Friday, May 23, 2014

Ignored evidence linking corporal punishment, poverty and crime grows

In Politics, not technology, caused botched executions In indicated that statistics among other research clearly shows that the death penalty doesn't work as a deterrent. FBI crime statistics for 2012 add to that evidence showing that if anything states without the death penalty have lower rates for violent crime and they also show that there is a correlation with high crime rates, the use of corporal punishment in schools, and high poverty rates.

Crime rates, including violent crime have been slowly but steadily decreasing since the early nineties; this includes the two years prior to 2012, but not 2012 which is virtually unchanged. It remains to be seen whether the crime drop is leveling off, beginning a reverse or just slowing down for one year. But there is plenty of research out there to better understand why crime has been dropping and how to continue policies that will continue it. Unfortunately the traditional media and political establishment might not be willing to acknowledge some of the best research and base their decisions on it or report it to the public. Past research along with new research and this review of crime, mostly in 2011-12 almost certainly indicates that the leading contributing causes of crime include poverty and escalating violence starting with child abuse and corporal punishment. This review may not be the best research; but it isn't hard to do a better job than our current politicians or media which spends and enormous amount of time presenting crap like Nancy Grace and Jane-Velez Mitchell.

The following chart is based on statistics from the FBI; presumably these have been peer reviewed however that doesn't guarantee that they're perfect. Murders are the only crimes that local communities are required to report; so other crimes are reported on a voluntary basis. The DPIC has also compiled a list of murder rates which goes back 17 years and it indicates similar results based on all three categories although they focus on the death penalty.

Following each State name indicates whether they have the death penalty or corporal punishment in schools and how high their poverty rates are. Corporal punishment in schools is abbreviated CP in S; death penalty is abbreviated DP; poverty rates are based on List of U.S. states by poverty rate; the average is 12.6%; the second figure is the supplementary rate adjusted geographically according to the cost of living.

A summation of the correlation of corporal punishment in schools and poverty follows the chart.


Area Year Population1 Violent crime Murder and
nonnegligent
manslaughter
Forcible rape Robbery Aggravated assault Property crime Burglary Larceny-theft Motor vehicle theft
Number Rate per
100,000
Number Rate per
100,000
Number Rate per
100,000
Number Rate per
100,000
Number Rate per
100,000
Number Rate per
100,000
Number Rate per
100,000
Number Rate per
100,000
Number Rate per
100,000
United States Total2, 3, 4, 5 2011 311,587,816 1,206,031 387.1 14,661 4.7 84,175 27.0 354,772 113.9 752,423 241.5 9,052,743 2,905.4 2,185,140 701.3 6,151,095 1,974.1 716,508 230.0
2012 313,914,040 1,214,464 386.9 14,827 4.7 84,376 26.9 354,522 112.9 760,739 242.3 8,975,438 2,859.2 2,103,787 670.2 6,150,598 1,959.3 721,053 229.7
Percent change +0.7 * +1.1 +0.4 +0.2 -0.5 -0.1 -0.8 +1.1 +0.4 -0.9 -1.6 -3.7 -4.4 * -0.7 +0.6 -0.1

District of Columbia/ No CP in S / No DP5

2011 619,020 7,433 1,200.8 108 17.4 173 27.9 4,094 661.4 3,058 494.0 29,654 4,790.5 3,850 622.0 21,347 3,448.5 4,457 720.0
2012 632,323 7,864 1,243.7 88 13.9 236 37.3 4,036 638.3 3,504 554.1 30,736 4,860.8 3,519 556.5 23,556 3,725.3 3,661 579.0
Percent change +5.8 +3.6 -18.5 -20.2 +36.4 +33.5 -1.4 -3.5 +14.6 +12.2 +3.6 +1.5 -8.6 -10.5 +10.3 +8.0 -17.9 -19.6

1. Tennessee / DP / CP in S 1.5% / 15.0%/14.3% poverty rate

2011 6,399,787 38,895 607.8 380 5.9 2,095 32.7 8,082 126.3 28,338 442.8 230,900 3,607.9 62,830 981.8 153,928 2,405.2 14,142 221.0
2012 6,456,243 41,550 643.6 388 6.0 2,032 31.5 8,169 126.5 30,961 479.6 217,664 3,371.4 56,181 870.2 148,503 2,300.1 12,980 201.0
Percent change +6.8 +5.9 +2.1 +1.2 -3.0 -3.9 +1.1 +0.2 +9.3 +8.3 -5.7 -6.6 -10.6 -11.4 -3.5 -4.4 -8.2 -9.0
2. Nevada / DP / No CP in S / 10.6%/17.9% poverty rate

2011 2,720,028 15,452 568.1 139 5.1 913 33.6 4,308 158.4 10,092 371.0 70,075 2,576.3 20,342 747.9 40,156 1,476.3 9,577 352.1
2012 2,758,931 16,763 607.6 124 4.5 931 33.7 4,918 178.3 10,790 391.1 77,510 2,809.4 22,120 801.8 45,372 1,644.6 10,018 363.1
Percent change +8.5 +7.0 -10.8 -12.0 +2.0 +0.5 +14.2 +12.5 +6.9 +5.4 +10.6 +9.1 +8.7 +7.2 +13.0 +11.4 +4.6 +3.1
3. Alaska / No DP / No CP in S / 10.0%/11.0% poverty rate

2011 723,860 4,416 610.1 30 4.1 436 60.2 576 79.6 3,374 466.1 19,094 2,637.8 2,852 394.0 14,854 2,052.1 1,388 191.7
2012 731,449 4,412 603.2 30 4.1 583 79.7 630 86.1 3,169 433.2 20,037 2,739.4 2,950 403.3 15,565 2,128.0 1,522 208.1
Percent change -0.1 -1.1 0.0 -1.0 +33.7 +32.3 +9.4 +8.2 -6.1 -7.1 +4.9 +3.8 +3.4 +2.4 +4.8 +3.7 +9.7 +8.5
4. New Mexico / No DP / CP in S .2% (banned in 2011) / 17.9%/15.8% poverty rate

2011 2,078,674 11,904 572.7 158 7.6 856 41.2 1,720 82.7 9,170 441.1 73,549 3,538.3 21,419 1,030.4 46,730 2,248.1 5,400 259.8
2012 2,085,538 11,660 559.1 116 5.6 957 45.9 1,847 88.6 8,740 419.1 75,094 3,600.7 21,384 1,025.3 48,247 2,313.4 5,463 261.9
Percent change -2.0 -2.4 -26.6 -26.8 +11.8 +11.4 +7.4 +7.0 -4.7 -5.0 +2.1 +1.8 -0.2 -0.5 +3.2 +2.9 +1.2 +0.8
5. South Carolina / DP / CP in S .2% / 15.0%/13.8% poverty rate

2011 4,673,348 27,894 596.9 320 6.8 1,678 35.9 4,631 99.1 21,265 455.0 183,243 3,921.0 47,351 1,013.2 122,255 2,616.0 13,637 291.8
2012 4,723,723 26,397 558.8 324 6.9 1,679 35.5 4,489 95.0 19,905 421.4 180,550 3,822.2 45,086 954.5 122,263 2,588.3 13,201 279.5
Percent change -5.4 -6.4 +1.3 +0.2 +0.1 -1.0 -3.1 -4.1 -6.4 -7.4 -1.5 -2.5 -4.8 -5.8 * -1.1 -3.2 -4.2
6. Delaware / No DP / No CP in S / 9.2%/13.9% poverty rate

2011 908,137 5,144 566.4 48 5.3 307 33.8 1,558 171.6 3,231 355.8 31,163 3,431.5 7,617 838.8 22,001 2,422.7 1,545 170.1
2012 917,092 5,020 547.4 57 6.2 243 26.5 1,492 162.7 3,228 352.0 30,639 3,340.9 7,371 803.7 21,832 2,380.6 1,436 156.6
Percent change -2.4 -3.4 +18.8 +17.6 -20.8 -21.6 -4.2 -5.2 -0.1 -1.1 -1.7 -2.6 -3.2 -4.2 -0.8 -1.7 -7.1 -8.0
7. Louisiana / DP / CP in S 1.7% / 18.3%/12.8% poverty rate

2011 4,574,766 25,373 554.6 506 11.1 1,262 27.6 5,235 114.4 18,370 401.6 168,529 3,683.9 46,242 1,010.8 113,174 2,473.9 9,113 199.2
2012 4,601,893 22,868 496.9 495 10.8 1,158 25.2 5,475 119.0 15,740 342.0 162,936 3,540.6 42,140 915.7 112,915 2,453.7 7,881 171.3
Percent change -9.9 -10.4 -2.2 -2.8 -8.2 -8.8 +4.6 +4.0 -14.3 -14.8 -3.3 -3.9 -8.9 -9.4 -0.2 -0.8 -13.5 -14.0
8. Florida / DP / CP in S .3% / 11.1%/19.5% poverty rate

2011 19,082,262 98,198 514.6 984 5.2 5,273 27.6 25,622 134.3 66,319 347.5 671,200 3,517.4 170,171 891.8 461,408 2,418.0 39,621 207.6
2012 19,317,568 94,087 487.1 1,009 5.2 5,260 27.2 23,889 123.7 63,929 330.9 632,988 3,276.7 153,563 794.9 442,095 2,288.6 37,330 193.2
Percent change -4.2 -5.4 +2.5 +1.3 -0.2 -1.5 -6.8 -7.9 -3.6 -4.8 -5.7 -6.8 -9.8 -10.9 -4.2 -5.4 -5.8 -6.9
9. Maryland / No DP / No CP in S / 9.7%/14.0% poverty rate

2011 5,839,572 28,817 493.5 399 6.8 1,200 20.5 10,342 177.1 16,876 289.0 166,846 2,857.2 35,823 613.5 114,951 1,968.5 16,072 275.2
2012 5,884,563 28,055 476.8 369 6.3 1,235 21.0 10,141 172.3 16,310 277.2 162,031 2,753.5 33,732 573.2 113,274 1,924.9 15,025 255.3
Percent change -2.6 -3.4 -7.5 -8.2 +2.9 +2.1 -1.9 -2.7 -3.4 -4.1 -2.9 -3.6 -5.8 -6.6 -1.5 -2.2 -6.5 -7.2
10. Oklahoma / DP / CP in S 2.3% / 15.6%/10.8% poverty rate

2011 3,784,163 17,311 457.5 212 5.6 1,410 37.3 3,288 86.9 12,401 327.7 127,618 3,372.4 36,462 963.5 80,064 2,115.8 11,092 293.1
2012 3,814,820 17,902 469.3 216 5.7 1,588 41.6 3,231 84.7 12,867 337.3 129,743 3,401.0 35,731 936.6 82,448 2,161.3 11,564 303.1
Percent change +3.4 +2.6 +1.9 +1.1 +12.6 +11.7 -1.7 -2.5 +3.8 +2.9 +1.7 +0.8 -2.0 -2.8 +3.0 +2.2 +4.3 +3.4
11. Arkansas / DP / CP in S 4.7% / 15.9%/15.9% poverty rate

2011 2,938,582 14,173 482.3 160 5.4 1,230 41.9 2,357 80.2 10,426 354.8 110,430 3,757.9 34,016 1,157.6 70,645 2,404.1 5,769 196.3
2012 2,949,131 13,835 469.1 173 5.9 1,247 42.3 2,320 78.7 10,095 342.3 107,941 3,660.1 31,890 1,081.3 70,327 2,384.7 5,724 194.1
Percent change -2.4 -2.7 +8.1 +7.7 +1.4 +1.0 -1.6 -1.9 -3.2 -3.5 -2.3 -2.6 -6.3 -6.6 -0.5 -0.8 -0.8 -1.1
12. Michigan / No DP / No CP in S / 12.0%/12.4% poverty rate

2011 9,876,801 43,731 442.8 617 6.2 4,344 44.0 10,263 103.9 28,507 288.6 251,329 2,544.6 69,755 706.3 156,666 1,586.2 24,908 252.2
2012 9,883,360 44,922 454.5 689 7.0 4,589 46.4 10,434 105.6 29,210 295.5 250,101 2,530.5 65,665 664.4 159,321 1,612.0 25,115 254.1
Percent change +2.7 +2.7 +11.7 +11.6 +5.6 +5.6 +1.7 +1.6 +2.5 +2.4 -0.5 -0.6 -5.9 -5.9 +1.7 +1.6 +0.8 +0.8
13. Missouri / DP / CP in S .6% / 11.6%/12.8% poverty rate

2011 6,008,984 26,888 447.5 366 6.1 1,469 24.4 6,275 104.4 18,778 312.5 199,085 3,313.1 44,875 746.8 138,879 2,311.2 15,331 255.1
2012 6,021,988 27,155 450.9 389 6.5 1,511 25.1 5,782 96.0 19,473 323.4 199,590 3,314.4 42,466 705.2 140,816 2,338.4 16,308 270.8
Percent change +1.0 +0.8 +6.3 +6.1 +2.9 +2.6 -7.9 -8.1 +3.7 +3.5 +0.3 * -5.4 -5.6 +1.4 +1.2 +6.4 +6.1
14. Alabama / DP / CP in S 4.5% / 16.7%/15.9% poverty rate3

2011 4,803,689 20,166 419.8 299 6.2 1,370 28.5 4,906 102.1 13,591 282.9 173,192 3,605.4 51,119 1,064.2 111,411 2,319.3 10,662 222.0
2012 4,822,023 21,693 449.9 342 7.1 1,296 26.9 5,020 104.1 15,035 311.8 168,878 3,502.2 47,481 984.7 111,523 2,312.8 9,874 204.8
Percent change +7.6 +7.2 +14.4 +13.9 -5.4 -5.8 +2.3 +1.9 +10.6 +10.2 -2.5 -2.9 -7.1 -7.5 +0.1 -0.3 -7.4 -7.7
15. Arizona / DP / CP in S less than .1% / 15.2%/21.6% poverty rate

2011 6,467,315 26,789 414.2 397 6.1 2,499 38.6 7,145 110.5 16,748 259.0 229,896 3,554.7 54,695 845.7 155,400 2,402.9 19,801 306.2
2012 6,553,255 28,108 428.9 358 5.5 2,277 34.7 7,386 112.7 18,087 276.0 231,930 3,539.2 52,934 807.8 159,838 2,439.1 19,158 292.3
Percent change +4.9 +3.5 -9.8 -11.0 -8.9 -10.1 +3.4 +2.0 +8.0 +6.6 +0.9 -0.4 -3.2 -4.5 +2.9 +1.5 -3.2 -4.5
16. California / DP / No CP in S / 13.2%/22.4% poverty rate

2011 37,683,933 154,943 411.2 1,792 4.8 7,665 20.3 54,291 144.1 91,195 242.0 973,822 2,584.2 230,075 610.5 596,905 1,584.0 146,842 389.7
2012 38,041,430 160,944 423.1 1,884 5.0 7,837 20.6 56,521 148.6 94,702 248.9 1,049,465 2,758.7 245,767 646.1 635,090 1,669.5 168,608 443.2
Percent change +3.9 +2.9 +5.1 +4.1 +2.2 +1.3 +4.1 +3.1 +3.8 +2.9 +7.8 +6.8 +6.8 +5.8 +6.4 +5.4 +14.8 +13.7
17. Illinois / No DP / No CP in S / 11.5%/13.8% poverty rate

2011 12,859,752 54,523 424.0 781 6.1 3,030 23.6 20,217 157.2 30,495 237.1 344,468 2,678.7 77,719 604.4 237,362 1,845.8 29,387 228.5
2012 12,875,255 53,403 414.8 744 5.8 3,570 27.7 19,471 151.2 29,618 230.0 332,013 2,578.7 71,101 552.2 235,222 1,826.9 25,690 199.5
Percent change -2.1 -2.2 -4.7 -4.9 +17.8 +17.7 -3.7 -3.8 -2.9 -3.0 -3.6 -3.7 -8.5 -8.6 -0.9 -1.0 -12.6 -12.7
18. Texas / DP / CP in S 1.1% / 16.2%/15.9% poverty rate

2011 25,631,778 104,734 408.6 1,130 4.4 7,486 29.2 28,620 111.7 67,498 263.3 892,810 3,483.2 215,755 841.7 613,131 2,392.1 63,924 249.4
2012 26,059,203 106,476 408.6 1,144 4.4 7,711 29.6 30,382 116.6 67,239 258.0 876,059 3,361.8 204,810 785.9 606,253 2,326.4 64,996 249.4
Percent change +1.7 * +1.2 -0.4 +3.0 +1.3 +6.2 +4.4 -0.4 -2.0 -1.9 -3.5 -5.1 -6.6 -1.1 -2.7 +1.7 *
19. New York / No DP / No CP in S / 14.5%/17.6% poverty rate3

2011 19,501,616 77,463 397.2 769 3.9 2,751 14.1 28,405 145.7 45,538 233.5 371,837 1,906.7 65,227 334.5 287,361 1,473.5 19,249 98.7
2012 19,570,261 79,610 406.8 684 3.5 2,848 14.6 28,655 146.4 47,423 242.3 376,140 1,922.0 64,553 329.9 294,239 1,503.5 17,348 88.6
Percent change +2.8 +2.4 -11.1 -11.4 +3.5 +3.2 +0.9 +0.5 +4.1 +3.8 +1.2 +0.8 -1.0 -1.4 +2.4 +2.0 -9.9 -10.2
20. Massachusetts / No DP / No CP in S / 10.1%/13.6% poverty rate

2011 6,607,003 28,232 427.3 184 2.8 1,654 25.0 6,768 102.4 19,626 297.0 148,829 2,252.6 36,403 551.0 101,644 1,538.4 10,782 163.2
2012 6,646,144 26,953 405.5 121 1.8 1,642 24.7 6,552 98.6 18,638 280.4 143,089 2,153.0 34,540 519.7 99,317 1,494.4 9,232 138.9
Percent change -4.5 -5.1 -34.2 -34.6 -0.7 -1.3 -3.2 -3.8 -5.0 -5.6 -3.9 -4.4 -5.1 -5.7 -2.3 -2.9 -14.4 -14.9
21. Georgia / DP / CP in S 1.1% / 14.4%/18.8% poverty rate

2011 9,812,460 36,762 374.6 549 5.6 2,066 21.1 12,266 125.0 21,881 223.0 357,235 3,640.6 96,014 978.5 231,543 2,359.7 29,678 302.5
2012 9,919,945 37,591 378.9 581 5.9 2,124 21.4 12,463 125.6 22,423 226.0 338,329 3,410.6 86,789 874.9 223,004 2,248.0 28,536 287.7
Percent change +2.3 +1.1 +5.8 +4.7 +2.8 +1.7 +1.6 +0.5 +2.5 +1.4 -5.3 -6.3 -9.6 -10.6 -3.7 -4.7 -3.8 -4.9
22. Kansas / DP / CP in S .01% (no bruising or red marks allowed) / 12.5%/11.1% poverty rate

2011 2,870,386 10,209 355.7 111 3.9 1,122 39.1 1,448 50.4 7,528 262.3 88,655 3,088.6 18,712 651.9 63,259 2,203.8 6,684 232.9
2012 2,885,905 10,232 354.6 84 2.9 1,053 36.5 1,500 52.0 7,595 263.2 90,710 3,143.2 18,767 650.3 65,165 2,258.0 6,778 234.9
Percent change +0.2 -0.3 -24.3 -24.7 -6.1 -6.7 +3.6 +3.0 +0.9 +0.3 +2.3 +1.8 +0.3 -0.2 +3.0 +2.5 +1.4 +0.9
23. North Carolina / DP / CP in S .2% / 13.1%/14.3% poverty rate

2011 9,651,103 33,421 346.3 498 5.2 1,959 20.3 9,448 97.9 21,516 222.9 337,806 3,500.2 105,534 1,093.5 215,453 2,232.4 16,819 174.3
2012 9,752,073 34,464 353.4 479 4.9 1,984 20.3 9,392 96.3 22,609 231.8 328,594 3,369.5 99,323 1,018.5 213,151 2,185.7 16,120 165.3
Percent change +3.1 +2.1 -3.8 -4.8 +1.3 +0.2 -0.6 -1.6 +5.1 +4.0 -2.7 -3.7 -5.9 -6.9 -1.1 -2.1 -4.2 -5.1
24. Pennsylvania / DP / No CP in S / 11.2%/10.5% poverty rate

2011 12,743,948 46,189 362.4 639 5.0 3,339 26.2 16,165 126.8 26,046 204.4 283,442 2,224.1 57,966 454.9 208,604 1,636.9 16,872 132.4
2012 12,763,536 44,503 348.7 685 5.4 3,327 26.1 15,673 122.8 24,818 194.4 276,496 2,166.3 56,859 445.5 204,609 1,603.1 15,028 117.7
Percent change -3.7 -3.8 +7.2 +7.0 -0.4 -0.5 -3.0 -3.2 -4.7 -4.9 -2.5 -2.6 -1.9 -2.1 -1.9 -2.1 -10.9 -11.1
25. Indiana / DP / CP in S .5% / 12.6%/14.8% poverty rate

2011 6,516,353 21,619 331.8 306 4.7 1,758 27.0 6,977 107.1 12,578 193.0 206,016 3,161.5 50,571 776.1 140,630 2,158.1 14,815 227.4
2012 6,537,334 22,602 345.7 310 4.7 1,667 25.5 6,598 100.9 14,027 214.6 198,032 3,029.2 47,612 728.3 136,759 2,092.0 13,661 209.0
Percent change +4.5 +4.2 +1.3 +1.0 -5.2 -5.5 -5.4 -5.7 +11.5 +11.2 -3.9 -4.2 -5.9 -6.2 -2.8 -3.1 -7.8 -8.1
26. South Dakota / DP / No CP in S / 11.8%/11.6% poverty rate

2011 823,593 2,105 255.6 20 2.4 503 61.1 167 20.3 1,415 171.8 15,299 1,857.6 2,927 355.4 11,423 1,387.0 949 115.2
2012 833,354 2,682 321.8 25 3.0 585 70.2 158 19.0 1,914 229.7 17,168 2,060.1 3,258 391.0 12,845 1,541.4 1,065 127.8
Percent change +27.4 +25.9 +25.0 +23.5 +16.3 +14.9 -5.4 -6.5 +35.3 +33.7 +12.2 +10.9 +11.3 +10.0 +12.4 +11.1 +12.2 +10.9
27. West Virginia / No DP / No CP in S / 15.4%/11.3% poverty rate

2011 1,854,908 5,497 296.3 87 4.7 372 20.1 802 43.2 4,236 228.4 39,009 2,103.0 10,245 552.3 26,656 1,437.1 2,108 113.6
2012 1,855,413 5,869 316.3 72 3.9 421 22.7 838 45.2 4,538 244.6 43,878 2,364.9 11,291 608.5 30,378 1,637.3 2,209 119.1
Percent change +6.8 +6.7 -17.2 -17.3 +13.2 +13.1 +4.5 +4.5 +7.1 +7.1 +12.5 +12.5 +10.2 +10.2 +14.0 +13.9 +4.8 +4.8
28. Colorado / DP / CP in S less than .1% / 11.4%/14.8% poverty rate

2011 5,116,302 16,085 314.4 155 3.0 2,285 44.7 3,299 64.5 10,346 202.2 132,781 2,595.3 25,725 502.8 96,054 1,877.4 11,002 215.0
2012 5,187,582 16,023 308.9 162 3.1 2,113 40.7 3,395 65.4 10,353 199.6 139,270 2,684.7 26,157 504.2 101,021 1,947.4 12,092 233.1
Percent change -0.4 -1.8 +4.5 +3.1 -7.5 -8.8 +2.9 +1.5 +0.1 -1.3 +4.9 +3.4 +1.7 +0.3 +5.2 +3.7 +9.9 +8.4
29. Ohio / DP / CP in S .04% (banned in 2009) / 12.3%11.9/% poverty rate

2011 11,541,007 35,218 305.2 500 4.3 3,679 31.9 15,991 138.6 15,048 130.4 380,572 3,297.6 112,901 978.3 246,744 2,138.0 20,927 181.3
2012 11,544,225 34,595 299.7 495 4.3 3,658 31.7 15,235 132.0 15,207 131.7 359,883 3,117.4 103,421 895.9 236,950 2,052.5 19,512 169.0
Percent change -1.8 -1.8 -1.0 -1.0 -0.6 -0.6 -4.7 -4.8 +1.1 +1.0 -5.4 -5.5 -8.4 -8.4 -4.0 -4.0 -6.8 -6.8
30. New Jersey / No DP / No CP in S / 6.8%/12.2% poverty rate

2011 8,834,773 27,203 307.9 380 4.3 1,006 11.4 12,209 138.2 13,608 154.0 189,719 2,147.4 43,238 489.4 129,066 1,460.9 17,415 197.1
2012 8,864,590 25,727 290.2 388 4.4 1,035 11.7 11,385 128.4 12,919 145.7 181,481 2,047.3 42,338 477.6 122,662 1,383.7 16,481 185.9
Percent change -5.4 -5.7 +2.1 +1.8 +2.9 +2.5 -6.7 -7.1 -5.1 -5.4 -4.3 -4.7 -2.1 -2.4 -5.0 -5.3 -5.4 -5.7
31. Washington / DP / No CP in S / 10.2%/11.2% poverty rate

2011 6,823,267 20,152 295.3 163 2.4 2,320 34.0 5,627 82.5 12,042 176.5 244,209 3,579.1 56,561 828.9 162,828 2,386.4 24,820 363.8
2012 6,897,012 20,386 295.6 206 3.0 2,193 31.8 5,745 83.3 12,242 177.5 252,333 3,658.6 60,725 880.5 165,206 2,395.3 26,402 382.8
Percent change +1.2 +0.1 +26.4 +25.0 -5.5 -6.5 +2.1 +1.0 +1.7 +0.6 +3.3 +2.2 +7.4 +6.2 +1.5 +0.4 +6.4 +5.2
32. Connecticut / No DP / No CP in S / 9.7%/11.1% poverty rate

2011 3,586,717 9,889 275.7 129 3.6 689 19.2 3,689 102.9 5,382 150.1 77,205 2,152.5 15,468 431.3 55,067 1,535.3 6,670 186.0
2012 3,590,347 10,160 283.0 146 4.1 919 25.6 3,687 102.7 5,408 150.6 76,834 2,140.0 14,711 409.7 55,674 1,550.7 6,449 179.6
Percent change +2.7 +2.6 +13.2 +13.1 +33.4 +33.2 -0.1 -0.2 +0.5 +0.4 -0.5 -0.6 -4.9 -5.0 +1.1 +1.0 -3.3 -3.4
33. Wisconsin / No DP / No CP in S / 10.2%/10.7% poverty rate

2011 5,709,843 14,268 249.9 138 2.4 1,190 20.8 4,600 80.6 8,340 146.1 139,912 2,450.4 27,167 475.8 104,472 1,829.7 8,273 144.9
2012 5,726,398 16,064 280.5 173 3.0 1,219 21.3 4,622 80.7 10,050 175.5 140,513 2,453.8 27,945 488.0 104,352 1,822.3 8,216 143.5
Percent change +12.6 +12.3 +25.4 +25.0 +2.4 +2.1 +0.5 +0.2 +20.5 +20.2 +0.4 +0.1 +2.9 +2.6 -0.1 -0.4 -0.7 -1.0
34. Montana / DP / No CP in S / 13.8%/10.5% poverty rate3

2011 997,667 2,755 276.1 29 2.9 366 36.7 171 17.1 2,189 219.4 23,885 2,394.1 3,347 335.5 19,089 1,913.4 1,449 145.2
2012 1,005,141 2,736 272.2 27 2.7 379 37.7 191 19.0 2,139 212.8 25,970 2,583.7 3,894 387.4 20,387 2,028.3 1,689 168.0
Percent change -0.7 -1.4 -6.9 -7.6 +3.6 +2.8 +11.7 +10.9 -2.3 -3.0 +8.7 +7.9 +16.3 +15.5 +6.8 +6.0 +16.6 +15.7
Puerto Rico/ No CP in S /No DP

2011 3,706,690 10,540 284.4 1,136 30.6 45 1.2 6,465 174.4 2,894 78.1 51,717 1,395.2 16,591 447.6 29,273 789.7 5,853 157.9
2012 3,667,084 10,041 273.8 978 26.7 32 0.9 6,298 171.7 2,733 74.5 51,679 1,409.3 15,287 416.9 30,545 833.0 5,847 159.4
Percent change -4.7 -3.7 -13.9 -13.0 -28.9 -28.1 -2.6 -1.5 -5.6 -4.5 -0.1 +1.0 -7.9 -6.9 +4.3 +5.5 -0.1 +1.0
35. Mississippi / DP / CP in S 7.5% / 20.1%/17% poverty rate

2011 2,977,457 8,009 269.0 232 7.8 863 29.0 2,496 83.8 4,418 148.4 89,809 3,016.3 30,722 1,031.8 54,179 1,819.6 4,908 164.8
2012 2,984,926 7,786 260.8 220 7.4 822 27.5 2,284 76.5 4,460 149.4 83,906 2,811.0 28,076 940.6 51,508 1,725.6 4,322 144.8
Percent change -2.8 -3.0 -5.2 -5.4 -4.8 -5.0 -8.5 -8.7 +1.0 +0.7 -6.6 -6.8 -8.6 -8.8 -4.9 -5.2 -11.9 -12.2
36. Iowa / No DP / No CP in S / 11.3%/7.9% poverty rate

2011 3,064,097 7,883 257.3 44 1.4 866 28.3 824 26.9 6,149 200.7 72,043 2,351.2 17,573 573.5 50,472 1,647.2 3,998 130.5
2012 3,074,186 8,112 263.9 45 1.5 871 28.3 962 31.3 6,234 202.8 69,839 2,271.8 17,096 556.1 48,720 1,584.8 4,023 130.9
Percent change +2.9 +2.6 +2.3 +1.9 +0.6 +0.2 +16.7 +16.4 +1.4 +1.0 -3.1 -3.4 -2.7 -3.0 -3.5 -3.8 +0.6 +0.3
37. Nebraska / DP / No CP in S / 9.5%/9.1% poverty rate

2011 1,842,234 4,672 253.6 68 3.7 699 37.9 993 53.9 2,912 158.1 50,894 2,762.6 8,725 473.6 38,060 2,066.0 4,109 223.0
2012 1,855,525 4,814 259.4 53 2.9 711 38.3 1,130 60.9 2,920 157.4 51,118 2,754.9 8,735 470.8 38,236 2,060.7 4,147 223.5
Percent change +3.0 +2.3 -22.1 -22.6 +1.7 +1.0 +13.8 +13.0 +0.3 -0.4 +0.4 -0.3 +0.1 -0.6 +0.5 -0.3 +0.9 +0.2
38. Rhode Island / No DP / No CP in S / 12.1%/12.2% poverty rate

2011 1,050,646 2,586 246.1 20 1.9 319 30.4 744 70.8 1,503 143.1 27,976 2,662.7 6,836 650.6 18,765 1,786.0 2,375 226.1
2012 1,050,292 2,651 252.4 34 3.2 288 27.4 713 67.9 1,616 153.9 27,017 2,572.3 5,949 566.4 18,440 1,755.7 2,628 250.2
Percent change +2.5 +2.5 +70.0 +70.1 -9.7 -9.7 -4.2 -4.1 +7.5 +7.6 -3.4 -3.4 -13.0 -12.9 -1.7 -1.7 +10.7 +10.7
39. Oregon / DP / No CP in S / 12.0%/13.3% poverty rate

2011 3,868,229 9,643 249.3 84 2.2 1,239 32.0 2,237 57.8 6,083 157.3 121,869 3,150.5 20,704 535.2 92,059 2,379.9 9,106 235.4
2012 3,899,353 9,653 247.6 92 2.4 1,140 29.2 2,413 61.9 6,008 154.1 125,723 3,224.2 21,901 561.7 93,619 2,400.9 10,203 261.7
Percent change +0.1 -0.7 +9.5 +8.6 -8.0 -8.7 +7.9 +7.0 -1.2 -2.0 +3.2 +2.3 +5.8 +4.9 +1.7 +0.9 +12.0 +11.2
40. North Dakota / No DP / No CP in S / 11.2%/8.4% poverty rate

2011 684,740 1,699 248.1 24 3.5 266 38.8 91 13.3 1,318 192.5 13,334 1,947.3 2,458 359.0 9,891 1,444.5 985 143.9
2012 699,628 1,712 244.7 28 4.0 272 38.9 131 18.7 1,281 183.1 14,063 2,010.1 2,377 339.8 10,535 1,505.8 1,151 164.5
Percent change +0.8 -1.4 +16.7 +14.2 +2.3 +0.1 +44.0 +40.9 -2.8 -4.9 +5.5 +3.2 -3.3 -5.4 +6.5 +4.2 +16.9 +14.4
41. Hawaii / DP / No CP in S / 8.6%/18.0% poverty rate

2011 1,378,129 3,465 251.4 20 1.5 353 25.6 994 72.1 2,098 152.2 43,874 3,183.6 8,165 592.5 31,240 2,266.8 4,469 324.3
2012 1,392,313 3,330 239.2 29 2.1 285 20.5 1,040 74.7 1,976 141.9 42,817 3,075.2 7,979 573.1 31,233 2,243.2 3,605 258.9
Percent change -3.9 -4.9 +45.0 +43.5 -19.3 -20.1 +4.6 +3.6 -5.8 -6.8 -2.4 -3.4 -2.3 -3.3 * -1.0 -19.3 -20.2
42. Minnesota / No DP / No CP in S / 8.1%/10.7% poverty rate4

2011 5,347,299 12,323 230.5 75 1.4 2,113 39.5 3,385 63.3 6,750 126.2 136,183 2,546.8 25,681 480.3 102,354 1,914.1 8,148 152.4
2012 5,379,139 12,419 230.9 99 1.8 1,638 30.5 3,475 64.6 7,207 134.0 138,152 2,568.3 25,378 471.8 104,316 1,939.3 8,458 157.2
Percent change +0.8 +0.2 +32.0 +31.2 -22.5 -22.9 +2.7 +2.1 +6.8 +6.1 +1.4 +0.8 -1.2 -1.8 +1.9 +1.3 +3.8 +3.2
43. Kentucky / DP / CP in S .3% / 14.8%/13.2% poverty rate

2011 4,366,814 10,465 239.6 151 3.5 1,499 34.3 3,705 84.8 5,110 117.0 119,037 2,725.9 32,750 750.0 79,586 1,822.5 6,701 153.5
2012 4,380,415 9,752 222.6 195 4.5 1,272 29.0 3,535 80.7 4,750 108.4 111,826 2,552.9 29,587 675.4 75,571 1,725.2 6,668 152.2
Percent change -6.8 -7.1 +29.1 +28.7 -15.1 -15.4 -4.6 -4.9 -7.0 -7.3 -6.1 -6.3 -9.7 -9.9 -5.0 -5.3 -0.5 -0.8
44. Idaho / DP / CP in S .5% / 9.9%/11.6% poverty rate

2011 1,583,744 3,202 202.2 35 2.2 444 28.0 188 11.9 2,535 160.1 32,875 2,075.8 6,915 436.6 24,629 1,555.1 1,331 84.0
2012 1,595,728 3,318 207.9 29 1.8 479 30.0 243 15.2 2,567 160.9 31,651 1,983.5 7,186 450.3 23,101 1,447.7 1,364 85.5
Percent change +3.6 +2.8 -17.1 -17.8 +7.9 +7.1 +29.3 +28.3 +1.3 +0.5 -3.7 -4.4 +3.9 +3.1 -6.2 -6.9 +2.5 +1.7
45. Utah / DP / No CP in S / 9.2%/9.5% poverty rate

2011 2,814,347 5,547 197.1 50 1.8 901 32.0 1,079 38.3 3,517 125.0 84,084 2,987.7 13,170 468.0 64,727 2,299.9 6,187 219.8
2012 2,855,287 5,876 205.8 50 1.8 943 33.0 1,100 38.5 3,783 132.5 85,424 2,991.8 12,943 453.3 66,482 2,328.4 5,999 210.1
Percent change +5.9 +4.4 0.0 -1.4 +4.7 +3.2 +1.9 +0.5 +7.6 +6.0 +1.6 +0.1 -1.7 -3.1 +2.7 +1.2 -3.0 -4.4
46. Wyoming / DP / CP in S however it is rarely if ever used / 10.6%/9.0% poverty rate

2011 567,356 1,245 219.4 18 3.2 146 25.7 71 12.5 1,010 178.0 12,878 2,269.8 1,864 328.5 10,493 1,849.5 521 91.8
2012 576,412 1,161 201.4 14 2.4 154 26.7 61 10.6 932 161.7 13,222 2,293.8 2,125 368.7 10,513 1,823.9 584 101.3
Percent change -6.7 -8.2 -22.2 -23.4 +5.5 +3.8 -14.1 -15.4 -7.7 -9.2 +2.7 +1.1 +14.0 +12.2 +0.2 -1.4 +12.1 +10.3
47. Virginia / DP / No CP in S / 9.2%/11.7% poverty rate

2011 8,104,384 16,014 197.6 304 3.8 1,591 19.6 5,425 66.9 8,694 107.3 182,902 2,256.8 30,656 378.3 142,476 1,758.0 9,770 120.6
2012 8,185,867 15,564 190.1 314 3.8 1,452 17.7 4,706 57.5 9,092 111.1 176,985 2,162.1 29,511 360.5 138,398 1,690.7 9,076 110.9
Percent change -2.8 -3.8 +3.3 +2.3 -8.7 -9.6 -13.3 -14.1 +4.6 +3.5 -3.2 -4.2 -3.7 -4.7 -2.9 -3.8 -7.1 -8.0
48. New Hampshire / DP / No CP in S / 5.6%/10.4% poverty rate

2011 1,317,807 2,864 217.3 16 1.2 581 44.1 509 38.6 1,758 133.4 32,756 2,485.6 6,244 473.8 25,398 1,927.3 1,114 84.5
2012 1,320,718 2,481 187.9 15 1.1 449 34.0 472 35.7 1,545 117.0 30,693 2,324.0 5,444 412.2 24,226 1,834.3 1,023 77.5
Percent change -13.4 -13.6 -6.3 -6.5 -22.7 -22.9 -7.3 -7.5 -12.1 -12.3 -6.3 -6.5 -12.8 -13.0 -4.6 -4.8 -8.2 -8.4
49. Vermont / No DP / No CP in S / 7.6%/8.3% poverty rate

2011 626,592 925 147.6 11 1.8 146 23.3 99 15.8 669 106.8 15,086 2,407.6 3,838 612.5 10,720 1,710.8 528 84.3
2012 626,011 893 142.6 8 1.3 121 19.3 112 17.9 652 104.2 15,016 2,398.7 3,965 633.4 10,616 1,695.8 435 69.5
Percent change -3.5 -3.4 -27.3 -27.2 -17.1 -17.0 +13.1 +13.2 -2.5 -2.5 -0.5 -0.4 +3.3 +3.4 -1.0 -0.9 -17.6 -17.5
50. Maine / No DP / No CP in S / 12.6%/9.6% poverty rate

2011 1,328,544 1,638 123.3 26 2.0 394 29.7 370 27.9 848 63.8 33,829 2,546.3 7,865 592.0 24,886 1,873.2 1,078 81.1
2012 1,329,192 1,631 122.7 25 1.9 372 28.0 423 31.8 811 61.0 33,361 2,509.9 7,461 561.3 24,905 1,873.7 995 74.9
Percent change -0.4 -0.5 -3.8 -3.9 -5.6 -5.6 +14.3 +14.3 -4.4 -4.4 -1.4 -1.4 -5.1 -5.2 +0.1 * -7.7 -7.7
Northeast3 2011 55,597,646 196,989 354.3 2,174 3.9 10,879 19.6 68,958 124.0 114,978 206.8 1,180,679 2,123.6 243,085 437.2 861,511 1,549.5 76,083 136.8
2012 55,761,091 194,609 349.0 2,106 3.8 11,001 19.7 67,672 121.4 113,830 204.1 1,160,127 2,080.5 235,820 422.9 854,688 1,532.8 69,619 124.9
Percent change -1.2 -1.5 -3.1 -3.4 +1.1 +0.8 -1.9 -2.2 -1.0 -1.3 -1.7 -2.0 -3.0 -3.3 -0.8 -1.1 -8.5 -8.8
New England 2011 14,517,309 46,134 317.8 386 2.7 3,783 26.1 12,179 83.9 29,786 205.2 335,681 2,312.3 76,654 528.0 236,480 1,629.0 22,547 155.3
2012 14,562,704 44,769 307.4 349 2.4 3,791 26.0 11,959 82.1 28,670 196.9 326,010 2,238.7 72,070 494.9 233,178 1,601.2 20,762 142.6
Percent change -3.0 -3.3 -9.6 -9.9 +0.2 -0.1 -1.8 -2.1 -3.7 -4.0 -2.9 -3.2 -6.0 -6.3 -1.4 -1.7 -7.9 -8.2
Middle Atlantic3 2011 41,080,337 150,855 367.2 1,788 4.4 7,096 17.3 56,779 138.2 85,192 207.4 844,998 2,056.9 166,431 405.1 625,031 1,521.5 53,536 130.3
2012 41,198,387 149,840 363.7 1,757 4.3 7,210 17.5 55,713 135.2 85,160 206.7 834,117 2,024.6 163,750 397.5 621,510 1,508.6 48,857 118.6
Percent change -0.7 -1.0 -1.7 -2.0 +1.6 +1.3 -1.9 -2.2 * -0.3 -1.3 -1.6 -1.6 -1.9 -0.6 -0.8 -8.7 -9.0
Midwest4 2011 67,145,089 235,138 350.2 3,050 4.5 21,039 31.3 71,231 106.1 139,818 208.2 1,897,790 2,826.4 459,064 683.7 1,300,212 1,936.4 138,514 206.3
2012 67,316,297 238,712 354.6 3,134 4.7 21,344 31.7 69,498 103.2 144,736 215.0 1,861,182 2,764.8 433,821 644.5 1,293,237 1,921.1 134,124 199.2
Percent change +1.5 +1.3 +2.8 +2.5 +1.4 +1.2 -2.4 -2.7 +3.5 +3.3 -1.9 -2.2 -5.5 -5.7 -0.5 -0.8 -3.2 -3.4
East North Central 2011 46,503,756 169,359 364.2 2,342 5.0 14,001 30.1 58,048 124.8 94,968 204.2 1,322,297 2,843.4 338,113 727.1 885,874 1,905.0 98,310 211.4
2012 46,566,572 171,586 368.5 2,411 5.2 14,703 31.6 56,360 121.0 98,112 210.7 1,280,542 2,749.9 315,744 678.0 872,604 1,873.9 92,194 198.0
Percent change +1.3 +1.2 +2.9 +2.8 +5.0 +4.9 -2.9 -3.0 +3.3 +3.2 -3.2 -3.3 -6.6 -6.7 -1.5 -1.6 -6.2 -6.3
West North Central4 2011 20,641,333 65,779 318.7 708 3.4 7,038 34.1 13,183 63.9 44,850 217.3 575,493 2,788.1 120,951 586.0 414,338 2,007.3 40,204 194.8
2012 20,749,725 67,126 323.5 723 3.5 6,641 32.0 13,138 63.3 46,624 224.7 580,640 2,798.3 118,077 569.1 420,633 2,027.2 41,930 202.1
Percent change +2.0 +1.5 +2.1 +1.6 -5.6 -6.1 -0.3 -0.9 +4.0 +3.4 +0.9 +0.4 -2.4 -2.9 +1.5 +1.0 +4.3 +3.7
South3,5 2011 116,022,230 498,306 429.5 6,367 5.5 31,834 27.4 132,877 114.5 327,228 282.0 3,911,383 3,371.2 1,017,157 876.7 2,634,208 2,270.4 260,018 224.1
2012 117,257,221 496,773 423.7 6,466 5.5 31,760 27.1 131,862 112.5 326,685 278.6 3,783,683 3,226.8 946,081 806.8 2,586,999 2,206.3 250,603 213.7
Percent change -0.3 -1.4 +1.6 +0.5 -0.2 -1.3 -0.8 -1.8 -0.2 -1.2 -3.3 -4.3 -7.0 -8.0 -1.8 -2.8 -3.6 -4.6
South Atlantic5 2011 60,545,194 259,180 428.1 3,297 5.4 14,619 24.1 74,188 122.5 167,076 276.0 1,999,058 3,301.8 507,261 837.8 1,358,090 2,243.1 133,707 220.8
2012 61,188,567 254,911 416.6 3,293 5.4 14,634 23.9 71,446 116.8 165,538 270.5 1,924,730 3,145.6 470,185 768.4 1,327,951 2,170.3 126,594 206.9
Percent change -1.6 -2.7 -0.1 -1.2 +0.1 -0.9 -3.7 -4.7 -0.9 -2.0 -3.7 -4.7 -7.3 -8.3 -2.2 -3.2 -5.3 -6.3
East South Central3 2011 18,547,747 77,535 418.0 1,062 5.7 5,827 31.4 19,189 103.5 51,457 277.4 612,938 3,304.6 177,421 956.6 399,104 2,151.8 36,413 196.3
2012 18,643,607 80,781 433.3 1,145 6.1 5,422 29.1 19,008 102.0 55,206 296.1 582,274 3,123.2 161,325 865.3 387,105 2,076.3 33,844 181.5
Percent change +4.2 +3.7 +7.8 +7.3 -7.0 -7.4 -0.9 -1.5 +7.3 +6.7 -5.0 -5.5 -9.1 -9.5 -3.0 -3.5 -7.1 -7.5
Percent change -2.8 -3.0 -5.2 -5.4 -4.8 -5.0 -8.5 -8.7 +1.0 +0.7 -6.6 -6.8 -8.6 -8.8 -4.9 -5.2 -11.9 -12.2
West South Central 2011 36,929,289 161,591 437.6 2,008 5.4 11,388 30.8 39,500 107.0 108,695 294.3 1,299,387 3,518.6 332,475 900.3 877,014 2,374.8 89,898 243.4
2012 37,425,047 161,081 430.4 2,028 5.4 11,704 31.3 41,408 110.6 105,941 283.1 1,276,679 3,411.3 314,571 840.5 871,943 2,329.8 90,165 240.9
Percent change -0.3 -1.6 +1.0 -0.3 +2.8 +1.4 +4.8 +3.4 -2.5 -3.8 -1.7 -3.0 -5.4 -6.6 -0.6 -1.9 +0.3 -1.0
West3 2011 72,822,851 275,598 378.4 3,070 4.2 20,423 28.0 81,706 112.2 170,399 234.0 2,062,891 2,832.8 465,834 639.7 1,355,164 1,860.9 241,893 332.2
2012 73,579,431 284,370 386.5 3,121 4.2 20,271 27.5 85,490 116.2 175,488 238.5 2,170,446 2,949.8 488,065 663.3 1,415,674 1,924.0 266,707 362.5
Percent change +3.2 +2.1 +1.7 +0.6 -0.7 -1.8 +4.6 +3.6 +3.0 +1.9 +5.2 +4.1 +4.8 +3.7 +4.5 +3.4 +10.3 +9.1
Mountain3 2011 22,345,433 82,979 371.3 981 4.4 8,410 37.6 17,981 80.5 55,607 248.9 660,023 2,953.7 147,477 660.0 457,278 2,046.4 55,268 247.3
2012 22,617,874 85,645 378.7 880 3.9 8,233 36.4 19,141 84.6 57,391 253.7 680,071 3,006.8 148,743 657.6 474,961 2,099.9 56,367 249.2
Percent change +3.2 +2.0 -10.3 -11.4 -2.1 -3.3 +6.5 +5.2 +3.2 +2.0 +3.0 +1.8 +0.9 -0.4 +3.9 +2.6 +2.0 +0.8
Pacific 2011 50,477,418 192,619 381.6 2,089 4.1 12,013 23.8 63,725 126.2 114,792 227.4 1,402,868 2,779.2 318,357 630.7 897,886 1,778.8 186,625 369.7
2012 50,961,557 198,725 390.0 2,241 4.4 12,038 23.6 66,349 130.2 118,097 231.7 1,490,375 2,924.5 339,322 665.8 940,713 1,845.9 210,340 412.7
Percent change +3.2 +2.2 +7.3 +6.3 +0.2 -0.7 +4.1 +3.1 +2.9 +1.9 +6.2 +5.2 +6.6 +5.6 +4.8 +3.8 +12.7 +11.6



Simply showing a correlation between various potential causes or perceived deterrents and high crime rates should not be considered hard evidence of causation; however it does imply a potential connection of some sort; and it might indicate where to look for additional evidence or support other research that has been done using different methods. I discussed some of this in my last post about Politics, not technology, caused botched executions which indicates why it doesn't appear as if the death penalty has a deterrent effect. I also went into more details about how early abuse, including corporal punishment either in the home or school leads to escalating violence in Does child abuse and bullying lead to more violence? and Child abuse and bullying link in study long over due. This review hasn't been peer reviewed but all the sources for information have been shown so that they can be verified. Additional information that has been peer reviewed comes to similar results including extensive research either done or reviewed by Murray Straus who specializes in this subject.

It is unlikely that corporal punishment in schools is the sole cause of higher violence; however in many cases parents in states that support its use in schools might also be inclined to use it more often in the home. Otherwise there might be more opposition to it in the schools making it more likely that they would abandon it use. There might also be many examples where there are high rates of use of corporal punishment, even in states that abandon it in schools but it is probably more difficult to gather that information. So far Delaware is the only state to virtually ban its use in the home but this is very recent and it is to soon to determine the results. The actual law doesn't say it is banned but some of the media reports have said that and the law does allow for prosecution if corporal punishment leads to injury. Without further evidence from states that have banned corporal punishment in schools it could help to look at Sweden which banned corporal punishment in 1979. According to Sweden and United States Compared by Crime their rates of violent crime is much lower than the United States. When it comes to the murder rates even the least violent of the US states usually has more murders per 100,000 people than Sweden. There was one year in the past seventeen where one of the states murder rates was lower than the statistics cited in the comparison of the two countries.

While the US continues to keep a record percentage of the population in prison compared to the rest of the world Sweden is closing its prisons; it is almost certainly worth a much closer look to determine why and if part of it is their ban on corporal punishment or other social policies. According to most reports including Wikipedia's Human Poverty Index Sweden does a much better job reducing poverty, the best in Europe and far better than the US. However according to the Guardian Even in Sweden, the social security system is failing people although not nearly as bad as in the US. Our media rarely if ever spends much time comparing our system to others; which is highly unfortunate since if they did them much more people would recognize the problems with ours and possible solutions.

Between 1979 and 2000 there were and additional ten countries that completely banned corporal punishment and they all have lower murder rates than the USA, most of them are less than half. An additional twenty-three banned it since then and most of them also have lower murder rates; those that don't are mostly countries that have many other political problems, even worse than the USA.

According to a study done in 2002, "Correlation Between High Rates of Corporal Punishment in Public Schools and Social Pathologies," "Of the states with the ten highest murder rates in the United States, educators paddle children in eight of them; Of the states with the ten lowest murder rates in the nation, educators paddle children in one of them; Of the ten states with the highest percentage of the population in prison, educators paddle children in nine of them; and Of the ten states with the lowest percentage of the population in prison, educators do not paddle children in any of them.” Current crime statistics indicates that this correlation may have continued although it isn’t an exact correlation, presumably due to additional contributing factors, and four states have eliminated it since then.

The most recent year that I could find figures for both these specific categories was 2008 and I also found the murder rates in an organized fashion from 2012; these sources include List of U.S. states by incarceration rate and Murder Rates by State at DPIC. In 2008, of the states with the ten highest murder rates in the United States, educators paddle children in seven of them; Of the states with the ten lowest murder rates in the nation, educators paddle children in two of them; however one of those two is Wyoming which practically never uses corporal punishment; Of the ten states with the highest percentage of the population in prison, educators paddle children in all of them; and Of the ten states with the lowest percentage of the population in prison, educators do not paddle children in any of them. In 2012, of the states with the ten highest murder rates in the United States, educators paddle children in seven of them, one of the states without paddling, Delaware, only stopped using it in 2003; Of the states with the ten lowest murder rates in the nation, educators paddle children in one of them. This indicates a consistent correlation over an extended period of times for high murder and incarceration rates with states that use corporal punishment in schools.

Ohio banned corporal punishment in schools in 2009 and New Mexico banned it in 2011; however the rates used are from the year 2005-6. A significant amount of research indicates that corporal punishment almost certainly contributes to escalating amounts of bullying and additional violence. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that banning it will result in immediate reductions in violence.

Seven out of twenty one states with corporal punishment have above average poverty rates up to 20.1%; one has average, 16.6%; and thirteen have below average poverty rates, as low as 9.9% in Idaho, which uses it often and 10.6% in Wyoming which rarely if ever uses corporal punishment in schools and .

The percent changed from 2011 to 2012 states with corporal punishment are, in order of those from top of the list to those at the bottom, Tenn. +5.9, N M -2.4, SC -6.4, La. -10.4, Fla. -5.4, Ok +2.6, Ark. -2.7, Missouri +.8, Ala. +7.2, Arizona +3.5, Tx No change, Ga. +1.1, Ks. -.03, NC +2.1, Ind. +4.2, Colorado -1.8, Ohio -1.8, Miss. -3.0, Kentucky -7.1, Idaho +2.6, Wyoming -8.2.

Nine out of the nineteen states that continue to use corporal punishment had violent crime rates that went up; one had stable rates and eleven including the two that no longer use them all went down. Six of the nine that had rising violent crime rates are among the ten states that use corporal punishment the most often. Fourteen out of the twenty nine states that didn’t use corporal punishment prior to 2008 had rising violent crime rates. The rate of violent crime from 2011 to 2012 was virtually unchanged; the difference between those that used corporal punishment and those that didn’t percentage wise was negligible; however those that used it most often were more likely to increase than those that used it less often.

Corporal punishment was allowed, prior to 2008 in schools for 45% of the population; 48.5% of violent crimes were reported in these states during 2012. Based on the crimes that were reported 50.7% of murders, 49.8% or forcible rapes, 43% of robberies, 50.9% of aggravated assaults, 47.4% of property crimes, 56.2% of burglaries, 51.7% of larceny thefts, and 43.6% of motor vehicular thefts in states allowing corporal punishment in schools. The only two categories where the figures were below their representation of the population were robberies and motor vehicle theft.

Seven out of the ten states that used corporal punishment the most were in the top half of the population, implying that when it was used more often it correlated with higher crime rates than when it was used less often.

Recently an article was published about a Kansas lawmaker that wanted corporal punishment that leaves kids bruised, which shocked a lot of people; the bill didn't pass. What received much less attention is that some of the other states already allowed this and it continues, as allowed in Ingraham v. Wright, which injured the student so bad that physicians advised him to stay home for eleven days, based on the word of a teacher who said he didn't leave the stage fast enough. Many reports about Kansas imply that it is among the most extreme of the religious right; and in many ways they might be; but their policy of using corporal punishment is actually less radical than most of those that use it, to some degree. If you adjust the crime rates according to population it is actually in the lower half, since the top eighteen include some of the most populous, covering half the population. Wyoming, which actually uses it the least, if they use it at all of those that allow it, is the one with the lowest crime rates including the four that abolished it most recently.

There are of course other contributing factors that almost certainly lead to higher crime rates and one of them appears to be large cities. Only three of the ten states with the lowest violent crime rates had any cities with over 250,000 people and only one of the ten states with the highest rates of violent crime didn’t have any according to Wikipedia (Crime rate for cities above 250,000 population).

Five out of the ten states with the most violent crime had above average poverty rates; however when adjusted geographically it rises to eight out of ten. Only one out of the ten least violent states had above average poverty rates; when adjusted geographically it rises to two out of ten.



A close look at some of the inner cities that have the highest crime rates also have some of the lowest funds for their schools; yet those that argue against more funds for either schools or for social workers to educate low income parents about how child abuse and corporal punishment leads to escalating violence, also argue for much more spending on prisons security and police that almost certainly wouldn't be necisary if they funded prevention programs instead and they would almost certainly save much more in the long run, although in the short run they might wind up spending on both schools and prison.

Regrettably the best research on the causes of crime gets very little attention by the commercial media and it is rarely a leading factor when making many of the major decisions that could potentially reduce crime significantly more. There has been a significant amount of progress over the past few decades; and the commercial media hasn't always done such a bad job covering it but now the majority of the progress that is still going on is the result of grass roots efforts to educate the public and push for reform despite the lack of attention it receives from the politicians although occasionally when grass roots efforts succeed in convincing politicians to act credit is often given to politicians for implementing changes without much mentioning the grass roots efforts, like when Beau Biden, son of Joe Biden and Attorney General of Delaware, who was cited as the leading proponent of the law virtually banning corporal punishment.

The media coverage didn't put much if any emphasis on the grass roots efforts that encouraged Biden or any other politician that passes laws banning corporal punishment in schools when they cover it. Giving most of the credit to a politician seems to be standard operating procedure whenever grass roots efforts convince lawmakers to pass laws with popular support.


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