CRIME IN U.S.A.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 20

CRIME IN U.S.A.

' RISING HOMICIDAL RATE. | Statisticians continue to emphasise the- conclusion reached long .ago that the United States homicide record is the gravest indictment of its civilisation, states the New York correspondent of the Melbourne "Argus." Dr. Frederick L. Hoffman, statistician of the Prudential Insuranco Company, one of the largest of its kind in the country, says that the number of homicides appears to have reached a stationary condition, but it is at the highest point in American history. "Summarising the situation," he adds, "the homicide rate increased during 1927 in SI cities out of 102, for which .comparison with 1926 is possible. During 1927 we experienced some of the worst types of murders on record in the annais of crime. In many such cases murder was followed by suicide. "We hoar much of law enforcement, but the major portion of our immense police and judicial machinery is concerned with violations of tho liquor law," says Dr. Hoffman. "Neither the President nor tho Governors in their annual addresses ' have laid emphasis upon, our ■ lamentable position ;is regards homicides, which are not doer en s : ing, and which show no perce- ';ible move in this direction. . The American homicide rate for 1927 was 10.4 per 100,000. Tho highest murder rates for 1927 were as follow: Momphis, Tennessee, G9.3; Birmingham, Alabama, Go; Charlotte, North Caroline, 55.5; Jacksonville, Florida, 54; Atlanta, Georgia, 43.4; Miami, Florida, 40; and East St. Louis, Illinois; 39.7. Now York City's homicidel rate was 8.4. Chicago, with 13.3, showed a decrease from 16.7, and Detroit's rate was reduced from 25.3 to 18.7. Boston's rate was 3.9. "If it is the primary function of the Government to enforce the laws/1 continues Dr. Hoffman, "it is equally tho duty of the Government to show how the Jaws are enforced. It has, millions for the enforcement of Prohibition but net the small sum required for the col lection of , judicial statistics corresponding to those of Canada, which arc admirable and promptly available after tho close of tho year. The national crime commission and the local crime commissions havo published voluminous reports, but the prubleni remains. Charges havo been r-iniW that (Ik; police are unintelligent, ami Uiat this • police administration lacks nfiiciency, but it is probably as gcud as Uiat of any other ■ country iii (.lie world. "The true cause of crime is to be I'ound in the changing character of (lie American people. Hverv element of the nation is represented in the long list of. murderers, youtr, and old age, men ami women, black .-.'ml while, native and foreign, rich and poor."