US Crime Rates Drop Significantly in Early 2024
Sharp Decline in US Murder Rate Observed in 2024
According to the article by CNN, in the first three months of 2024, US crime rates have dropped significantly, with burglaries and car thefts both seeing major decreases. The murder rate has also fallen sharply, with some cities reporting over a 40% reduction compared to early 2023. Experts attribute the decline to the return of normal societal functions and US crime-fighting tools that were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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(PHOTO: The Economic Times)
US Crime Rates Drop in Early 2024
In the first three months of 2024, US crime has gone down a lot. The FBI reports that burglaries dropped by 16.7%, and car thefts decreased by 17.3%. These drops happened in all parts of the country.
Attorney General Praises US Crime Reduction
Attorney General Merrick Garland praised the new crime statistics on Monday. He said the continued drop in violent US crime is saving lives and helping people stay safe. Garland emphasized that fewer US crimes mean more people are living their lives, watching their children grow, and helping their communities.
US Murder Rate Falls Sharply
The FBI’s new data shows that the murder rate in the US is falling fast. According to AH Datalytics, a research firm, murders in cities like New Orleans, Seattle, Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia have dropped by more than 40% compared to early 2023. This trend could lead to the biggest annual drop in murders ever.
AH Datalytics Confirms Nationwide Murder Drop
Jeff Asher, co-founder of AH Datalytics, said their analysis of 265 cities shows a 19% drop in murders nationwide compared to last year. With over six months left in 2024, Asher thinks this year might see the largest one-year drop in US history.
Preliminary FBI Data Has Limits
However, the FBI’s preliminary data has some limits. It relies on reports from police departments, and these early numbers can be off. Police departments have the rest of the year to check and correct their data before the final annual report.
Other Data Also Shows US Crime Drop
Despite the limits, other sources also show US crime is going down. Jeff Asher said while the FBI’s method might make the drop seem bigger, the overall trend of less US crime is clear from many sources.
Murder Rates Decline After 2020 Surge
The drop in the murder rate comes after a big surge in 2020, which was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. During that year, murders went up by nearly 30%, the biggest rise since the 1960s. Violent US crime also went up by 5%.
Experts Explain US Crime Trends
Experts say the 2020 US crime surge was caused by many factors, including the closure of schools, businesses, and community programs. More stress, more guns, less policing, and less public trust also played a role. Jeff Asher noted that the tools to fight violence weren’t available during the pandemic, but now they are, and this is helping to lower murder rates and gun violence back to pre-pandemic levels.
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