According to fresh statistics published on Monday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States saw its largest one-year rise in murders on record in 2020, with several localities seeing record highs.
Despite a decrease in serious crimes overall, there were an extra 4,901 murders in 2020 when compared to the previous year, marking the highest increase in homicides since national records began in 1960. The substantial increase has approximately corresponded with the 18-month period during which the Covid-19 pandemic has been active.
This year’s increased murder rate has carried over into 2021, but it has decreased in response to the year’s progress thus far.
On a global scale, the toll of about 21,500 persons murdered last year remains much lower than the all-time high reached during the unrest of the early 1990s. Despite this, many cities, including Albuquerque, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee, and Syracuse, had their highest murder rates in history, according to the report: Des Moines, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee, and Syracuse.
There isn’t a straightforward reason for the dramatic increase. Many reasons are contributing to the violence, including the economic and social toll imposed by the epidemic and a significant rise in the number of firearms purchased.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s study, which tabulates crime data provided by over 16,000 law enforcement agencies, also revealed that homicides were becoming more prevalent, happening in all parts of the United States and not only in large metropolitan areas.
According to Mr. Asher, the geographic distribution of murders has widened in recent decades compared to previous decades. The cities of New York and Los Angeles were responsible for 13.8 percent of all murders in 1990, but that figure will drop to 3.8 percent by 2020, according to him.
According to Mr. Asher, homicides have increased by about 10% over the previous year in the 87 cities where current data is available. The Federal Bureau of Investigation publishes data from the previous year in September, therefore the most recent numbers for 2021 are not yet available in full.
There is little question that the epidemic had a major impact, generating economic and emotional stress, bringing people together for extended periods of time, and fostering an atmosphere of uncertainty and uneasiness. As a result of the epidemic, millions of Americans lost their jobs, companies, and, in some instances, their homes. In addition, The pervasive feeling of despair contributed to the escalation of social tensions and criminal activity. Many people in the United States have also suffered the pain of losing loved ones as a result of Covid-19.
