Problem:
Help with peer responding to classmate's discussion post
1. The crime rate data shows that criminal offenses do not follow a steady pattern because financial and cybercrimes continue to rise which creates false public beliefs about crime patterns. The data from this week shows that crime rates have not increased throughout the entire population. Financial crimes and cyber-enabled offenses have become more prevalent which has led to a new public understanding of crime. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reported that 23.9 million U.S. residents experienced identity theft in 2021 which impacted 9% of people aged 16 and older (Harrell & Thompson, 2023). The growth of identity theft and technology-based crimes makes it seem like crime rates are increasing although other types of criminal offenses continue to decrease. The BJS (2023) found that 38% of victims who understood their data theft methods experienced it through cyber-based scams and online transactions. The combination of technological advancement and continuous media coverage and social media sharing creates an illusion that crime rates are rising even though actual statistics show different patterns. Financial crimes together with cybercrimes show rising numbers but the total crime rate does not demonstrate uniform growth across all categories. People tend to form their crime perceptions based on media exposure and visual evidence rather than relying on official crime statistics. Need Assignment Help?
2. The research about victimization types which lead to trauma responses has revealed new information to me. The research results contradict what most people believe about victimization in criminal cases. The study shows financial crimes result in major emotional harm which challenges the traditional view that violent crimes create the only type of trauma. The BJS (Harrell & Thompson 2023) shows that 10% of identity theft victims develop severe emotional distress. The research showed that victims who experienced multiple identity theft incidents developed 18% severe emotional distress but those whose stolen data resulted in new account creation and additional fraud incidents experienced 20% severe emotional distress. The duration needed to fix financial damage will determine how much psychological suffering victims must experience. The BJS (2023) reports that victims who solved their problems in one day or less developed only 4% severe emotional distress but victims who needed 1-3 months to resolve their issues developed 20% severe emotional distress. The research indicates that victims experience trauma because of prolonged stress and loss of control and their fear about future damage. The research findings contradict traditional beliefs which state that physical injuries cause most cases of trauma. Research shows that non-violent crimes including identity theft result in safety and stability problems for victims which produce trauma levels that are equivalent to or higher than those from violent crimes.
3. Friend response comparison
Financial crimes according to my friend result in frustration but do not create trauma because they do not include physical threats or violent elements. The general public holds this belief about financial crimes but it contradicts the information presented in our classroom materials. The Week 6 materials establish that financial crimes create substantial psychological effects on their victims. The research by Harrell & Thompson (2023) indicates that identity theft victims develop severe emotional distress at a rate of 10% but victims of extended and complex fraud cases experience more intense distress.