| Myths about Violence in our Cities
This article describes typical violence that occurs in New York City. Although the types of crimes and their frequency may differ from other cities, much of this information can be extrapolated to your locality.
1) Most violent deaths are caused by strangers
False
Random killings and rampage attacks do occur in New York but not as frequently as most people think. The majority of serious attacks are usually carried out by people we know (death by association). Nearly four out of every five victims killed in New York City last year, knew their killers. Just two days ago, on 10/12/2004 the NY Times reported the story of a New York City correction officer preparing to sell her Long Island home and retire to Florida. She was stabbed to death by her 15-year-old son Sunday afternoon.
NYC Stats:
79% of the victims knew their killers
78% of the victims had an arrest record
61% of the killers had an arrest record.
02) Rape is the number one crime against women
False
Intimate partner violence is the number one crime against women. This is probably the most prevalent form of violence against women today. It affects four out of ten women in New York City (mainly less educated/ lower classes & recent immigrants). This includes current and former boyfriends, lovers and husbands. 40% of those killed are under the age of 30. Nearly 40% of women killed in New York City die at the hands of overbearing men. Women who leave their lover's are in the most danger. Less than 50% of deaths are by guns, the rest are by knives and blunt objects. Women who had their abusers arrested are three times less likely dead.
03) There has been a major jump in the number of rapes in NYC
False
There seems to be a jump in the number of rapes in New York, but experts believe they reflect more reporting by victims -- not more assaults. BTW: The majority of rapes in colleges and universities occur with higher rates of binge drinking. In addition, nearly three-quarters of rape victims in NYC reported being intoxicated at the time of the attack.
04) Workplace violence usually doesn't consist of serious crimes
False
Workplace violence occurs much more than people realize – and is a serious safety and health issue. These attacks include: assaults, robberies and rapes. Violence in the its most extreme form, homicide, is the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injury in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), there were 639 workplace homicides in 2001 in the United States, out of a total of 8,786 fatal work injuries. Unfortunately, many of the less serious crimes are not even reported by workplace management.
05) Stalking is not such a serious crime, and can be handled with a firm and uncompromising attitude and behavior
False
Stalking is a set of many behaviors (e.g., telephone harassment, sending unwanted gifts, pursuing, or surveillance). Stalking is more dangerous than it seems, as it's often the precursor to other crimes such as robberies, abductions and rape. Stalking is defined as "the willful, malicious and repeated following and harassing of another person." There are five categories of stalkers, these are: The rejected, the intimacy seeker, the incompetent, the resentful and the predator (a more detailed article on this subject will be forthcoming in a future article.)
06. As long as I'm careful I don't have to worry about Subway Push Attacks.
False
It's hard to be careful if you're standing only a foot away from the tracks. Subway push attacks are not as infrequent as we think. In NYC you read about several attempted subway pushing's every month, and successful ones a few times a year. Most subway attacks in NYC are conducted by the homeless or mentally disturbed; and for the most part they're easy to identify -- if you're head isn't buried in a magazine or newspaper. Stand near the stairs or in front of a pillar for security.
07. Car-Jacking's and home invasions are on the way up in NYC and surrounding suburbs.
False
Car-Jacking's were much more common in New York several years ago, however they do occur once in a while. Women are usually chosen for this crime for obvious reasons. Home invasions too have dropped in frequency, probably due to more awareness and preventative measures.
08. Gang Attacks are on the way down in New York City and other cities around the nation
False
Although gang attacks don't occur in Manhattan as much as they used to, there has been an increase in the number of gang-related attacks in the surrounding boroughs, especially the Bronx and Brooklyn. Long Island has seen a sharp rise in gang activity, with many gang members originating from Central America.
09. Dog Attacks are not as serious as they sound
False
These are very serious occurrences. Health officials say in the U.S., dogs bite or attack more than 4.5 million people each year, killing an average of 20 people. Young children are often the most vulnerable to these attacks, especially in the home.
10. Child-abduction is the number one crime against children in New York
False
In NYC, the most serious crime against children is abuse and maltreatment; and the rates are going up fast. In 1994, 58 children died from these causes. More recently since January 2004, there have been approximately three to four reported cases each week. FYI: Child abduction in New York is usually carried out by separated or divorced parents.
11. Most or many cops in the U.S.A. are killed with assault guns
False
That's not even close to being true. Actually, most cops are killed with handguns and many cops are killed with their own or a partner's gun. Many authorities believe that more cops are beaten and stabbed to death than are killed by assault guns. According to current Department of Justice statistics only 2% crimes involving a firearm were committed by a firearm that could be described as an assault weapon. The numbers are even less for cops.
12. School-associated violence is on the increase
False
Although it may seem like school violence is on the rise, in fact it's been dropping for a while. The CDC reports that school violence has decreased overall - for example, in 1993, 12% of students reported that they had carried a weapon to school within the previous month, whereas in 1999, 7% reported have carried a weapon.
*Note: There have been concerns that in the near future, terrorists will try to attack schools in the same manner as the Chechen rebels did in Russia. The Washington Times stated in a recent article that the Department of Homeland Security is investigating a report that 25 Chechen terrorists have entered into the United States via Mexico recently.
WR, President, Realfighting
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