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March 2, 2016
Title: The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Dr. Barry Latzer
with Dr. Barry Latzer
Part 1 of 4
Dr. Barry Latzer was with us a few weeks ago and we just did not have time to discuss everything about his great new book, “The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America”.
Dr. Latzer has been on both sides of the aisle. He’s a renowned criminologist who has served as the Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn and also as Appellate Counsel for indigent criminal defendants in New York City.
Dr. Latzer explains that there have been spikes in the crime rates over the last five to ten years; some cities are obviously worse than others and there has been a few years where violent crime has decreased dramatically. Houston, for example, has seen an increase in violent crime since 2014, but not much of a difference since 2010.
Dr. Latzer describes two “camps” in his book. One camp suggests crime rates are affected by economics, while one camp blames culture. Dr. Latzer says that studies reveal “poor people do much more violent crime than middle class and affluent people.” On the other hand, “Southern white and black males alike both seem to be more trigger-happy than their Yankee counter-parts,” Dr. Latzer discloses. But, why? Listen in as he explains why he believes both camps are correct in their assertion of “who is to blame”, so to speak, and the influence drug use has had on violent crime.
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Title: Part 2 of 4 - The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Dr. Barry Latzer
with Dr. Barry Latzer
From the 1950’s until the early 1990’s, violent crimes such as
murder, rape, assault, and robbery have skyrocketed over 350%, largely due to
the increased use of crack cocaine and other drugs. The knowledge
of this frightening fact has greatly influenced many Americans’ decision on
where to live and raise a family – even where to shop and go on vacation.
“The public is in a fearful state, not just because of every day crimes, but
also because of mass killings,” Dr. Latzer assets. No place – no
neighborhood – no church is safe. Just look at the recent Kalamazoo mass
shootings! The perpetrator was a normal white man who didn’t seem to have a
grudge against anyone. Dr. Latzer says everyone should be on their guard
everywhere they go, especially when alone. Also, don’t go into high crime areas!
That should be a given…
However, people should not be afraid to leave their houses, because the majority
of violent crimes are committed by people who know their victims. In fact, Dr.
Latzer reveals that, “Nearly three-quarters of homicides in this country
[are committed by] family members or acquaintances of the victim.” (data
from 2014) He also warns everyone to be aware of family members and friends who
tend to exhibit violent behavior and abuse alcohol or drugs; report any and all
suspicious behavior.
Too often, we hear a criminal or a criminal’s family blame their background or
their ancestors for the crime committed. It’s not “their” fault because they’ve
been oppressed for the last 200 years. “When it comes down to it, you must
deal with individuals,” Dr. Latzer states. “You can have groups with
high crime cultures and perfectly law abiding citizens….The law doesn’t accept
excuses. That is not a valid defense.”
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Title: Part 3 of 4 - The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Dr. Barry Latzer
with Dr. Barry Latzer
In this short segment with Dr. Barry Latzer, he discusses the
negative effects of broken families, especially if the father is incarcerated.
But, what if the mother is nurturing, caring, loving, and involved in her
child’s life? Will the child have a better chance of survival without turning to
crime? Listen in!
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Title: Part 4 of 4 - The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Dr. Barry Latzer
with Dr. Barry Latzer
Dr. Latzer argues that, throughout history, different social groups
have engaged in different amounts of violent crime. Impoverished
Jewish, Polish, and German immigrants had relatively low crime rates, while
disadvantaged Italian, Mexican, and Irish entrants committed violent crime at
very high rates. If it’s not economics, what explains these differences in
violent crime rates among social groups? This is a very difficult issue to
discuss, however, without someone being offended, thinking we are being racist
or insensitive to a particular ethnic race. “This is not a racial argument
or even genetics. When these groups move up to the middle class, they shed their
violence,” he reveals.
What are the true facts – the real statistics – concerning blacks and violent
crime? The black on black homicide rates have been at least seven times higher
than whites for the entire twentieth century, into the twenty-first. This is
fact. This is not judgment against blacks; it is pure fact. “That is a
reflection of the willingness to use violence to resolve personal disputes,”
Dr. Latzer proclaims. Someone says something and the other person gets offended;
they have not been properly taught how to control that anger, therefore, they
resort to violence.
Another Fact: Black on white crime (especially murder) is much, much higher than
white on black crime. The “Black Lives Matter” movement does not consider these
facts, though, when spewing their hateful message across the country, especially
at colleges and universities. “They are focused on police abuse, not the
black offender,” Dr. Latzer blasts.
Dr. Latzer also discusses over-crowded prisons and the number of people who are
incarcerated on drug charges. First, only sixteen percent of all inmates across
the country are in jail due to drug charges, and the majority of those criminals
are the leaders – the drug dealers. But how do we stop the revolving door?
Listen in as Dr. Latzer offers his suggestions and discusses the future,
including the importance of the family.
For a copy of Dr. Latzer’s book, “The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in
America”, click
here.
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February 5, 2016
Title: Part 1 of 4 - The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Dr. Barry Latzer
with Dr. Barry Latzer
New York City’s murder rate soared nearly 10% in the last year.
In Chicago, the homicide toll climbed 20% and in Washington DC, Baltimore, and St. Louis the rate has skyrocketed by 40% or more. In Milwaukee, the murder rate increased 76%. The sudden return of violent crime reminds many Americans of the post-1960’s crime wave that gripped the country and impacted nearly all aspects of their daily lives. And they do not want to go back.
NNew guest, Dr. Barry Latzer, is the author of several books, including his newest book, “The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America”. Barry has been both an Assistant District Attorney (in Brooklyn, NY) and criminal defendant attorney (in NYC). He has seen the best and worst of both worlds.
Violent crimes are those in the categories of murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Dr. Barry Latzer says, “Before the 1960’s, crime rates were very low. But starting in the mid-to-late 1960’s…violent crime began to rise. From 1960 until 1980, the rise in violent crime is a staggering 353%.” Listen in as he describes the reason behind the rise (crack cocaine) and then the ultimate decline (they got too old!). Dr. Latzer will continue with this explanation in the next segment.
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Title: Part 2 of 4 - The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Dr. Barry Latzer
with Dr. Barry Latzer
Dr. Barry Latzer continues to discuss “The Rise and Fall of Violent
Crime in America”. When the baby boomers started growing older in
the 1980’s, the wave of violent crime started to decline. I guess they realized
crime really isn’t as cool as they thought it was. Neither was crack cocaine.
This was during a time when prosecutors also began getting tougher on the
criminal, handing down steeper sentences – even for small time drug users and
sellers.
Dr. Latzer also discusses how economic developments contribute to the rise and
fall of crime. It’s important to realize that certain ethnicities and races
absolutely do have varying statistics regarding crime rates. It’s not racist;
it’s fact. “It’s not a surprise that poor people commit more violent crime.
You have a lot less to lose than richer people,” Dr. Barry relates.
But what happens to these statistics when the economy is in a depression or a
recession? Listen in as Dr. Latzer gives some information that just might shock
you! In the next segment, he talks more about the crime statistics in regards to
race, family situations, and how we can break the cycle.
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Title: Part 3 of 4 - The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Dr. Barry Latzer
with Dr. Barry Latzer
Crime breeds more crime. Through his research, Dr.
Barry Latzer has discovered there are “distinctive groups with different
behaviors” which create crime. The research cannot be racist or biased; the
research is fact. Dr. Barry says, “There are cultural differences –
differences in the way groups behave and have behaved for long periods of time.”
Dr. Latzer explains that violent crime is not always what you think – gang
related, mass murderers, robbing a bank. The majority of homicides, for example,
involve family members, friends, or colleagues. “The male engages in
violence instead of resolving the dispute by discussion,” he points out.
But who is responsible for this violence? Dr. Barry reveals that it is “groups
who have migrated within the United States”. Listen in as he explains this
statement. He discusses the importance of the intact family and its connection
to less crime in the last segment, so listen in!
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Title: Part 4 of 4 - The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America
Topic: Book Review
Discussed by Dr. Barry Latzer
with Dr. Barry Latzer
We talk a lot about the importance of the intact family here on the
What’s UP Radio Program – eating together, praying together, attending church
together, doing activities together. We understand that many of
you are single parents; we do not want to diminish the role you play as both
mother and father. You just keep doing what you’re doing because it will make an
impact. What we’re discussing now is the importance of just being there for your
kids.
Dr. Barry Latzer has researched crime statistics for the 20th Century up until
the present. One trend that he has discovered is the absent father, especially
if the father is in prison. However, if the mother is present and caring and
involved, the absence of the father does not make such an impact on the
children.
But, how do we break the crime cycle? Violent crime is making its way throughout
the suburbs; it’s not just in the inner city anymore. Listen in as Dr. Barry
Latzer offers his suggestions to families and parents.
You can order a copy of Barry Latzer’s new book, “The
Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America”, on Amazon.
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