Trends in Crime, Policing and
Crime Prevention
Presented by
American Crime
Prevention Institute
Trends in Crime, Policing & Crime
Prevention
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Population
Since 9/11
Crime
Policing
Crime Prevention
Trend
• A prevailing tendency or direction
• A reflection upon the immediate past, the
current environment and the near (2-4
years) future.
Population Trends
• The population in the United States and the
world is aging.
Approximately 10% of the world’s population
is now over 60. This will double by 2050.
There has been a 23% increase in the 65 and
older population in the U.S. in the last 10 years.
 Demographics
 Health
Care
– “Baby Boomers”
The two “oldest” countries are Japan and Italy –
with a quarter of their population currently over
60.
• Many industrial countries are losing their
populations due to declining birth rates.
To maintain population, the birthrate per
woman needs to be 2.1 (1.7 in Britain, 1.3 in
Italy, 1.2 in Spain)
• The U.S. population is growing
Increasing birth rates (2.13 in 2001 vs 1.75 in
1976)
Decline in teen birth rate
Immigration
Affluent society
• By 2005, whites will be less than 50% of
the U.S. population.
September 11, 2001….What Has
Changed:
• Enhanced image of firefighters police and
military
• Local Law Enforcement Agencies
Bolstering security for community places and
infrastructure
Losing officers who serve in the National
Guard and military reserve.
Budget problems or difficulties
Heightened concern about biological and
chemical terrorism – requires police response –
“anthrax scare”
Emergency response training
Emphasis upon community policing may lessen
Increased issues associated with civil liberties
Homeland security issues
• Federal Agencies
FBI’s role in anti-terrorism
FBI to back out of local crime issues
Cooperation between federal agencies
• High tech weapons and security systems
• Other?
Crime Trends
• Reduction in Crime Rates – 10 Consecutive Years
 Strong Employment – Until recent economic downturn,
very low levels of unemployment – crime rates have
relationship to unemployment levels – some recently lost
U.S. jobs will be lost forever – manufacturing moving to
other countries – increase productivity
 Decrease in Number of Young People (18-24)
 Increased Prison Population
 1900 -
57,070 adults in US local, state and federal jails and
prisons. 122 inmates for every 100,000 Americans
 2000 - 1,982,084 adults in US prisons and jails. 725 inmates for
every 100,000 Americans
 “Clinton Cops”- more police officers
 Federal prison population increasing while state prison
population decreasing
 Some state easing stringent laws on prison time
 California referendum mandating drug treatment
instead of incarceration for 1st & 2nd time offenders
 States spend $30 billion a year to operate their prisons
 Executions decreasing – reduction in crime – doubts
about reliability of verdicts.
Decrease in Drug Wars- less violence
Increase Abortions = Fewer Unwanted,
Economically Deprived Children
Community Policing
“Broken Windows Theory” - increased
emphasis on quality of life crimes and
commander accountability
Juvenile Justice - treat as adults
• Society has created new crime titles or
categories - often media creations…
Workplace Violence - “Going Postal”
Car Jacking
Binge Drinking
Acquaintance/Date Rape
Designer Drugs
Hate Crimes
Road Rage
“Airline
Rage”
“Parking Lot Rage”
“Sports Activity Rage”
“Grocery Store Rage”
• More High-Tech - Computer-Related Crimes
 Business-Related Espionage
 Cramming -fraudulent telephone charges
 Hacking
 Fraud and Embezzlement
• Internet-Related Crime
 Child Pornography
 Cyberstalking
 Internet Fraud (Online Auctions)
 Identity Theft
• Increase in Theft of Laptop Computers
• More Cargo Theft
• Concern About Crime in Schools
• Marijuana Use –Replace Crack as Drug of
Choice for 18-20 Year Olds
• Use of Oxycontin – “Hillbilly Heroin”
• Drug Facilitated Sexual Assaults - GHB and
Rohypnol
• Use of Designer Drugs - Ecstasy
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Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
Increase in Bank Robberies – Rural Environment
Auto Theft - Near International Borders
Bicycle Theft - High Value
Elder Abuse - Crimes Against Senior Citizens
Identity Theft
Acquaintance/Date Rape - Increased Reporting
Domestic Violence - Increased Reporting
• Problems with the Indigent, Transient and
Homeless Population
• Problems with Persons with Developmental
Disabilities
• Church Crimes
• ATM-Related Crimes
• Constructions Site Crime Prevention
Policing Trends
• Community Policing – Losing Emphasis in Some
Environments
• Problem-Solving Policing
• Increased Emphasis Upon Crime Prevention –
Counterterrorism – Budget Cutbacks May Hurt
• “Broken Windows” Theory - Emphasis Upon
“Quality of Life” Offenses
• Focused Crime Analysis Strategies - Crime
Mapping
• Difficulty in Recruiting
• Development of High Tech Crime Units
• Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force
• High Speed Computer-Based Information
Access
• Concerns About Use of Force
• Other(?)
Crime Prevention Trends
• May lose support: Chief Gil Kerlikowske of
the Seattle Police Department said:
“Historically, every budget cut for the last
25 years has almost always started with
crime prevention, because it’s difficult for
anyone to evaluate the crime reduction
impact of those programs.”
• Use of Internet in Crime Prevention
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Use of Volunteers
Citizen Police Academies
CPTED Community Ordinances
Youth-directed Crime Prevention Programs
Senior Citizen-directed Crime Prevention
Programs
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Use of Public-Access Cable Television
Local Alarm Ordinances
Automated Phone Calling Systems
Crime-Free Multi-Housing
Identity Theft Programs
• Church Crime Prevention
Programs
• Construction Site Crime
Prevention
• ATM Safety and Security
• Convenience Store Security
• Other?
THANK YOU
The American Crime Prevention Institute is a
division of the AEGIS Protection Group, Inc.