As of: 09/28/2021 12:25 a.m.
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The homicide rate rose to record highs in some US cities in 2020. At the same time, general crime has declined since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
By Claudia Sarre, ARD Studio Washington
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Overall, around 30 percent more murders were committed in the United States in 2020 than in 2019. According to FBI crime statistics, a total of 21,570 people were murdered – around 4,900 more than in the previous year and the highest increase in murders since records began in 1960.
Claudia Sarre
ARD-Studio Washington
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In some US cities such as Albuquerque, Memphis, Milwaukee, Tulsa and Des Moines, the murder rate climbed to record highs. At the same time, however, crimes such as drug-related crime and break-ins have declined since the beginning of the corona pandemic.
Even in the first half of 2021, an above-average number of people were murdered, but the numbers are now slowly falling. Around 77 percent of fatal crimes were committed with the aid of a weapon.
Crime researchers attribute the enormous increase in fatal violence to corona-related economic and social hardship. The mass protests against police violence and racism after the death of George Floyd also played a role, according to the police. Another possible reason is a reform of the bail regime, after which many violent criminals were released from prison.
An astonishing number of murders: FBI publishes new violence statistics
Claudia Sarre, ARD Washington, September 27th, 2021 11:20 pm
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