on the FBI. However, due to increasing crime rates and public demand, the federal government created the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) in 1968. The LEAA aimed to support local law enforcement through grants and research to improve crime control methods. Additionally, there was an ongoing belief that social programs could effectively address crime by targeting its root causes.
By the 1970s, many youth-oriented programs emerged to deal with the changing perception of juvenile delinquency. Federal funding for justice-related efforts rose sharply during this time, indicating a growing commitment to addressing crime and its societal impacts. However, the complexities of allocating funds between crime control and social assistance made measuring the effectiveness of these spending efforts challenging.
Crime From 1950 to 1980: An Overview
During the 1950s, crime rates were stable and low, with violent crime remaining nearly unchanged and property crime only slightly increasing. Some crimes, like homicide, even decreased. However, starting around 1964, crime rates began to rise significantly for both property and violent crimes, leading to a period of intense research and debate about these trends. While the late 1960s and early 1970s saw a clear rise in crime, studies after 1973 show mixed results, leaving the true crime trends still uncertain.
The Criminals
The 1960s saw a notable rise in criminal behavior, particularly among specific demographic groups. The majority of criminals during this time were male, who accounted for 90 percent of violent crime arrests by 1974. Most of these criminals were also young, with a significant increase among those under twenty-five years old. While Black individuals had historically higher arrest rates for violent crimes, the proportion of Black arrests actually decreased from 57 percent in 1954 to 52 percent in 1974.
Homicide, which has reliable historical data, revealed that Black males experienced a significant drop in victimization by 22 percent from 1950 to 1960. This decline was unexpected, especially considering the increase in Black migration to urban areas where homicide rates tend to be higher. However, by 1972, it became far more dangerous to be Black compared to earlier years, with urban living conditions presenting a greater risk of murder than combat for American soldiers in World War II.
Arrest statistics showed that by 1960, Black individuals were arrested for violent crimes at ten times the rate of whites. The period from 1965 to 1970 marked a dramatic surge in crime rates for Black individuals, with an increase in violent crime arrests seven times that of whites. This spike coincided with significant racial unrest, during which many Black individuals rejected white societal norms. Despite the initial context of protests and conflicts, the high crime rates persisted throughout the 1970s, indicating deeper social issues beyond the turmoil of that decade.
The Victims
Victims of crime, particularly poor black victims in inner cities, have been largely overlooked in discussions about the American justice system. Data shows that they suffer more from crime compared to white victims. For instance, in the mid-1960s, while middle-income whites faced a robbery rate of 42 per 100,000, poor blacks experienced a much higher rate of 278. As crime increased in the late 1960s, the effects on poor and especially black communities were far worse than on wealthier whites. This situation is reflected in victimization rates from 1965 to 1979, which indicate that rising crime created a significant "excess" in victims among poor blacks and whites compared to middle-income whites.
On a broader scale, before 1968, federal efforts to combat crime were minimal, primarily focused on the FBI. However, due to increasing crime rates and public demand, the federal government created the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) in 1968. The LEAA aimed to support local law enforcement through grants and research to improve crime control methods. Additionally, there was an ongoing belief that social programs could effectively address crime by targeting its root causes.
By the 1970s, many youth-oriented programs emerged to deal with the changing perception of juvenile delinquency. Federal funding for justice-related efforts rose sharply during this time, indicating a growing commitment to addressing crime and its societal impacts. However, the complexities of allocating funds between crime control and social assistance made measuring the effectiveness of these spending efforts challenging.