FBI: Violent Crime in US Makes 'Historic' Decline in 2024
FBI: Violent Crime in US Makes 'Historic' Decline in 2024
The Facts
Statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) purport that violent crime in the US dropped by more than 15% during the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
The decline was mostly driven by the 25% drop in rapes and murders reported, while aggravated assault fell by 12.5% and robberies by 17.8%. Violent crime briefly surged at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic before declining.
The Spin
These numbers don't tell the whole story about crime in America. These numbers are based on law enforcement reports, which are always lower than what surveys from crime victims tells us, as most crimes aren't reported to police. The main issue in this country remains dismal arrest and prosecution records from progressive district attorney's offices, which leads to emboldened criminals and gamified statistics.
The perception of the GOP being "tough on crime" does not match the reality, as this precipitous drop reverses the spikes that occurred under the Trump administration. Trump's attacks on the law enforcement agencies of this country, and his personal attempts to flout the law, are a testament to his lack of care with regards to law and order. Pres. Biden has worked hard to clean up his mess.
