Final answer:
White-collar crime is not significantly on the decline in the United States, which contradicts public perception that often views crime rates as worsening. Correct option is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to whether white-collar crime is significantly on the decline in the United States is false. While crime rates for violent and gun-related crimes have been decreasing since the early 1990s, there is no sufficient data to suggest that white-collar crimes are declining at the same rate.
Crime statistics, such as the FBI's Uniform Crime Report (UCR), demonstrate significant reductions in violent and property crime rates in recent years. It is also noteworthy that public perception often incorrectly views crime rates as worsening, despite statistical evidence to the contrary. However, specific trends for white-collar crimes are more complex to monitor and may not be fully captured in such reports.