Most Criminals Are Not Caught or Convicted. And if this 1 percent effectiveness ratio isn't disturbing enough, professor Reynolds found that the average time served was only 13 months. How to Fight Crime 1. Put More Police on the Street. The statistics from professor Reynolds illustrate the problem for burglary.
Similar statistics exist for other major crimes including murder.
Today 3.3 violent crimes are committed for every police officer. Twenty-five years ago, the ratio was exactly opposite. It is not surprising that we have an epidemic of crime in this country when the chances of being caught, prosecuted and convicted are so low. The average criminal has no reason to fear law enforcement. The obvious solution is to increase the deterrent through more police and swift and sure punishments.