An independent group of law enforcement officials and analysts released a report claiming that violent crime rates are much higher than the figures reported by the FBI in its 2023 violent crime statistics. The Coalition for Law Order and Safety identified four potential causes for the increase in crime in major cities across the U.S.: de-policing, de-carceration, de-prosecution, and politicization of the criminal justice system. The report, titled “Assessing America’s Crime Crises: Trends, Causes, and Consequences,” highlights that the U.S. is facing a public safety crisis with high crime rates and a dysfunctional justice system.
Research from the report shows that violent crime has increased dramatically over the past few years and may be worse than some official statistics suggest. While preliminary 2023 FBI data shows a decline in many offenses, violent and serious crime remains heightened compared to 2019. A Gallup poll from March 2024 found that nearly 80% of Americans worry about crime and violence, with support for law enforcement and stiffer penalties increasing. Research from more than 70 of the nation’s largest police departments and victim surveys indicate that violent crime in major cities has significantly increased compared to pre-2020 levels.
Lead researchers from the report, Mark Morgan and Sean Kennedy, noted that there is significant under-reporting of certain crimes, leading to a lack of accurate data in the FBI’s official crime statistics. Kennedy highlighted that police departments have redefined the classifications for certain violent crimes post-2020 and may classify crimes differently, affecting how they are reported to the media. The study also found that businesses and individuals victimized by violent crimes often do not report incidents due to a lack of faith in law enforcement and the justice system.
Furthermore, the report noted that the FBI data is not always accurate, with gaps in data and potentially manipulated information. Participation in the Uniform Crime Reporting program, through which the FBI collects data from local law enforcement agencies, has decreased in recent years, with several major cities not submitting crime data at all. The report also highlighted instances of under-reported crime data filed to the FBI by police departments, such as in New Orleans and Los Angeles, raising concerns about the reliability of official crime statistics.
The report places blame for the high crime rates on soft-on-crime initiatives, suggesting that these policies have contributed to the increase in violent crime. Democratic lawmakers in California and New York have begun introducing bills to restore stricter penalties for certain violent crimes, reflecting a shift away from softer approaches. Overall, the report sheds light on the ongoing public safety crisis in the U.S., emphasizing the need for accurate and reliable crime data to effectively address the rise in violent crime in major cities across the country.
