US National Data on Crime Trends

Crime Analysis and Criminal Justice System 

Information in criminal justice systems and data is necessary for the synthesis of policy-relevant approaches that are useful in the criminal justice system and crime handling approaches. Numerous offices and departments including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime present useful information nationally that helps different criminal systems to handle issues on criminal justice, drug prevention, drug trafficking, terrorism prevention and develop- alternative approaches to curb different aspects that are related to crime and drug issues. Departments involved in the formulation of standards for criminal justice and national crime consider different approaches with the aim of promoting cross-national comparability of data in different aspects. Data is corrected from different cities in the United States and other nations in order to draw a comparison between the existing impacts of drug issues among other crimes (Vogel & Messner, 2019). As a consequence, data on crime and criminal issues are considered in the operation of criminal justice systems and in conducting victimization surveys necessary for data reporting. Therefore, this report is based on a statistical analysis of crime data on drug issues through research on different information presented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). With the aid of statistical graphs, the report is determined to present a historical crime data focusing on law enforcement. 

In line with statistics on crime presented by UNODC, crime trends that have characterized the criminal justice systems lie among the following crimes, which have recorded a huge percent in statistical data on crime issues. The crimes committed include; assaults, homicide, robbery, sexual violence, kidnapping, motor vehicle theft, drug trafficking, and burglary. The previous survey of crime trends presents different facts regarding the level of crime and the most frequently committed crimes in different cities in the United States and other nations at large. The data collected has been substantial towards the development of sustainable development goals (Nielsen, 2019). As presented through the national crime victimization survey on more than 95,000 households, crime data indicates that assaults, sexual assault, robbery, and household property crimes are the most reported crimes in different cities. The most significant aspect of the cases presented is the fact that most of these crimes are reported to law enforcers including police officers who conduct investigations and handle such cases as per the criminal justice system. 

Furthermore, crime victimization survey indicates that victims of crime are not restricted to a certain age, gender, race or ethnicity. Victims of crime have been identified in different communities, societies, and families all through different cultures in the world. Through the data presented in different forums, the United Nations have the ability to handle crime and formulate policies integrated into criminal justice statistics. Crime data is divided into different categories in consideration of the nature of the respective crime. For instance, the level of homicide in the United States in different states have gradually increased as per the recent survey by UNODC. In consideration of the member States such as Arabic, Chinese and United States have the following main components of the criminal justice system ( http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/crime-and-criminal-justice.html ). The criminal justice system has been characterized by prosecution, police, courts, and prisons. The rate of homicide cases has been increasing in different countries as presented in the last 10 years of research. 

In consideration of the trends in the United States corrections, statistical data presents a gradual increase in the prison population which has been a point of concern for the crime and criminal justice systems data. For instance, below is a graph presenting the federal prison increase in a span of 12 years. 

N umber of prisoners 

(1:10,000) 

Years 

The presented data indicates the rate at which the prison population is increasing in the United States. Apart from the increasing prison population, the U.S. is experiencing an increase in the number of detainees who are yet to face the court. As identified in the context, the law enforcement department is responsible for handling different crime as committed by the victims. America is the leading nation with the highest rate of incarceration among different nations (Nielsen, 2019). The reason behind this rate is due to the increasing number of crime issues including different crimes as identified in the context. Changes in sentencing policies and law on different crimes is a reason behind the increase in the rate of incarceration. Moreover, numerous cases of drug-related crimes have been trending in the U.S. As a consequence, the United States has increased the number of jails with an approximate percent of 500% in the last 40 years (Koppa & Messing, 2019) . Furthermore, the U.S. has been experiencing a high immigration rate, which is against the administration’s policies (Vogel & Messner, 2019). In return, this is one of the facilitators of the increased prison population. Putting into consideration the law enforcement department responsible for obtaining evidence for different cases presented in the court, they have influenced the increase in the number of detainees in the remand whose sentence is yet to be confirmed. Therefore, these aspects have increased the population under control of the U.S Corrections system. 

Also, presented in the historical crime data is the crime on drug trafficking and abuse. The crime has raised an alarm in the U.S after the formulation of new policies that are against drug offenses. The war on drug abuse has attracted formulation of sentencing policies that have attracted the growth on the rate of incarceration in the United States. In the last 10 years, the number of Americans who have been imprisoned for drug offenses has increased from 58, 900 in 2008 to 458,900 in 2018. Moreover, the law enforcement department has integrated harsh sentencing laws in the criminal justice system, which have prolonged the incarceration period (Koppa & Messing, 2019). Analysis indicates that half of the prison population constitutes of individuals incarcerated as a result of drug offenses. The criminal justice system has increased the penalties on drug offenses, an aspect that has resulted in an increase in the prison population. Similar case results in other offenses as shown in the bar graph below. 

In the bar graph presented above, Series2 presents drug offenders while Series4 presents all offenders. The graph draws a good comparison for criminal offenders in American prisons. Additionally, the incarceration encapsulates all crime victims regardless of their gender, age, cultures or races. Women have also contributed to the increased prison population. Research indicates that women in prisons are facing charges against drug offenses and homicide offenses. Women have been suffering from domestic violence, which has increased the rate of imprisonment following offenses presented in the context. Additionally, racial disparities raise concerns in the American corrections where specific races take a considerable percentage in the prisons. For instance, approximately 60% of prisoners in the United States are black people (Vogel & Messner, 2019). Research indicates that this case follows a trend on racial discrimination that has been affecting the black people. Furthermore, the issue of immigration has been associated with black men rendering most of the victims of crime cases. In comparison, most people in the prisons have ended up there on ethnic and racial bases. Research is underway defining more reasons associated with the racial disparities in the prisons. 

Concerning the age in the prisons, the number of youths in prison has gradually reduced in the last 10 years. The limited number of youths in prison have been charged with offenses on drug offenses and sexual violence. Nevertheless, the current system of education has engaged youths hence reducing chances of committing offenses (Koppa & Messing, 2019). Furthermore, the United States has incorporated new policies on different crimes including corruption, bribery, smuggling of immigrants, theft of property, trafficking of weapons, financing terrorism and participating in different offenses. As a result, these offenses have imprisonment and other punishment approaches as defined by the criminal justice system. Therefore, law enforcers have been on the front line collaborating with the court and other members of the criminal justice system to handle victims of the identified offenses. Therefore, victims of violent crimes and other crimes as defined in the context end up in incarceration hence increasing the prison population, which has been the national trend. 

Among the trends presented in the national data, kidnapping and smuggling of immigrants have been rampant in the United States. Additionally, cybercrime, maritime crime terrorism, and money laundering are among the crimes that have been currently occurring in the United States (Koppa & Messing, 2019). Nevertheless, in relation to data collected by UNODC, the identified crimes are being fought through the integration of policies and punishment through the criminal justice system. Furthermore, statistics on crime, drugs and criminal justice systems are mostly based on the procedures employed and employment of policies that dictate the nature of punishment per offense. 

In conclusion, there are three main questions are relevant in consideration of the current national data on drugs, crime, and the criminal justice system. First, what are the legislative actions that should be employed to reduce racial disparities in the prison population? Second, what are the necessary policies that should be put in place to protect immigrants against smuggling and kidnapping? Lastly, what is the impact of the increased prison population on the criminal justice system and the economy in general? In consideration of the national data on crime, drugs and criminal justice systems, United States has formulated policies with an aim of reducing the crime rate an approach that has increased the rate of individuals facing incarceration charges following the crimes committed. 

References 

http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/crime-and-criminal-justice.html 

Koppa, V., & Messing, J. T. (2019). Can justice system interventions prevent intimate partner homicide? An analysis of rates of help-seeking prior to fatality.  Journal of interpersonal violence , 0886260519851179. 

Nielsen, M. O. (2019).  Native Americans, crime, and justice . Routledge. 

Vogel, M., & Messner, S. F. (2019). Crime and Criminal Justice in Cities.  Urban Health , 139.