As Major US Cities Set All-time Homicide Records, Media Split on Placing Blame

At least 12 major U.S. cities set all-time records for homicide in 2021. What's to blame?

Of the dozen that set new records, five surpassed all-time highs that were set or tied just last year. Philadelphia had 13% more homicides this year (521 as of Dec. 6) than last year, and broke its record of 500 that was set in 1990. Philadelphia's total was more than the nation's two biggest cities, New York (443 as of Dec. 5) and Los Angeles (352 as of Nov. 27). According to the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report, murders increased 30% in the U.S. in 2020, the largest single-year jump in 60 years. Meanwhile, the data shows that the number of arrests fell 24% in 2020. Other cities that set all-time homicide records in 2021 include Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas; and Rochester, New York.

Reports across the spectrum acknowledged how depleted police forces and lower arrest rates in some of the cities contributed to the spikes. Coverage of the news from right-rated sources often highlighted how many of the cities are run by Democrats, and explained how leaders in those cities moved to cut police funding and lower criminal penalties or incarceration rates over the past two years since the murder of George Floyd. Reports from left-rated outlets often highlighted the COVID-19 pandemic and its many social and cultural consequences as potential factors for higher murder rates. One writer for Newsweek (Center bias) highlighted how cities can focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and community outreach to curb violent trends.