NCJ Number
46438
Date Published
1978
Length
38 pages
Annotation
AFTER CITING STATISTICS SHOWING THAT CRIME AFFECTS BLACKS FAR OUT OF PROPORTION TO THEIR NUMBERS IN THE POPULATION, A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS IS MADE FOR IMPROVING THE UNDERLYING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
Abstract
STATISTICS SHOW THAT NOT ONLY ARE BLACKS FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED FOR CRIME, BUT BLACKS ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS. ACCORDING TO FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ARREST STATISTICS FOR 1976, BLACKS CONSTITUTED 25.3 PERCENT OF ALL ARRESTS IN THE U.S. AND 53.5 PERCENT OF ALL ARRESTS FOR MURDER AND NONNEGLIGENT MANSLAUGHTER. BLACKS CONSTITUTED 47.5 PERCENT OF ALL ARRESTS FOR VIOLENT CRIME AND 30.9 PERCENT OF ALL ARRESTS FOR PROPERTY CRIME. A VICTIMIZATION SURVEY CONDUCTED FOR LEAA BY THE U.S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS IN 1973 FOUND THAT BLACK MALES HAD A VICTIMIZATION RATE OF 85 PER 1,000, COMPARED TO 75 PER 1,000 FOR WHITE MALES. BLACK HOUSEHOLDS HAD HIGHER BURGLARY RATES, AND BLACKS WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF RAPE, ROBBERY, OR ASSAULT. THIS PERVADING ATMOSPHERE OF CRIME HAS HAD PROFOUND NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON BLACK FAMILY AND PERSONAL LIFE, ESPECIALLY IN THE INNER CITY. TO MAKE ANY MEANINGFUL REDUCTION IN CRIME RATES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST WORK TOWARD REDUCING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS UNDERLYING THIS CRIME. IT MUST DEVIATE FROM ITS TRADITIONAL RELIANCE SOLELY ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A MEANS OF CRIME CONTROL. AREAS WHICH SHOULD BE ATTACKED INCLUDE: (1) MAKING ALL LEVELS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AWARE OF THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL POLICIES ON CRIME-RELATED SOCIAL CONDITIONS; (2) REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS STRONGLY CORRELATED WITH CRIME RATES; (3) PROVIDING ADEQUATE AND DECENT HOUSING, THUS REDUCING POPULATION DENSITY WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH CRIME; (4) REVITALIZING THE CITIES; (5) PROMOTING BLACK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THUS REDUCING TEMPTATION FOR CRIME; (6) IMPROVING HEALTH CARE; (7) PROVIDING ADEQUATE DRUG TREATMENT AND ENFORCEMENT; (8) INSTITUTING HANDGUN CONTROL TO ELIMINATE ACCIDENTAL AS WELL AS INTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS; (9) REDUCING TELEVISION VIOLENCE; (10) IMPROVING EDUCATION; (11) INCREASING APPREHENSION OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS WHOSE FRAUDS AND UNLAWFUL BUSINESS PRACTICES TAKE AN ESPECIALLY HEAVY TOLL AMONG THE POOR; (12) ENFORCING CIVIL RIGHTS; (13) PROMOTING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS; (14) RESTRUCTURING LOCAL CRIME CONTROL GRANTS TO INCLUDE BLACKS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS; AND (15) INCLUDING A SURVEY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND CRIME IN THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON CRIME IN THE MINORITY COMMUNITY. THESE PROBLEMS ARE CALLED CONTRIBUTING, IF NOT CAUSATIVE, FACTORS OF CRIME AMONG BLACKS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)