Murder rate increased by 30% in 2020, falls by 15% in 2023
Murder rates in Philadelphia and Houston dropped by 20% and LA by 16%.
63% of Americans “feel that the crime situation in America is serious”
The crime rate in the United States, which increased during the pandemic, is gradually decreasing.
According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the overall U.S. murder rate in 2020 during the pandemic surged nearly 30% compared to the same period in 2019, with 21,570 incidents. In 2021, it increased by 4% compared to the previous year, but fell by 6% in 2022 to about 9,130 cases.
On the 6th (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the murder rate in America’s “top 10 most populous cities” last year decreased by about 15% compared to the same period last year. The 2023 murder rates in Houston and Philadelphia fell 20% compared to the same period in 2022.
Los Angeles’ murder rate also decreased. Police authorities said that the murder rate in Los Angeles last year decreased from 382 in 2022, the previous year, to 323. It showed a 15.4% decrease in one year.
Among the top 10 cities, some have increased murder rates. Dallas increased by 15% and Austin increased by 3% compared to the previous year.
Some criminologists have linked the decline in homicides with the pandemic’s demise. John Roman, a researcher at the University of Chicago, said, “The return of police, teachers, social workers, etc. may have had an impact.” The social power to stop potential criminals was created.
However, WSJ reported that Americans still feel anxious despite the downward trend in crime rates.
According to a Gallup survey last November, approximately 63% of American adults responded that “the crime situation in the United States is extremely or very serious.” This is an increase compared to the 2022 survey, where 54% of Americans answered ‘serious’.
According to a survey of 37 cities by the U.S. think tank Council on Criminal Justice, robbery crimes decreased in the first half of 2023 compared to the first half of 2022. Meanwhile, vehicle theft increased by 33.5% during the same period.
According to a WSJ report, police authorities said, “Hyundai and Kia automobiles have become targets of crime due to technical defects,” and “this accounts for a significant portion of the causes of vehicle theft incidents.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.