States and Cities with the Most Crime: A Nuanced Data Overview TLDR: Crime in the U.S. – At a Glance Crime statistics are rarely as simple as they appear in the headlines. While states like New Mexico and Alaska report the highest violent crime rates, and cities like Memphis and St. Louis face significant challenges,…
TL;DR (Summary) While often confused, probation and parole are distinct. Probation is court-ordered supervision that can happen instead of (front-end) or after (back-end) incarceration. Parole is an early release from prison granted by a board. Florida abolished parole in 1995 to ensure “Truth in Sentencing,” meaning most inmates must serve at least 85% of their…
Table of Contents Jail vs. Prison: What’s the Real Difference? When we hear the words jail and prison, they’re often used interchangeably. However, although they do share several similarities, jail and prison are two very different parts of the criminal justice system. Understanding the distinction between the two is important not just for clarity, but…
TL;DR: The Myth of Accurate Crime Statistics Official FBI crime statistics are significantly undercounting the reality of violence in America. Since the 2021 transition to a new reporting system (NIBRS), thousands of agencies—including major hubs like the NYPD and LAPD—have failed to report their data. In Florida, less than 10% of agencies contribute to national…
How States Define Murder Differently A Look at U.S. Criminal Codes and Classifications Table of Contents Understanding the Degrees of Murder Most states divide murder into at least two degrees: However, not all states use the same definitions or even recognize the same degrees. Some states don’t have a second-degree murder statute at all, while…
Surveillance plays a critical role in uncovering the truth and providing reliable evidence for legal, corporate and personal matters. Whether it’s monitoring activities, documenting interactions or supporting investigations, surveillance ensures that facts are gathered accurately and lawfully. Professional surveillance investigators use specialized tools, proven techniques and a structured process to deliver trustworthy insights that stand…
Over 600,000 Americans go missing each year. This equates to over 6 million people every 10 years or 2% of the current U.S. population. This is a striking figure but consider that the number of missing persons each year increases. The chance of you, a loved one, someone you know or someone in your community…
The FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) has released the 2019 Missing and Unidentified person statistics. With 609,000 newly reported missing persons documented by law enforcement, there are nearly 87,000 active missing person records. This does not mean there are just 87,000 people missing. This figure represents those law enforcement is still actively looking for…
Human trafficking is a $150 billion industry and the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world. Human traffickers supply males and females to their customers for sex, labor, ritual practices, or organ harvesting. Sexual exploitation makes up 66% of global profits in human trafficking. According to a report in 2017 by the State Department Trafficking in…
What is it and why is it important? Thousands of people have spent time in prison for crimes they did not commit. Since 1989, 225 people have been exonerated after serving time in prison. Since the 1970’s, 123 people have been exonerated from death row. Eye witness misidentification, jailhouse informants that lie, poor forensic science,…