Violent index crimes (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) generally declined statewide between 2010 and 2020 before surging with the onset of the social and economic disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The surge was limited to New York City and its suburbs.
“Minors contribute to the overall crime problem, but not in a way that would justify the overwhelming punitive policy response,” said Jeffrey Butts, research professor and director of the Research and Evaluation Center at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “Is it misleading to concentrate our attention on one subset of the population?”
Violent arrests among New Yorkers under age 18 surged after 2020, most likely for the same reasons as adults.
Researchers at JohnJayREC were contracted to support the New York Governor’s Office in assessing the public safety benefits of financial investments in four key anti-violence initiatives across the state.
Virginia is reporting its lowest recidivism rate in more than 20 years—tied with Minnesota for the second lowest in the nation, but Professor Jeffrey Butts at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York is not impressed.
The National League of Cities supported local government leaders in five U.S. cities working to reimagine public safety.
