Florida residents may have heard statements about the rising murder rate in the United States. According to a report by the Brennan Center for Justice, the rising murder rate is not a nationwide dilemma, but it’s a problem that is being fueled by violence in Chicago.
Researchers say that murder rates in the U.S. are still at historic lows despite a slight increase this year. Since the 1990s, the overall murder rate in the 30 largest U.S. cities has been declining dramatically. The nation’s murder rate is expected to increase by 13.1 percent this year, but almost half of the increase is because of the murders that have occurred in Chicago.
When the Brennan Center for Justice published its report on Sept. 19, there had been 528 homicides in Chicago in 2016. Though the year is not yet over, there have already been more homicides recorded in Chicago this year than there was last year when 491 people were killed. The homicides that were recorded in Chicago include both murders and self-defense killings. Violence in Chicago has been blamed on gang problems, and some of the other factors that may be contributing to this problem include the loss of one-quarter of Chicago’s detectives and defunding of anti-violence programs.
A person who has been handed felony charges for his or her connection to an alleged murder may want to have representation from a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer may be able to help a client by evaluating any evidence and testimony brought in against the defendant. If it is not possible to have charges dropped, an attorney may help negotiate with the prosecution for a reduced sentence.
