(Newswire.net — February 20, 2018) –Everyone agrees that crime, whether violent or not, deeply affects the ways in which we live and the comfort that we experience in our own home. Property values are often determined by the crime rates in one’s area, which means that the amount of crime in your neighborhood can also determine the worth of your largest investment. Local crime can also deeply impact one’s mental state, especially that of children, and can determine the amount of psychological stress that one experiences on a daily basis. Families who live in high-crime areas are also more likely to deal with physical conditions, such as heart diseases, which are caused by stress.
Fortunately, there has been a dramatic decrease in the amount of crime that has been experienced nationally over the past three decades. Experts are unsure what this drop in crime has been caused by, although there are many suggestions. Some scientists point to a decrease in the use of leaded gasoline because it decreased the amount of childhood lead poisoning, which causes severe developmental and emotional disorders. Other scientists suggest that the decrease in crime nationally may be due to changes in parenting or educational styles, which stress self-esteem and personal development. Finally, some experts suggest that the harsh prison sentences given in the past are now causing a decrease in crime, although there are clearly other factors at play.
In Oregon, statistics point to another possibility. By examining the information in the Intelius felony dataset, certain patterns start to emerge about the state of Oregon. In recent years, there has been a demographic shift in the state. New people have moved into Oregon in droves, especially in the major cities that sit in the Willamette Valley, such as Portland, Salem, and Eugene. These young people are more likely to be educated and to bring their children with them. As the felony dataset referenced above shows, there are dramatic differences in the types of crime that are pursued by different generations. As the Baby Boomers age and are replaced by Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z, the crime rates shift, too.
There is also a good chance that changes in local laws are affecting the crime rates in Oregon. As the dataset referenced above shows, the most common crimes for both Generations X and Y are possession of a controlled substance less than one gram. Since October of 2015, the possession of cannabis by adults is no longer considered a crime in the state of Oregon. Furthermore, studies suggest that legalized cannabis reduces the rates of other times of crime as well.