This is 4 to 9 times the rates in other industrialized countries. Additionally the homicide rate for children in the U.S. was five times higher than that for children in 25 other industrialized countries. Violent acts are not typically the work of career criminals. These individuals are responsible for only a small portion of violence in our society. For example, only 1 to 2 percent of all homicides are committed by serial killers.
Poverty is a major contributor to violence.
The majority of violence in our society is committed neighbor against neighbor, acquaintance against acquaintance, and family member against family member.