VOA慢速英语20061223a

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

Crime rates in the United States have been dropping for a number of years. Rates of violent crime have fallen to their lowest levels since the nineteen seventies. President Bush noted¹ this in his declaration² in April for National Crime Victims' Rights Week.


Police investigate a crime in Massachusetts

But this week, a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation³ offered new evidence that violent crime may be on the rise. Early numbers for the first half of the year show violent crime was up three and seven-tenths percent over the same period last year.

The F.B.I. reported earlier that violent crime increased more than two percent in all of two thousand five. That was the largest increase in fifteen years.

The new report says the number of robberies nationwide increased nine and seven-tenths percent between January and June of this year. And there were seven percent more arson⁴ fires compared to the first half of last year.

The number of murders increased almost one and one-half percent. Other violent offenses⁵ were also up more than one percent. But the F.B.I. says the number of rapes⁶ decreased, though by less than one-tenth of one percent.

The report shows that violent crime rose nationwide, especially in cities with populations between half a million and a million. But the largest increase was in the West. Violent crime in that part of the country rose almost five percent. Northeastern states had the smallest increase. It was three percent over the same period last year.

While violent crime increased nationally, most property crimes fell in the first half of the year. In all, property crime decreased more than two and one-half percent

The information in the F.B.I. report comes from more than eleven thousand law enforcement agencies.

Researchers from the Justice Department are studying a number of cities to look for reasons why violent crime is up nationally.

Experts suggest a number of possible reasons. These include too many illegal guns and not enough law enforcement officers on the streets of American cities.

Also blamed are reductions in federal money for local law enforcement agencies over the past ten years. Yet local agencies have more duties since the attacks of September eleventh, two thousand one. Now they are expected to fight terrorism in addition to traditional crime.

At the federal level, the F.B.I. and other agencies that often help local officers investigate crimes have seen their duties change as well.

But other researchers believe an increase in young males and other population changes have played a part in the rise in violent crime. And some point to increases in the spread of street gangs.

In any case, the F.B.I. notes that in the years leading up to two thousand five, violent crime kept falling. So officials say it is still too early to say if new trends are developing.

IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English was written by Brianna Blake. I'm Steve Ember.

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 declaration   

n.宣布，宣告，宣言，声明（书），申报

参考例句：

• We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
• At the recent convention a declaration was adopted.在最近举行的大会上通过了一项宣言。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 arson   

n.纵火，放火

参考例句：

• He was serving a ten spot for arson.他因纵火罪在服十年徒刑。
• He was arraigned on a charge of arson.他因被指控犯纵火罪而被传讯。

5 offenses   

n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势

参考例句：

• It's wrong of you to take the child to task for such trifling offenses. 因这类小毛病责备那孩子是你的不对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此，除非有可弹劾的行为，否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

6 rapes   

n.芸苔( rape的名词复数 )；强奸罪；强奸案；肆意损坏v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的第三人称单数 )；强奸

参考例句：

• The man who had committed several rapes was arrested. 那个犯了多起强奸案的男人被抓起来了。 来自辞典例句
• The incidence of reported rapes rose 0.8 percent. 美国联邦调查局还发布了两份特别报告。 来自互联网