Re:The curious case of the fall in crime
by Zigurd on Sunday July 21, 2013 @08:51AM
(#6078624)
You are right that one aspect of lower crime rates is that police department leadership, in some places, discourage reporting crimes. Especially if they have an incentive structure based on crime rates. There is enough variability in reporting rates to hide a lot of crime.
BUT this article was very unsatisfying. The above factor is just one of many. And the problem is that paramilitary "boys' toys" enthusiasts, prison guard unions, recipients of anti-terrorism grants, and all the other interest groups are all contending to lead the low-crime parade.
It's pretty certain that some crime is becoming less prevalent. It's hard to hide a shooting or stabbing victim. But these gains have to be defended against the kinds of fudging you describe. And, to reap the social and budget benefits of real reductions, we also have to call BS on false claims of the lock-'em-up interest groups.
It could be that the answer is that more people know what a normal middle class life is like and therefore more people want to live that way, even if it is just aspirational.
BUT this article was very unsatisfying. The above factor is just one of many. And the problem is that paramilitary "boys' toys" enthusiasts, prison guard unions, recipients of anti-terrorism grants, and all the other interest groups are all contending to lead the low-crime parade.
It's pretty certain that some crime is becoming less prevalent. It's hard to hide a shooting or stabbing victim. But these gains have to be defended against the kinds of fudging you describe. And, to reap the social and budget benefits of real reductions, we also have to call BS on false claims of the lock-'em-up interest groups.
It could be that the answer is that more people know what a normal middle class life is like and therefore more people want to live that way, even if it is just aspirational.