racial composition of the population of the state. In the year 1900 there was just one more conviction for every 100,000 of the population than in 1890, and in 1905 four convictions per 100,000 population in excess of 1900. Certainly, there is no occasion to go into hysterics. Still, as stated before, the number of convictions for a single year may be exceptionally high or low, and a comparison comprising even a number of single years may accordingly be misleading. In order to eliminate the effect of annual fluctuations of the number of convictions, the average annual number of convictions for each period between two census years is compared in Table III with the average annual increase of the population of the state of New York, for the same periods. The results of this comparison are presented graphically in Diagram II. TABLE III ANNUAL AVERAGE NUMBER OF CONVICTIONS COMPARED WITH ANNUAL AVERAGE INCREASE OF POPULATION FROM CENSUS TO CENSUS, 1831-1905 The two curves in Diagram II representing the growth of population and the increase of the number of convictions are widely divergent. It is worthy of note that in 1861-70 the number of convictions was increasing faster than during the preceding decade 1851-60, while the growth of population was slowing down. On the contrary, a comparison of the decades 1881-90 and 1871-80 shows that the number of convictions fell off, while the population was increasing faster; the same tendency was manifest during the period 1901-5, as compared with 1891-1900. This would seem to indicate that the causes which are favorable to the growth of population tend to reduce crime, and vice versa, the causes which retard the growth of population are productive of an increase of crime. Let us next examine the effect of immigration upon criminality in the state of New York. The census statistics of foreign born do DIAGRAM II.-Percentage of annual increase or decrease of the number of convictions, compared with annual average increase per 1,000 population of the State of New York. not go farther back than 1850. In Table IV the percentage of foreign born at each census is collated with the ratio of the average annual number of convictions for each decade ending on a census. year to the average population for the same decade; the average population is taken to be the arithmetical mean of the totals for two successive censuses. The same data are presented graphically in Diagram III. The table and diagram shown below clearly disprove the contention that immigration increases the criminality of the population TABLE IV ANNUAL AVERAGE RATE OF CONVICTIONS IN COURTS OF RECORD, COMPARED WITH PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN BORN AT EACH CENSUS IN THE STATE OF DIAGRAM III.-Annual average rate of convictions in courts of record, compared with percentage of foreign born at each census in the State of New York. of the state of New York. From 1850 to 1860 the foreign-born population of New York increased relatively to the total population of the state, but the annual average number of convictions during the decade 1851-60 fell below the average for 1841-50. From 1870 to 1880 the number of foreign born decreased relatively to the total population; at the same time the annual rate of convictions increased as compared with the preceding decade. From 1880 to 1890 this movement was reversed: the foreign-born population went up and the rate of criminality went down. Again from 1890 to 1900 the percentage of foreign born slightly decreased, and the rate of criminality showed a small increase. These tendencies appear still more pronounced, if we compare the increase of the number of convictions with the increase of the foreign born and the total population of the state for the census years 1850-1900, as shown in Table V and Diagram IV. TABLE V NUMBER OF CONVICTIONS COMPARED WITH TOTAL AND FOREIGN-BORN A glance at the diagram shows that in 1860, when the rate of increase of the foreign-born population was at its apex, the rate of criminality was at its bottom. Toward 1870 the rate of increase of the foreign born dropped, but the rate of increase of the number of convictions made a big jump. From 1880 to 1890 the rate of increase of the foreign born went up, at the same time the rate of increase of the number of convictions went down. From 1890 to 1900 the two movements were reversed. In short, an increase of the percentage of the foreign-born population is accompanied by a decrease of criminality, and vice versa. This fact shows that the same conditions which attract the immigrant to the United States tend to reduce the rate of criminality. Turning to the statistics of crime among native and foreign born, we find them summed up in the following statement of the census report on "Prisoners" (p. 41): "From these figures li.e., from the number of commitments], as well as from those for prisoners enumerated on June 30, 1904, it is evident that the popular belief that the foreign born are filling the prisons has little foundation in fact." A comparison of the figures for 1904 with those for 1890. shows that the ratio of foreign born among the white prisoners fell from 28.3 to 23.7 per cent, while the percentage of native prisoners increased from 71.8 to 76.3 per cent (op. cit., p. 18). Is there any evidence of a change in this respect since 1904? This question can best be answered by an examination into the nativity of the persons convicted in 1908 in the courts of record of the state of New York. The year 1908, as stated, showed a marked increase of crime, and of all states the state of New York is alleged to be the greatest sufferer from the influx of foreign criminals. The nativity of the persons convicted in courts of record in 1908 was as follows:1 Natives of the United States.. Nativity unknown. Total for the state Report of the Secretary of State, p. 212. 4,392 272 7,351 |