THREAD: Important reporting on the state of crime reporting. Here, Mother Jones carefully assesses FBI Data weaponized by police & amplified by media to scare & misinform public. Speaks w/ non-police experts, & debunks the myths. "Don't believe them." motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
A carefully worded first paragraph in this reporting. "Homicides across the United States rose by an estimated 30 percent in 2020, the largest one-year increase on record, according to recently released data from the FBI. But don’t jump to conclusions about what that means."
"As soon as the FBI shared this statistic, a flood of fear-inducing headlines made it seem like Americans are now living through a massive wave of violence. Police & journalists quickly speculated about causes blaming (w/o evidence) protests to stop police brutality."
"Don’t believe [police chiefs, mayors, & journalists]. Fearmongering about crime has for decades been a way for politicians & other officials to funnel more money to cops & prisons, win elections, & undermine Black people’s popular protests for civil rights. But ignores truths."
Myth 1: Murder rates are off the charts. Actually: Nowhere near historic highs.
"We shouldn’t downplay the numbers, but it’s important to also keep them in perspective to avoid fueling policies that have historically harmed Black & Brown Communities."motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
"We shouldn’t downplay the numbers, but it’s important to also keep them in perspective to avoid fueling policies that have historically harmed Black & Brown Communities."motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
Myth 2: We’re in the middle of a crime wave. Actually: Overall crime is down.
"Crime has been dropping for 18 years straight. In 2020, 'major crimes,' like rape, armed assault, robbery, burglary, car thefts, and murder, dropped by an estimated 5 percent."motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
"Crime has been dropping for 18 years straight. In 2020, 'major crimes,' like rape, armed assault, robbery, burglary, car thefts, and murder, dropped by an estimated 5 percent."motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
Myth 3: Protests caused homicide surge. Actually: Nope. No proof.
“Increase in homicides & continued decline in other crimes, was universal—in cities large & small, in states red & blue, in cities that had protests for Black lives and those that didn’t." motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
“Increase in homicides & continued decline in other crimes, was universal—in cities large & small, in states red & blue, in cities that had protests for Black lives and those that didn’t." motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
Myth 4: Homicides surged because we defunded the police.
Actually: Nope. And many cities invested more in police.
“This was, by and large, a homicide spike that happened on the status quo’s watch."
motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
Actually: Nope. And many cities invested more in police.
“This was, by and large, a homicide spike that happened on the status quo’s watch."
motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
Myth 5: More police/prisons will solve the problem. Actually: Investing in public health might be better bang for our buck.
“We spend more on policing/prisons than any other society in history. We aren't the healthiest or safest. We should be asking why?"
motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
“We spend more on policing/prisons than any other society in history. We aren't the healthiest or safest. We should be asking why?"
motherjones.com/crime-justice/…
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