Crime in Philadelphia

Some aspects of crime in Philadelphia have achieved national and even international attention.^[1] Charles Ramsey, the police commissioner, has stated his goal to reduce the number of homicides by 100 per year.^[2]

The legal entities responsible for maintaining law and order are:

• The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) is the police department.
• The Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County (1st Judicial Circuit) is the state trial court.
• The Philadelphia District Attorney is the district attorney. The Defender Association of Philadelphia is the government-funded independent public defender office.

Notable cases and incidents

• Philadelphia Poison Ring (1938) - At least 70 people poisoned with arsenic, several by their wives.
• Marie Noe (1949–1968) - Murdered eight of her children.
• Boy in the Box (1957) - Unidentified five year-old boy found dead in a cardboard box.
• Ira Einhorn, "The Unicorn Killer" (1977) - Popular figure killed his girlfriend and hid her body in his closet.
• Mumia Abu-Jamal (1981) - Convicted for the murder of PPD officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.
• MOVE (1978,1985) - Clashed with the PPD.
• Frankford Slasher (1985–1990) - Thought to have killed several women.
• Gary M. Heidnik (1986–1987) - Kidnapped, imprisoned, raped, and tortured six women, two of whom he murdered.
• Harrison Graham (1986–1987) - Killed seven women, deemed incompetent to be executed.
• Raymond Carter (convict) (1988) - Convicted of killing Robert "Puppet" Harris; verdict overturned in 1996 due to likelihood of false testimony.
• 39th District corruption scandal (1990s) - Led to overturn of 160-300 cases and release of 100 persons.
• Kidnapping and murder of Iriana DeJesus (2000) - Alexis Flores, suspect of the case, was added to FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2007.
• City Hall corruption scandal (2003-5) - mayor's office bugged by FBI, several convictions resulting.^[3]
• Kensington Strangler (late 2010-early 2011).
• Fairmount Park Rapist. (2003–2007) Not caught.
• Philadelphia basement kidnapping event, October 2011, an ongoing investigation into alleged kidnapping of four mentally disabled adults, who were held in a Northeast Philadelphia basement.

Riots

• Philadelphia Election Riot (1742)
• Lombard Street Riot (1842) - Three day race riot.
• Philadelphia Nativist Riots (1844)
• Philadelphia 1964 race riot (1964)

Organized crime

• Philadelphia crime family - An Italian American group based in South Philadelphia as well as cities in New Jersey such as Atlantic City and Newark; largest organized crime unit in the area.
• Irish Mob - K&A Gang - Based in Northeast Philadelphia. One of the largest and most violent Irish American gangs in the country.
• Jewish Mafia - See Nig Rosen.
• Greek Mob
• Russian Mob
• Kielbasa Posse - A Polish group based in Port Richmond, Philadelphia.
• Jamaican Posse
• Black Mafia, Junior Black Mafia - An African-American group based in West Philadelphia.
• Latin Kings - Hispanic gang originating in Chicago.
• Warlocks Motorcycle Club - A motorcycle club involved in drug dealing.
• Pagans MC - A motorcycle club involved in drug dealing.
• Sex Money Murda

See also

• Crime in the United States
• H. H. Holmes - Early American serial killer, brought to justice by a Philadelphia detective.
• Vidocq Society - Local crime-solving club

References

• Down With Crime a project of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

1. ↑ Philadelphia sees murder rate of 1 per day
2. ↑ Ramsey’s goal: 100 fewer murders a year
3. ↑ U.S. Bug in Mayor's Office Roils Philadelphia Race

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