Black on black crime

Abstract

C rimes committed by blacks against other blacks have been a problem in this country dating back to slavery. In the last twenty years the problem has grown dramatically, with the most evident and alarming rates occurring during the 1970s and early 1980s. Rate increases in serious violent crimes represent a significant morbidity and mortality issue in the United States--particularly for black Americans. There are two primary statistical data sources that provide such information. The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) are prepared annually by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The UCR data are based on the occurrence of offenses and arrests as recorded and reported by local and state law enforcement agencies. National Crime Survey (NCS) data are based on information about crime that is obtained by structured interviews with victims of crime. On a national scale, UCR data show that between 1969 and 1982 the rate of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rose from 7.3 to 9.1 per population of 100,000, the rate of forcible rape climbed from 18.5 to 34.1; and the rates of robbery and aggravated assault jumped from 148.4 per population of 100,000 to 235.9 per population of 100,000 and from 154.5 to 283.1 respectively. While there was a slight decline in all of these rates for 1983, violent crime in particular remains a serious problem in the United States. Between 1969 and 1982 substantial percentage increases in violent crimes occurred. For criminal homicide there was a 25 percent increase; for forcible rape an 82 percent increase; for robbery a 56 percent increase; and for aggravated assault an 82 percent increase. The probability of being victimized violently, as computed through the use of UCR violent offense rates, has increased as well. The chances of being murdered in 1969 were 1 in 13,699, and in 1982 the chances were 1 in 10,989. The chances of forcible rape were 1 in 5,405 in 1969 compared to 1 in 2,976 in 1982. The chances of being robbed were 1 in 674 in 1969 compared to 1 in 356 in 1982. With regard to rate increases, these figures represent an increase in each respective category, that is, a 34 percent increase for criminal homicide; 92 percent for forcible rape; 69 percent for robbery; and 82 percent for aggravated assault.