Big Increase In U.S. Murder Rate

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31539, 29 November 1967, Page 5

Big Increase In U.S. Murder Rate

(N.Z.P. A.-Reut er) NEW YORK. Americans are killing each other at an

increasingly alarming rate, and law enforcement officials fear that they can do little to prevent the upsurge in murders.

The homicide rate, the number of murders a 100,000 persons, had been declining in the United States since the 1930’5, even though most other types of crime increased greatly. Then, in 1965, homicides rose by 6 per cent, to almost 10,000. In 1966, murders rose 11 per cent to nearly 11,000, and in the first quarter of 1967, they went up 23 per cent, according to a survey published in “Look” magazine. Some large American cities have reported increases of 45 per cent, 153 per cent and even 200 per cent. According to the magazine, New York has shown a 25 per cent increase in murders so far this year, while Chicago showed a 43 per cent increase; Philadelphia, 30 per cent; Houston, 28 per cent; Cleveland. 45 per cent; Dallas, 26 per cent: Memphis. Tennessee. 200 per cent; Kansas City, 23 per cent; and Dayton, Ohio, 162 per cent. Family Crimes In 1965, Chicago, the second largest city in the United' States, reported 395 murders Last year, there were 510, and this year it is estimated that the figure may reach 700. In 1965, St Louis was No. 1 in the murder-rate rankings. Murders dropped sharply last year, but this year already show an 80 per cent increase. Cleveland killings soared from 108 in 1965 to 139 in 1966 and this year they are up 45 per cent. A Federal Bureau of Investigation analysis shows that of all murders in 1966, about 29 per cent were within the family. Half of these were incidents of spouse killing spouse, and 15 per cent were parents killing their offspring

The majority of murderers are male as are the majority of victims, while 9 per cent of all persons arrested for murder in the United States are under 18 years old and 37 oer cent are under 25. Half of all murders occur 'Sn the southern states, but

there has been a startling 18 per cent increase this year in murders in the north central states. The most significant factor in the accelerating murder rate is that most murders involve Negroes, both as victims and as killers. Negroes account for eleven per cent of America’s total population, but they comprise 54 per cent of the victims and 57 per cent of those charged with murder. The high prosecution and conviction rate for homicide is obviously no deterrent to murder. About half of all adults charged with homicide are found guilty and another 17 per cent are convicted on lesser charges. One of tile major factors accounting for the tremendous toil of murders in the United States is the general availability of firearms. It is estimated that Americans own 50,000,000 guns. Guns now cause 60 per cent of America’s murders, while knives account for 23 per cent. Colombia’s murder rate is seven times that of the United States and Mexico’s is almost as high. In London, murders increased from 36 to 49 last year, but this is still hardly more than a month’s total in some United States cities. While United States has a murder rate of five per 100,000 persons, the rate in Japan and France is only 1.5 and, in the Republic of Ireland, only 0.4.