Staff Reports
Several media outlets have recently suggested that crime rates in the United States are on the decline, but a closer look reveals a more complex situation. The government uses two different methods to measure crime, leading to differing results and complicating the narrative of decreasing crime.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics conducts the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), where Americans are asked if they have been victims of crimes. On the other hand, the Federal Bureau of Investigation runs the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, which relies on crimes reported to law enforcement agencies.
Media outlets continue to misrepresent government crime stats to Biden’s benefithttps://t.co/hFs7CKw17s
— Larry Elder (@larryelder) April 28, 2024
Discrepancies have emerged between these two measures. While the UCR reported a 2% decrease in violent crime between 2021 and 2022, the NCVS found a significant increase in the number of people reporting violent victimizations during the same period.
Despite these conflicting statistics, mainstream media outlets like NPR, Reuters, CBS News, The Hill, NBC News, and PBS have reported on the FBI data suggesting a decrease in crime without acknowledging the contradictory data from the NCVS.
President Joe Biden has seized upon the reports of declining crime rates as evidence that his policies are making communities safer. He attributes this supposed decrease in crime to investments in public safety made possible by legislation like the American Rescue Plan, which he claims Republicans in Congress opposed.
However, some publications, such as The Guardian, have advised caution in interpreting the FBI data due to incomplete reporting and potential undercounting of crimes. Various factors, including changes in reporting systems and low response rates from law enforcement agencies, may contribute to the disparities between the UCR and NCVS data.
Overall, the differing crime statistics highlight the importance of critically evaluating media reports and government claims, especially when it comes to sensitive issues like crime rates.
