Updated:2024

1) According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, only 42% of violent crimes and 36% of property crimes are reported to authorities, despite a significant decline in the property crime rate over the past few decades. Of that 42%, only 46% of cases are cleared. Therefore, less than a quarter of violent crimes get solved.

2) The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration.

3) Homes with no alarm systems are 300% more likely to be burglarized than homes with one. Having a security system can significantly reduce the risk of burglary.

4) If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights, stick your arm out the hole, and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

5) The electric chair was invented by a dentist.

6) The Innocence Project reports that approximately 72% of wrongful convictions are the result of eyewitness misidentification.

7) Your kidney is worth about $160K on the black market. However, the typical price paid to the donor is around $5,000, with much of the proceeds taken up by middlemen.

8) How does one go about protecting themselves when it is deemed that a felon may not be allowed the liberty of having a firearm to protect themselves? The list of weapons is as follows:

knives, crossbows, muzzleloaders (rifles and pistols), some antique firearms, machetes, baseball bats (with or without barbed wire or nails), pepper spray, stun guns, axes, hatchets, hammers chains, flame throwers, rocks, bricks, hands and feet (preferably their own), steel-toed boots, blow guns, air rifles, and even the old-school pillow case filled with soda cans or soap bars.

Weapons and tactical experts strongly suggest inquiring about your state, county, and local laws and ordinances. Better yet, consult a lawyer or parole officer for a more definitive answer.

9) Criminologists have discovered that specific neurotransmitters in the brain, hormonal imbalances, and slower-acting autonomic nervous systems tend to make people more likely to commit crimes. Understanding these factors is crucial for those pursuing a career in criminal justice, as it can inform various aspects of the criminal justice system.

10) Most arsonists are male (86%), and about half of intentional fires are set by children. Violent incidents involving arson can have devastating effects on communities.

11) In a report published by The Leadership Conference, Civil Asset Forfeiture laws create a perverse financial incentive for federal, state, and local law enforcement to pursue profit over the fair administration of justice, and is widely considered as “legalized theft”. In more than 80% of asset forfeiture cases, the owner of the property is never charged with a crime, yet government officials can and usually do keep the seized property. This highlights significant issues within federal law.

12) Nearly half a million U.S. inmates on any given day have not been convicted of a crime.

13) Rapper Tupac Shakur needed money to bail himself out of jail, and Suge Knight came through with the infamous “Death Row Records Napkin Contract”, which was a (3) Album ($3.5 million) contract. What makes the contract even more special is Interscope Records deems this to be “Tupac’s Bail Agreement” and details how when signed, they would release Tupac out of prison.

14) Ohio DUI offenders must use yellow license plates.

15) Famed philosopher Plato believed that crime was the result of a lack of education. He also felt that punishment should be based on how much at fault the criminal was.

16) A tip from Tae Kwon Do – The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do.

17) If you have criminal tendencies, which hand you prefer could determine how many crimes you commit. Even though only 10% of the population is left-handed, 33% of criminals with multiple arrests are left-handed.

18) Ghosting is a form of identity theft in which someone steals the identity, and sometimes even the role within society of a specific dead person who is not widely known to be deceased. Usually, the person who steals the identity (the ghost) is roughly the same age that the ghost would have been if still alive so any documents citing the birthdate of the ghost will not be incorrect if appropriated by the thief now claiming to be that person.

19) Police solve only 13% of reported burglary cases. (Pew Research) Law enforcement agencies often face challenges in reporting and clearing crime statistics accurately. Many Americans perceive there is more crime in the U.S. despite evidence showing crime rates are actually declining.

20) According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, people of color, particularly black males, face longer sentences than their white non-Hispanic counterparts for similar crimes.

21) Managers commit more criminal offenses than hourly employees do.

22) Crimes against the real estate financing industry result in higher losses than in any other sector of white-collar crime.

23) Many players will go down in the record books accompanied by the infamous (*) by their name and accomplishments. Such is the case with Major League Baseball home run leader Barry Bonds as he still hasn’t been inducted into the hall of fame due to being convicted of one felony count of obstruction of justice for giving an incomplete answer as to whether he used performance-enhancing drugs during his extraordinary ball career. As he put it, I’m a convicted felon for obstruction of justice, and that’s who I am. I live with it. I’m a felon but not a steroid user.

*Barry Bonds obstruction conviction has since been overturned.

24) The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program has identified the following data. 65% of people personally know their thief, meaning there’s a very good chance your neighbor or acquaintance could attempt to rob you. Crime rates are often presented per 100,000 residents to provide a clearer understanding of the data.

25) In some states, necrophilia (sexual attraction to corpses, which can include the act of having sex) is a felony offense, but it’s a mere misdemeanor in other states. And in over 20 states, there is no law against necrophilia. It’s not limited to the United States either. Many other countries do not have established laws against the act of necrophilia.

26) False confessions have figured in 24 percent of the approximately 289 convictions reversed by DNA evidence.

27) The Securities and Exchange Commission had numerous failed attempts (8) to investigate Bernie Madoff’s Firm in 15 Years, coming up with nothing and being oblivious to what was going on.**Ultimately though, it was the Wall Street swindler to be the one to turn himself in, confessing to a massive 65 billion dollar Ponzi scheme. Otherwise, it may have continued to go on.

28) The Ford F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for 43 years running, and it unsurprisingly takes the top spot as the most stolen vehicle in America, supplanting the Honda Civic as the top target of theft.

29) It is illegal to lick a toad, more specifically the Cane toad, which can grow to the size of a dinner plate and produces a toxin called bufotenine. When licked raw or cooked, the toxin acts as a hallucinogen. Editors note: Please don’t try that at home kids. Violent crime is dangerous.

30) On average, a drunk driver will drive 80 times under the influence before their first arrest.

31) Any person who is an expert in the art of karate or judo, or anything similarly physical in which the hands and feet are used as deadly weapons is required to register them with the Department of Revenue and Taxation.

32) The sport of boxing is a very tough world, however boxing promoter Don King may be the toughest of them all. Although King has supposedly bribed men, stolen money, and hired assassins, the only things he’s ever been convicted of are manslaughter and fraud (awe-shucks). After four years in prison, he was pardoned by the governor of Ohio, despite a fifteen-year sentence.

33) There is nothing harmless about the so-called Visine prank (as illustrated by the movie Wedding Crashers). The myth is you’ll have a simple case of diarrhea, however, by ingesting the active ingredient in it tetrahydrozoline, one can be impaired with blurred vision, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, seizures, tremors, coma, and respiratory arrest. Good times.

34) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have had their identities stolen each year.

35) A 40-year-old man faced felony charges after releasing a dozen heart-shaped helium balloons in a romantic gesture for his wife. Unfortunately, he was charged with polluting to harm humans, animals, and plants under a rarely used environmental crime statute. It’s a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. For the record, other third-degree felonies include aggravated assault, repeated drinking and driving, battery on a law enforcement officer, and cocaine possession. So yeah, welcome to Florida.

36) Technically, it is against the law to own the Encyclopedia Britannica set in Texas, as there is a volume that contains a recipe for making beer, and lawmakers who disapprove of home breweries deemed it punishable to just have the recipe. If enforced, the individual could face jail time or fines.

37) Billionaire Michael Bloomberg, singer John Legend, and basketball star LeBron James are among many donors who helped raise $20 million to pay off the debts of thousands of ex-convicts in the state of Florida who had finished their prison sentences.

38) Rodney Alcala, aka the “Dating Game Killer,” won an episode of The Dating Game in 1978 — right in the middle of his murder spree.

39) As a general rule, if you’ve ever been convicted of a felony, a sex offense, or a crime of moral turpitude, you cannot change your name. You also cannot change your name while facing criminal charges or while involved in a court case. Any other offense does not specifically restrict you from changing your name.

40) Instagram king Dan Bilzerian’s father (Paul) has led an interesting life just as well – he’s an American businessman, corporate takeover specialist, Vietnam vet, Stanford and Harvard graduate, and convicted felon.

41) The next time you park illegally, put a folded piece of neon paper under your windshield wiper to simulate giving yourself a ticket before someone else does.

42) Larceny/theft is the most popular crime to commit, far outweighing any other. More than 7 million cases are reported each year, making up almost 60% of all reported crimes. Property crime rates have significantly declined over the years, yet property crimes like larceny and theft remain common.

43) According to Scientific American, the urban legend of dropping a penny from the top of the Empire State Building will not kill anyone. The penny is too small and flat for it to gain enough natural momentum to make any fatal impact. A physicist at the University of Virginia adds “At most, if you were hit, it might feel like being flicked in the forehead, but not even very hard”. The violent crime rate has also seen significant declines since the early 1990s, despite public perception.**

44) Kim Kardashian has helped free 17 convicted felons from prison.

45) While some people assume that all criminal records are linked to a person’s Social Security Number, that is not always the case. If a person has changed their name and an employer runs a background check using their new name, the check won’t find any information associated with the candidate’s old name.

46) If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running water, or what you think is a burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT AND INVESTIGATE. People will turn on all your taps full blast so that you will go out to check and attack you.

47) Much of what people post on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and other sites is negative and even mean-spirited. Sometimes it damages the reputation of others. Posting something negative or mean-spirited is not in and of itself illegal or subject to a lawsuit. However, defamation requires that whatever is said online or off, not harm a person’s reputation but that it is also provably false. This means if someone insults you, no matter how much you hate it, for it to be considered defamatory, it must also be untrue. Thus allowing one legal recourse.

48) In the country of Samoa, it is a crime to forget your wife’s birthday.

49) Contrary to popular belief, according to Child Find of America, there is no time in which someone must wait before reporting a person missing. Furthermore, acting within the first 48 hours is crucial to successfully locating a missing person.

50) The film Training Day, starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke featured a cast of extras made up of members of the Rollin’ 60 Crips, PJ Watts Crips, and B.P. Stones (a Bloods set). Interestingly enough, the original screenplay ended with Alonzo (Denzel Washington) escaping punishment for his crimes, rather than the one that made the cut with him dying violently in a hail of bullets.

BONUS CONTENT

Trends in Crime Rates

Crime rates in the United States have been on a steady decline over the past few decades, painting a more optimistic picture than many might expect.

• According to the FBI, the overall crime rate has plummeted by a staggering 51% since the early 1990s. This includes a 41% decrease in property crime and an impressive 51% drop in violent crime between 1993 and 2018. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) echoes these findings, reporting similar declines in both property and violent crimes during the same period.

So, what’s behind this downward trend? Experts attribute it to a combination of factors, including enhanced law enforcement efforts, improved crime prevention strategies, and demographic shifts.

These justice statistics highlight the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in tackling crime, even as public perception often lags behind the reality of these positive changes.

Crime Reporting and Perception

Despite the encouraging decline in crime rates, many Americans still believe that crime is on the rise.

• A Gallup survey revealed that 57% of respondents thought crime had increased since 2008, even though data from both the FBI and BJS show that violent crimes and property crimes have fallen by double digits. This gap between perception and reality can be attributed to the media’s focus on high-profile crimes, which can skew public understanding of actual crime rates.

Moreover, the FBI’s crime records are not always complete, adding to the uncertainty. This discrepancy underscores the importance of accurate crime statistics and the need for law enforcement agencies to improve their data collection and reporting methods. By doing so, they can help bridge the gap between public perception and the true state of crime in the country.

Property Crime

Property crime, encompassing burglary, theft, and auto theft, remains a significant concern, accounting for a whopping 85% of all reported crimes in the United States.

However, there’s a silver lining: property crime rates have decreased by 41% since 1993, according to the BJS. This decline is particularly notable in burglary rates, thanks in part to the widespread adoption of alarm and home security systems.

• Homes equipped with security systems are far less likely to be targeted by burglars. Properties without such systems are 300% more likely to be burglarized. Investing in a high-tech security system can significantly reduce the risk of home invasion, making it a crucial component in the fight against property crime.

Firearm Use in Crime

The use of firearms in crime has seen a significant decline since the 1990s. The FBI reports that the number of firearm incidents in the United States dropped from over 1.2 million in 1993 to just over 400,000 in 2011.

• Despite this decrease, firearms remain the weapon of choice in many violent crimes. Around 40.8% of robbers use guns, and aggravated assaults involving firearms occur just under a quarter of the time.

While the overall trend is positive, gun violence continues to be a pressing issue. Recent increases in cases of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter highlight the ongoing challenge of addressing firearm-related crimes.

Law enforcement agencies and policymakers must continue to focus on strategies to reduce gun violence and ensure public safety.

Home Burglaries

Home burglaries are a prevalent form of property crime, with over 2 million incidents occurring annually in the United States.

• Interestingly, most of these burglaries take place during the daytime, between 10 AM and 3 PM, when many people are at work or school.
• Alarmingly, 30% of the time, someone is at home when the burglary occurs.

Burglars often exploit information about the victim’s lifestyle and schedule to plan their thefts. This makes it crucial for homeowners to be vigilant and take preventive measures.

Homes without alarm systems are 300% more likely to be burglarized, underscoring the importance of investing in a reliable security system to protect your property and loved ones.

The Criminal Justice System

The criminal justice system plays a pivotal role in addressing crime in the United States, but it faces significant challenges. Many crimes go unreported, and a large number remain unsolved.

• According to the BJS, only 45% of violent crimes in 2017 were reported to the police, and for property crimes, the reporting rate was just 36%. The FBI’s data reveals that many crimes remain unsolved, with a clearance rate of 46% for violent crimes and a mere 18% for property crimes.

These statistics highlight the need for better resources, efficient data collection, and increased community trust in the criminal justice system. Addressing these issues is essential for improving crime reporting and solving rates, ultimately enhancing public safety and confidence in law enforcement agencies.

Conclusion

Let me ask you something – did you enjoy reading about ~useless~ useful criminal trivia knowledge? Did you learn anything from it?

Well, hopefully, you’re not now totally depressed about the world we live in and want to hang yourself. Cause if not, check out some of my sites and some of these other helpful posts…

• How To Make Your Probation Officer Really Like You
• Does Kratom Affect Your Probation
• The Most Expensive Advice I Ever Got From An Attorney
• Why Use A Burner Phone
• Cheat Codes That Will Improve Your Life Or Put You In Prison

Educate yourself on your situation, because nobody will do it for you. Stay well and out of trouble.

–The Educated Felon