Graying But Focused Criminals

Crime down in LA as well as Chicago and other major cities. Why?

Experts believe the fall in violent crime is tied to the aging U.S. population.

"The graying of America is a significant factor," said James Alan Fox, Lipman Professor of Criminal Justice at Northeastern University in Boston. "The largest and fastest growing segment of the population is people over 50. People over 50 also happen to be the age group that is the least likely to commit crimes. As the group grows, crime rates do decline."

Prof. Fox said a common assumption that crime goes up during a recession is wrong. Historic data show there is little connection between economic conditions and crime, particularly violent crime.

Prof. Fox said the crimes most likely to increase during a recession were such offenses as fraud, check forgeries and insurance schemes.

It seems to me bank robberies are up too--you know, where the money is (with mixed results). And we've seen a significant rise locally, in more affluent areas.