Introduction
A violent crime is anything that is done to endanger or hurt another person’s life. For example, murder, rape, armed robbery, and assault are all crimes that fall under this category. Due to a rise in the reportage of violent crimes by both survivors and media sources, it appears that the vast majority of crimes committed in society currently are violent. Even though violent crime has decreased since the late twentieth century, the level of violent crime in the United States remains high (James, 2018). As gunfire rings out in classrooms around the country, one cannot help but think that America is worse violent today than ever. American violence seems to have taken on a new shape in the 21st century. Crime has grown to a problem that touches every age bracket, ethnicity, and individual differences, but the consequence is negative in every instance.
The Rate of Violent Crimes in the United States
Even while many people believe the news media exaggerates the issue of violent crime, the fact remains that violent crime affects many communities throughout the nation and is the sort of crime that Americans are most concerned about (Shepley et al., 2019). A deeper look at society uncovers that violent crime is prevalent for far too many individuals; it confines some individuals to their houses and makes others fearful of allowing their children to play outdoors or even go to school. Many women and children are concerned about rape and sexual assault, and they are more afraid of becoming victims than males (Shepley et al., 2019). By 18, an estimated 12.5% of children in the United States had experienced confirmed child maltreatment (“Violent crime statistics in the U.S.”). At the same time, roughly one in every five women has been the victim of rape (undesired penetration that has been committed or intended) at some time in their lives and has suffered the consequences of such violence.
While violent crime has decreased in the United States since the late 1990s, the US gun homicide rate is several times that of other high-income nations, despite a comparable incidence of nonlethal offenses. Consequently, Americans are 10 times more likely than citizens of other nations to be killed by weapons (“Violent crime statistics in the U.S.”). While murders account for most of these crimes, nearly 60% of them are suicides (“Violent crime statistics in the U.S.”). There has also been a rise in the number of mass shootings.
The Impact of Violent Crimes on the Communities and People
When a violent crime happens, it impacts families, neighborhoods, and communities. Violent crimes inflict both physical and social suffering, including injury, impairment, early death, depression, drug misuse, anxiety, suicide, and suicidal ideation (Shepley et al., 2019). Less physical activity may result from violent crime (James, 2018). Research studies show that children who have been physically abused have a 54% higher risk of depressive disorders and a 92% higher risk of drug use (“Violent crime statistics in the U.S.”). Children who have been subjected to emotional abuse or neglect are more likely to have psychological problems. Problems with income, family, employment, rage, and stress are psychosocial effects connected with childhood violence in adulthood (James, 2018). Overall, violent crime constitutes to further development of an environment prone to violent crime.
Beyond the obvious repercussions of violence, such as physical injuries, the link between violence and infectious illnesses, particularly sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HIV, is well documented (“Violent crime statistics in the U.S.”). James (2018) adds that while compelled sexual intercourse may transfer infectious microorganisms directly, sexual and nonsexual violence is also linked to early sexual debut, many partners, refusal to use protection, and other behaviors that raise the risk of STIs.
Homicide victims, on the other hand, lose their lives, whereas victims of nonfatal violent crime often get injuries that need medical attention and hospitalization (Shepley et al., 2019). Victims of violent crimes may miss work due to their injuries or mental stress, and murder victims’ families lose whatever wages that the victim would have earned had the homicide not happened (Shepley et al., 2019). Many victims of violent crime often have medical expenditures that are not fully covered by their medical insurance.
Challenges the American Criminal Justice System Faces in Addressing Violent Crimes
Many different types of violence are linked individually, in relationships and communities, and even across generations. The way interpersonal violence has traditionally been classified—usually in terms of the connection between the offender and the victim—has hampered attempts to understand, prevent, and react to it (James, 2018). For example, about 1570 children under the age of 18 died due to child maltreatment in 2011; however, it is expected that most cases of child maltreatment went unreported (“Violent crime statistics in the U.S.”). Child abuse may go unnoticed for a long time, eventually leading to death (James, 2018). Adult violence is also underreported, owing to the perpetrator’s connection with the victim.
In addition, the other cause for the underreporting of crime is that reporting platforms are segmented; the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System synthesizes data from numerous channels, but it only addresses fatalities and is presently not functional in all the states (“Violent crime statistics in the U.S.”). Medical, public health, law enforcement agencies, judicial, child protection, educational, penal, and local agencies and groups have not yet developed methods to respond to violence in a comprehensive, synchronized manner.
Summary
In summary, violence seems to have taken on a new form currently in the United States. At some time in their life, one out of every five women has been raped. The gun murder rate in the United States is many times higher than in other high-income countries. Americans are ten times more likely to be murdered by guns than inhabitants of other countries.
References
James, N. (2018). Recent violent crime trends in the United States. Web.
Shepley, M., Sachs, N., Sadatsafavi, H., Fournier, C., & Peditto, K. (2019). The impact of green space on violent crime in urban environments: An evidence synthesis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(24), 5119. Web.
Violent crime statistics in the U.S. (2021). Web.