A Rise in Violence
There has been a dramatic rise in crime since the beginning of 2021 and cities across the US are breaking homicide records this year. Homicides increased 5% between 2020 and 2022, and 44% between 2019 and 2022 in major United States cities.
New York City: Since the start of the new year in New York City, there have been 100 shootings and a rise in crime in almost every precinct. New York’s 110th Precinct saw a 142% rise in crime in 2021. “No neighborhood is safe,” one Brooklyn cop [commented]. “At this rate, we will lose the city by St. Patrick’s Day.”.
Portland: In Portland, 2021 was a record-setting year for gun violence in the city. There were 1,294 shootings in the past year, just two years earlier, the city had less than 400.
Major California Cities: In all four major California cities, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego, crime rates are higher than in previous years, with homicides specifically increasing by 17% in 2021.
Austin: The city of Austin has recorded 88 homicides this year, shattering the previous high of 59 in 1984.
Philadelphia: In 2021, Philadelphia had its deadliest year on record. The city had 562 homicides surpassing its previous high of 500 set in 1990.
As horrific as it is to see a list of statistics demonstrating the state of crime in the United States, what is even more terrifying is what this means for every individual living in this country.
What caused this sharp increase in crime?
The COVID Pandemic
We saw two major impacts on crime due to the Covid Pandemic and recent lockdowns:
There was a decrease in minor crimes. These crimes are frequently done by younger individuals who are unlikely to act alone and choose to commit crimes in groups. The mandated social distance requirements made group criminal activity very difficult, leading to the decrease in minor crime.
Heightened stress, job loss, financial instability, political unrest, and isolation may have caused individuals to commit crimes out of desperation.
Increase in Firearms
For homicides specifically, the sharp increase in the purchase of legal and illegal firearms has been a correlating factor in the increase of the number of deaths due to homicide. ATF reported that of their 40,656 criminal cases in 2021, 37,494 had the involvement of firearms.
Anti Police / Defund the Police
The impact of the anti police / defend the police movement has led officers to change career paths or retire early. The Police Executive Research Forum reported that resignations are up by 45% in the last year alone and retirements rose by 18%. Police departments are also having a difficult time recruiting and hiring officers in the current environment. Due to the resignations and difficulty in recruiting, police departments across all major cities are experiencing staffing shortages and are unable to fill policing shifts. With a lack of officers patrolling the streets, there is an increased opportunity to engage in criminal activity.
Not only are police departments understaffed, but officers are also worried about being labeled as bad cops for performing the duties of their job. Sergeant Sean Larkins writes in a New York Post Opinion piece, “Police are now scared to intervene in some situations due to fear that each civilian interaction is a chance for their good name to be besmirched in the media.” Over the past year, there has been a reduction in arrests due to lack of public support for their local police departments. There are instances where officers are afraid to investigate a suspicious situation as they are worried to face backlash.
Now, what does this mean for the current state of the United States?
This is a serious issue. Our communities are being left vulnerable to crime and it is important for individuals to know how to protect themselves. It is a devastating reality that people are anxious in their environments and fearing for their lives. Evans Brothers Consulting has numerous resources (linked below) to help you protect yourself and your business.
Contact james@evansbrothersconsulting.com or set up a 15-minute no-cost preliminary conversation to discuss any additional security concerns you or your business may have.
Resources: