Rising Murder Rates Elicit Calls for "Tough on Crime" Solutions

 After decades of high crime rates, the last couple of decades have seen falling crime rates, to historic lows, nationwide. But after the Covid-19 virus shuttered much of our nation for months on end, murder rates in some large cities across the nation are climbing at alarming rates.

Politicians and so-called experts are divided on the reasons for the skyrocketing rates of shootings and murders, but it is clear that several factors come into play. First, the coronavirus crisis, and the government's highly restrictive social rules to combat spread, have created a mental health crisis nationwide. Some people who may have managed poor mental health through regular socialization lost that capability. As a result, some have "snapped," leading to mass shootings and other violent crimes. Social isolation is extremely harmful to psychological health, a fact many prisoners have known for years. 

A second factor is the "defund the police" movement resulting from several highly publicized cases involving police violence against citizens. So-called progressive cities that have embraced a police defunding agenda have seen significant rises in violence. When people believe they can get away with crime, either because the police can't or won't do anything or because prosecutors refuse to prosecute crimes, crime rates increase. This is seen especially in the criminal "underworld" where gangs and violent criminals ply their crafts.

Other factors have undoubtedly also contributed to rising violent crime rates. But lawmakers, media talking heads, and "experts" often shape conversations about crime rates around their own agendas for legislative action and control. One such agenda for some people in power is the same old "tough" approach to crime. 

Bail reform, for example, has been criticized by using anecdotal evidence, while talking heads ignore the injustice of historic bail laws. Solitary examples of someone released pending trial committing another crime do not consider the hundreds of thousands of people who lose jobs, homes, and their children while they await trials, simply because they are too poor to pay even nominal bail costs. Bail reforms should protect the public from potentially unstable violent people while also protecting accused, but not convicted, people of injustices. The Constitution used to consider people innocent until proven guilty. 

Some legislators have used increasing crime rates to push for "tougher" sentences. This usually means mandatory minimum sentences, including life in prison, and longer sentences for some crimes. Politicians ignore scientific evidence that longer sentences do NOT lead to safer communities, instead capitalizing on public fear in order to gain votes to stay in office. Media heads also ignore science because hype and fear sell better.

The reality is that the recent rise in violence cannot be ignored. People should feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. People should not have to wonder if going to a movie theatre is a life or death decision. Crimes, especially violent crimes, must be punished for our society to function well. But punishment should not be our only goal. We ought to also aim to address mental health issues that lead to violence, and to use evidence-based rehabilitation efforts to affect change in people who commit violent crimes.

Neither defunding the police nor abolishing prisons will make society more safe. That's just a silly utopian notion. But properly training officers to both serve and protect citizens would make better use of what society spends on law enforcement. Holding corrupt and immoral officers accountable will also go a long way to restoring public confidence in these public servants. 

Likewise, rather than increasing incarceration rates and sentences, leading to increased spending on prisons, how about we start making our prisons more effective? Instead of using a purely retributive approach, we should ensure prisoners who need it receive mental health treatment, and we should use measurable approaches to rehabilitation. Training corrections officers to be more than glorified babysitters would also help. So would holding corrupt and physically or mentally/emotionally abusive officers and administrators accountable. 

"Tough on crime" is a knee-jerk reaction to crime that fails to solve any problems. But it looks good on a political candidate's resume, and it is sure to continue lining the pockets of people who profit from the prison industrial complex. American communities deserve better.