{"id":2775,"date":"2021-01-13T19:24:29","date_gmt":"2021-01-14T03:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crimeandconsequences.blog\/?p=2775"},"modified":"2021-01-13T19:24:29","modified_gmt":"2021-01-14T03:24:29","slug":"2020s-spike-in-urban-homicides-should-not-be-a-mystery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crimeandconsequences.blog\/?p=2775","title":{"rendered":"“2020\u2019s Spike in Urban Homicides Should Not Be a Mystery”"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s not news by now that last year saw a dramatic surge in murder across the country.\u00a0 As recounted by this National Review article<\/a>: “In 2020, homicides increased by\u00a035 percent<\/a>\u00a0from 2019 across the 50 largest urban areas, reaching levels in many cities not seen for more than\u00a020 years<\/a>.”\u00a0 But why?\u00a0 “Some in the media suggest the spike is simply another downside of the pandemic. But this would appear to gloss over the likely link to unintended consequences of the nationwide demonstrations after\u00a0George Floyd\u2019s death<\/a> in the custody of Minneapolis police.”<\/p>\n

Unintended consequences indeed.\u00a0 As the author explains, when you legitimate rage at society, you can’t be surprised when the outcroppings of rage arrive on your doorstep.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The piece notes:<\/p>\n

Conservatives have offered two explanations [for the murder spike]. First, they contend that, across many cities, police departments reacted after Floyd\u2019s death by pulling back from proactive initiatives. Analyzing past crime data, Tanaya Devi and Roland Fryer identified cities that had a viral episode of lethal police force. They estimated<\/a> that, as a result of the reduction of proactive policing, there were over 900 excess deaths. Second, conservatives claim that many violent felons quickly return to the streets because of recent decriminalization and bail-reform initiatives. In Philadelphia, first-time offenders caught with an illegal gun are charged with a misdemeanor, and even a second offense can be pleaded down to another misdemeanor.<\/p>\n

This past year\u2019s homicide data seem consistent with these claims. The three cities with particularly high increases were Milwaukee (96 percent), Louisville (78 percent), and Minneapolis (72 percent). These were the sites of the three most publicized cases of police misconduct. Another group \u2014 Seattle (68 percent), Memphis (58 percent), and Atlanta (55 percent) \u2014 also had viral incidents. Aggressive criminal-justice-reform initiatives in Chicago (55 percent), New York (41 percent), and Philadelphia (41 percent) may explain their above-average increases.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What is perhaps most valuable about the article, however, is that it takes a sympathetic view of some of the most acerbic race-based criticism of police behavior\u00a0 —\u00a0 for example, from Cornel West and Ta-Nehisi Coates\u00a0 —\u00a0 but still concludes that taking responsibility for one’s own behavior is the central ingredient for turning things around:<\/p>\n

But this attitude [focusing obsessively on the effects of racism] denies the possibility that the system or individuals are capable of self-correction. In fact, there are policies that can make a difference. President-elect Joe Biden should demand, for example, that cities reinstitute meaningful penalties for illegal gun possession. Increased leniency has only worsened the situation. Why should residents [tell the police about] those who commit crimes or possess illegal guns when they will be released without bail and face only misdemeanors, for which they will receive suspended sentences? Such leniency can only breed arrogance and invincibility in some offenders. Reinstating effective judicial measures would more accurately balance compassion with the rule of law. It would also be more consistent with the majority of black Americans who desire the same or more<\/a>\u00a0policing in their neighborhoods, not less. Only then can communities overcome senseless violence.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s not news by now that last year saw a dramatic surge in murder across the country.\u00a0 As recounted by this National Review article: “In 2020, homicides increased by\u00a035 percent\u00a0from 2019 across the 50 largest urban areas, reaching levels in many cities not seen for more than\u00a020 years.”\u00a0 But why?\u00a0 “Some in the media suggest the spike is simply another downside of the pandemic. But this would appear to gloss over the likely link to unintended consequences of the nationwide demonstrations after\u00a0George Floyd\u2019s death in the custody of Minneapolis police.” Unintended consequences indeed.\u00a0 As the author explains, when you legitimate rage at society, you can’t be surprised when the outcroppings of rage arrive on your doorstep.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-social-factors"],"yoast_head":"\n"2020\u2019s Spike in Urban Homicides Should Not Be a Mystery" - Crime & Consequences<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crimeandconsequences.blog\/?p=2775\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\""2020\u2019s Spike in Urban Homicides Should Not Be a Mystery" - Crime & Consequences\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It’s not news by now that last year saw a dramatic surge in murder across the country.\u00a0 As recounted by this National Review article: “In 2020, homicides increased by\u00a035 percent\u00a0from 2019 across the 50 largest urban areas, reaching levels in many cities not seen for more than\u00a020 years.”\u00a0 But why?\u00a0 “Some in the media suggest the spike is simply another downside of the pandemic. 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