A examine of homicides in 22 cities in the course of the first 9 months of this 12 months confirmed the variety of murders was 4% larger than the identical interval in 2020, with 126 extra homicides between January and September, the report says. Within the first three quarters of 2020, the variety of homicides in the identical 22 cities rose by 36% over the identical time-frame in 2019, based on the report.
The murder price remained elevated by the summer season earlier than lowering within the fall and winter after which growing once more within the spring and summer season of this 12 months, the report says. However even with the 2021 improve, the murder price for the 22 cities studied was simply over half of what it was within the early Nineties, based on the report.
Aggravated assaults — assaults dedicated with a lethal weapon or threatened critical damage — in 17 cities with obtainable information peaked in the course of the summer season of 2020 “at ranges that surpassed these of the earlier peak” earlier than lowering for the rest of the 12 months and rising once more within the first half of 2021, the report says. The variety of aggravated assaults within the first three quarters of 2021 was 3% increased than the identical interval final 12 months, with 1,515 extra aggravated assaults, the report says.
Gun assaults in 13 cities with obtainable information peaked in the course of the summer season of 2020 and peaked once more within the spring and summer season of this 12 months. There have been 109 extra gun assaults within the first three quarters of 2021 than throughout the identical time-frame final 12 months, the report says.
“Even at a slower price of improve, the elevated charges of murder and critical assaults require an pressing response from authorities and group leaders,” the report concluded. “Proof-based methods can be found to deal with the rise within the brief and medium time period. Because the pandemic subsides, cities ought to redouble efforts to deploy hot-spot methods that target these areas the place the violence is concentrated.”
The 22 cities that have been studied within the report are St. Petersburg, Florida; Austin, Texas; Norfolk, Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; Pittsburgh; Los Angeles; Raleigh, North Carolina; Nashville; Buffalo, New York; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; Detroit; Chicago; Denver; Baltimore; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee; Phoenix; Seattle; Omaha, Nebraska; and Chandler, Arizona.
“Abandoning long-needed police reform shouldn’t be a viable coverage possibility,” the report states. “Moderately, change is important to enhance the connection between police and communities and obtain sturdy reductions in city violence.”
