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FBI Report Shows Hate Crimes Down in America
Investigating hate crimes has long been a priority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Although the term “hate crime” only started being used in the 1980’s, the FBI has been investigating forms of hate crime since the beginning of World War 1. Today, it seems the bureau’s efforts have been effective, as their newly released report shows that hate crimes across the country are down in numbers. This year’s Hate Crime Statistics Report, an annual report on hate crimes released by the FBI, shows that the number of hate crimes in 2014 is down compared to 2013.
The U.S. Congress, in an attempt to simplify data collection, defines hate crimes as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin sexual orientation.” While hate speech is not a crime, any criminal offense could be considered a hate crime if the offender has a personal bias against the victim. This includes murder, theft, arson, and vandalism.
Are Women More Likely to be Victims of Cybercrime?
Most Americans rely on the web daily, and use it for work, play, and to stay connected with friends and family. These days, almost everyone in the U.S. has a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, and modern technology is quickly spreading across the world. However, sometimes, the Internet can be a scary place.
While the World Wide Web provides many wonderful uses, there are some threats hidden in it’s dark corners. Cybercrime occurs every day, and unfortunately, the trend is continuing to rise. From theft to blackmail, to sharing obscene, illegal content, the Internet provides a forum for a variety of crimes to take place.
Did you know that women are especially prone to cybercrime? A study conducted in 2014 shows that women should take extra steps to protect themselves from the possibility of Internet crimes.
Kapersky Lab, a global Internet security company, recently surveyed more than 10,000 people aged 16 or older, and asked questions about Internet security and online threats received.
Guns Used in Violent Chicago Crimes Frequently Originate From Out of State
Critics of tighter gun laws in America have frequently referred to the city of Chicago as an example of why gun laws are ineffective. Chicago has some of the strictest gun restrictions in the United States, yet still experiences abnormally high rates of gun related crime when compared to other cities. Gun rights supporters say this proves that tough gun laws do not truly keep guns out of the hands of criminals. A new report, however, shows that a large number of guns used in Chicago crimes crossed into the state from somewhere else.
Chicago has long grappled with high rates of gun violence. The Chicago Tribune reported that in 2014, 2,587 people were victims of gun violence. In comparison, New York City police recorded 1,381 victims over the same time period, and New York City has approximately three times the population of Chicago.
Despite Chicago’s tough gun restrictions, city officials say the problem exists because firearms remain widely available. Purchasing guns within the city is difficult, so how, with such tight regulations, are gun related crimes such a problem?
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Officially Open in Illinois
For those struggling with disease, chronic pain, and other conditions, the wait for medical marijuana in Illinois is over. On November 9, a few medical marijuana dispensaries opened their doors for business, with many more to follow in the near future. For both marijuana industry officials and patients seeking medicine, the stores opening is a huge relief and comes after years of advocating for medical marijuana legalization. For the first time in Illinois, patients who qualify are able to legally purchase and use medical marijuana as a form of treatment.
Six stores opened across Illinois on Monday, and a few others are scheduled to open within the week. Officials say they expect there to be 25 dispensaries opened by the end of 2015, with more to follow in the coming years. At the time of planning, state officials mapped out 60 potential sites for dispensaries, so many more stores may be opening as the industry grows. The six stores that opened Monday experienced long lines of patients, and industry officials are hoping even more patients will try the products once medical marijuana becomes more popular in the state.
Illinois Lawmakers Provide Easier Access to Body Cameras for Police Departments
Tension is high between American police departments and the citizens they serve. Thanks to several recent high profile incidents of police related deaths and cases of brutality, the American public has become less trusting and more fearful of officers.
As citizens demand more transparency between police departments and the public, officials are turning to using body cameras as a solution. Worn by on duty officers, body cameras would record interactions between officers and the public, and could provide detailed footage of any questionable encounter. Illinois police departments will now have easier access to body camera technology and training, as state Governor Bruce Rauner recently signed statewide body camera measures into law.
Police departments have considered using body cameras for many years now. Americans have long worried that many police officers engage in less than ethical behavior, and the fact that many officer investigations are done internally left the public feeling like shady practices were occurring. Body cameras were an often suggested solution; however, the technology is expensive. On top of that, there was no existing legislation detailing how body cameras should be used—police departments were stuck wondering how to proceed.
How Much Does a DUI Cost in Illinois?
The state of Illinois is cracking down on driving under the influence, and for good reason. Nearly 40,000 people are arrested annually in the state for driving while intoxicated, and around 300 people are killed each year in alcohol related driving incidents.
Before drinking and driving, drivers should be aware of the many consequences they could face. Most importantly, drivers could potentially harm themselves or harm others. Moreover, being arrested for a DUI is extremely expensive. Legal fees, fines, and higher insurance rates all make getting a DUI potentially crippling financially. Therefore, it is important to consider the following breakdown of the estimated costs of being arrested for a DUI in Illinois.
Hiring an Attorney/Legal Fees — It is estimated that hiring a DUI attorney costs at least $1,500. Depending on the extent of the charges, however, legal fees could be much higher. Spending thousands of dollars on a DUI attorney is not uncommon.
Gang Violence and Social Media
For millions of Americans, social media is a part of daily life. Websites like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram help make our large world smaller, bringing people together and allowing them to create and share content.
Most people use social media websites for innocent purposes; staying in touch with friends, sharing photos and videos, and accessing many different types of web content. For some, however, social media sites have taken up a different purpose. Thousands of gang members in the United States are using social media sites to share their message, antagonize rival gangs, and perpetuate violence.
Online Activity
It makes sense that gang members are using social media more frequently. Social media is especially popular with younger Americans, and with thousands of American youths involved in gangs, it was only a matter of time before sites like Facebook and Youtube became platforms for gangs.
Major US Cities Alarmed by High Number of Homicides
Many major US cities have noticed large spikes in the number of homicides this year, and government officials are wondering why. While violent crimes have steadily declined in America, this year's reported number of homicides in major cities like Chicago, New Orleans, and Cleveland have government offices worried, including the Obama administration.
Cities that have little in common, other than being large urban areas, are all experiencing significantly higher numbers of violent crimes than usual, and all within the last few months. While officials have yet to pinpoint a specific reason as to why this increase has occurred, experts have provided a few theories. Are the numbers simply reflective of a more violent than normal year, or do they indicate a larger problem?
The entire country has seen a decline in violent crimes over the past years. In the early 1990’s, drug problems led to incredibly high numbers of homicides in many major US cities, but since then homicide rates have declined steadily. While the numbers of homicides in major urban areas are still nowhere near where they were during the early 90s, there is reason for officials to be alarmed.
Former World Series Champion Admits to Blackmailing Umpires
Last night, the 2015 World Series got underway as the Kansas City Royals needed 14 innings to fend off the visiting New York Mets. By the time the game got started, however, the sports world and the Internet as a whole was abuzz with chatter about revelations made by a member of the last Mets team to win the Fall Classic. Former Major League Baseball All-Star Lenny Dykstra admitted in an interview this week that he spent more than half a million dollars on a scheme to blackmail umpires into giving him favorable calls during his playing days.
Shocking Information
The startling, yet completely unabashed, admission came during Dykstra’s appearance on The Herd, a weekday Fox radio/TV simulcast hosted by Colin Cowherd. The exchange was prompted by a comment from Cowherd suggesting that Dykstra “kept a book” on umpires, which in the context of the game can mean many things. Completely above board, a pitcher or batter would want to understand the way in which an umpire tends to call a game, and file that information away to be used appropriately. For Dykstra, however, “it was a little more than that.”
Oklahoma Woman Being Held on Murder Charges for Parade Crash
A homecoming celebration turned tragic this past weekend when a car plowed into a crowd of spectators, killing four and injuring dozens. Three adults and a two-year-old child were killed when the vehicle driven by a 25-year-old woman suddenly crashed into a throng of people watching the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade on Saturday in Stillwater. The driver was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and was held over the weekend on four counts of second-degree murder. She is expected to appear in court this week for arraignment.
Murder Charges in Illinois
As the OSU community seeks to heal following the tragedy, the case may serve to highlight some important facets of criminal law here in Illinois. Charges for murder in Illinois can be brought against a defendant in the first or second degree. First degree murder is committed when a person kills another:
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