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Despite what we hear, crime continues to plague many American communities, and the public is understandably concerned about public safety and the well-being of their families.
If you only follow mainstream media, you may not realize this. Last week, mainstream media touted Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data showing a significant drop in crime rates nationwide, effectively declaring our nation’s security crisis over.
While the decline in crime is certainly welcome, FBI data is woefully inadequate to provide a complete picture of crime and public safety in America. Let me explain.
Crime, especially in urban centers, remains significantly higher than in 2020 and the rise of the movement to defund the police. (KTVU)
The data reported by the media comes from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which has been one of the key standards for understanding and interpreting American public safety for nearly a century. The system is a repository of crime data voluntarily submitted by participating law enforcement agencies across the country.
While useful and informative, it can be limited by the number of institutions actually submitting data. This problem was exacerbated by the transition in 2021 from the old reporting method to a new, more comprehensive system called the National Incident-Based Reporting System. .
When the reporting mechanism switched, thousands of previously reporting agencies failed to adapt, leaving a large portion of national crime data unaccounted for. Some of the nation’s largest and most violent cities, such as New York and Los Angeles, were not ready for the transition, and the absence of crime statistics undoubtedly skewed the overall findings.
Since the changes took effect in 2021, many government agencies have made the necessary adjustments to submit data to the FBI, but too many have not yet done so.
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Adding to the limitations of UCR data is the fact that it reflects only crimes reported to police, not all crimes that have ever been committed. Sadly, for many Americans, especially if they believe that perpetrators will never be held accountable by a criminal justice system that increasingly adopts crime-friendly policies such as cashless bail and early release programs. Reporting a crime can often feel like a dead end.
In an effort to better understand the nature of crime in society and to address the limitations of the FBI’s reporting system, the Department of Justice began conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey in 1973. Rather than relying solely on police-reported crime data, this study aims to provide a clearer picture of the extent and scope of criminal activity that is reported to police, or not reported, to police every year. We are conducting a survey targeting nearly 10,000 people.
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Unlike recent FBI findings, the 2023 study presents a more sobering view of American crime. It found that the rate of violent victimization (a category that includes rape, robbery and aggravated assault) among people aged 12 and over remained virtually unchanged from 2022.
And less than half of robbery victims reported their crimes to police last year, a statistic that reflects a growing tired of crime and dismay at a criminal justice system that too often prioritizes the needs of criminals over those of victims. It was also revealed.
No doubt, over a period of time, crime rates may rise in some cities and fall in others, but we as a nation are much safer than we were just a few years ago. has declined to. Crime, especially in urban centers, remains significantly higher than in 2020 and the rise of the movement to defund the police.
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Fortunately, it doesn’t have to stay this way. By renewing our commitment to supporting law enforcement and demanding that criminal justice leaders return to traditional law and order policies that hold criminals accountable, we You can begin to restore true safety and security.
While some research may suggest that our nation’s crime crisis is subsiding, many Americans believe that violence and lawlessness continue to impact their daily lives in their own communities. The reality we face remains unchanged. Statistics alone cannot capture the lived experiences of people who continue to struggle with high levels of crime in their neighborhoods.
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