Factors that Caused Decline Crime Rates in Developed Western Countries (1990-2008)

Abstract

Recently, one of the most significant changes in developed countries has been the decrease in crime rates. The era following the 1960s particularly witnessed an increase in crime rates in developed western countries, and these rates attained their peaks in several countries around the early and mid-1990s. However, following this period, incidents of crime began declining gradually. Furthermore, USA experienced a 43% decline in homicide rates between 1991- 2001. During this period, the overall incidents of violent and property crimes decreased by 34% and 29%, respectively. In a study conducted on murder trends in 53 developed and developing countries spanning the years 1990–2005, a decrease in homicide rates was noted in most of the countries that had been studied. Undoubtedly, this decline is not limited to violent crimes. This article focuses on the significant decline in crime rates in developed western countries—especially in the USA and European countries—since the 1990s and elucidates the socio-economic, demographic, cultural, and legal causes of such a decline. The current study seeks to determine which of these factors are the primary causes of a decline in crime rates and the extent to which the factors considered effective in lowering the crime rates in the United States and other western countries are similar or different.

Keywords

• Crime decline
• crime trends
• the USA and crime
• European countries and crime

Gelişmiş Batı Ülkelerinde Suç Oranlarının Düşmesinde Etkili Olan Faktörler (1990-2008)

Abstract

Gelişmiş ülkelerde son dönemlerde gözlemlenen önemli gelişmelerden biri, suç oranlarındaki düşüşlerdir. Özellikle 1960’lı yıllardan itibaren gelişmiş bazı batı ülkelerinde suç oranları giderek artmaya başlamış ve 1990’lı yılların başında en yüksek değere ulaşmıştır. Ancak bu dönemden sonra suç oranları giderek düşmeye başlamıştır. Öyle ki ABD’de aynı yıllarda kasten öldürme suç oranları 1991 - 2001 yılları arasında %43 düşüşle en düşük seviyelerine inmiştir. Aynı dönemde şiddet suçlarında %34 ve mala yönelik suçlarda da %29 düşüş gerçekleşmiştir. 1990 - 2005 yıllarını kapsayan 53 gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan ülkelerde kasten öldürme suçu üzerine yapılan bir çalışmada da çoğu ülkede bu suç türünde düşüşlerin yaşandığı gözlemlenmiştir. Suç oranlarında meydana gelen düşüşler sadece şiddet suçları ile sınırlı kalmamıştır. Bu makale ABD ve gelişmiş bazı batı ülkelerinde 1990’lı yıllardan itibaren suç oranlarında meydana gelen dramatik düşüşlere ve bunun sosyo-ekonomik, demografik, kültürel ve hukuksal nedenlerine odaklanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada faktörlerden hangilerinin suç oranlarındaki düşüşü daha iyi açıklayabildiği, ABD ve bazı batı ülkelerindeki suç oranlarının düşmesinde etkili olduğu varsayılan faktörlerin ne düzeyde bir benzerlik veya farklılık oluşturduğu hususu irdelenecektir. 

Keywords

• Suç düşüşü
• suç eğilimleri
• ABD ve suç
• Avrupa ülkeleri ve suç.

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