Crime in the United States Continues To Rise At Alarming Rates
Looking back over the past few generations, it has become painfully obvious that the number of felons continues to rise at a disproportionate rate to the growth of the population. This becomes even more evident when you look at state by state statistics. Why this is happening has long been a topic of discussion amongst criminal justice experts. What remains, however, is the stark reality that the number of individuals incarcerated around the country today is approaching alarming numbers. Let us take a look at some of the factors that have lead us to this point.
Crime Scene Tape photo/edited pic from FBI.gov
States Differ In Their Approaches
It is quite interesting to note that Wisconsin currently has the second highest percentage of incarcerated individuals serving time in the state, yet it is only the twentieth most populous state. The nation’s second most populous state, Texas, has the largest percentage of incarcerated individuals. As you take a look at generational felony statistics, it is important to consider the extent to which individuals are being incarcerated.
Generational Differences Continue to Exist
What is even more alarming is the disparity between the types of crimes being committed by Generations, X, Y, and Z respectively. Some areas of the country are seeing spikes in serious violent crimes, while others are locking up individuals accused of so-called petty drug offenses. This continues to increase the prison population in certain areas of the country, while others are actually experiencing a decrease. The reality is that the percentage convictions should remain rather constant, but they are not.
Status In Society Impacts Conviction Rates
Another telling part of this is reflected in the number of convictions by status. There are fewer people at the upper ends of society being convicted of various crimes, with a disproportionate number of individuals in the lower echelons of the socio-economic class going to prison. Again, since there are more individuals in the lower classes, we would expect to see a larger percentage of them in jail. However, the reality is that they are being incarcerated at a far higher percentage rate than they should given recent demographic data. This is one trend that criminal justice experts hope to reverse in the coming years.
These three factors alone shed light on a significant disparity that exists within the criminal justice system in America. Reports, such as the one referenced here, are designed to be a positive voice of change. It is time for generational factors involving felony convictions to be reversed. States that tend to incarcerate individuals at alarming rates, thereby exacerbating crime statistics, need to implement efforts to reverse that trend. That is how society will become more equal in the long run.
Author: Lolita Di
