Violent crimes are something that a lot of people would prefer to avoid discussing. However, it is essential to know some of the basics about them.
Here is a brief guide to violent crimes that the federal government recognizes.
Definition
Crimes that would attract the attention of Florida’s violent crime and drug council include anything involving or threatening force. The most common offenses include murder, manslaughter, armed robbery and aggravated assault.
Hierarchy Rule
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports crime data based on the Hierarchy Rule, meaning that it only records the most severe crimes in crimes involving multiple violent crimes. The Hierarchy Rule includes the following crimes in the order in which the FBI records them:
- Murder and manslaughter
- Robbery
- Aggravated assault
- Burglary
- Larceny and motor vehicle theft
Arson is the only violent crime exempt from the Hierarchy Rule. Therefore, when arson occurs with other violent crimes, law enforcement report both the most severe crime and the arson.
Facts and data
Close to one million violent crimes occur each year in the United States. That said, recent trends show that violent crimes have decreased significantly since 2001. Today, there are only a few hundred violent crimes per 100,000 people across the country.
Within this data, aggravated assault is the most common, making up half of the violent crimes in the United States. Armed robbery and murder account for relatively small portions of violent crimes. Firearms are one of the more popular weapons, and criminals use them in most murders.
Knowing this information can help people understand the world of violent crimes. That can help them see what they are up against if they become involved with one.