Worry about rising crime has largely rebounded in the U.S. after a lull in 2020 – bad news for Democrats facing a GOP determined to make it an issue in a quest to win back the suburbs.
Nov. 10, 2021
Likely due to an enhanced sense of security brought on by coronavirus restrictions as Americans stayed home and avoided places with large crowds, worry about crime was down in 2020, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday. But concern over crime has largely returned to its pre-pandemic levels, surpassing where it stood two years ago across a few metrics.
Worry over several types of violent and property crimes, including being mugged, having a car stolen or broken into, having a home burglarized, being murdered or being a victim of terrorism have increased by between 5% and 9% over the last year. And according to the poll, conducted between Oct. 1-19, concern over being attacked while driving, being a victim of identity theft and being a victim of a hate crime are higher now than in 2019.
But according to Gallup, the increase in worry in 2021 may be attributed to the expected "return to normal," as coronavirus restrictions have eased. Still, they may also reflect public awareness of increased crime rates during the last year, and while Gallup noted that property crimes have steadily declined, "the news about violent crime may be influencing broader perceptions of the crime problem."
Democrats have in recent months bemoaned the revival of familiar rhetoric surrounding increased crime that has emerged as a key component of the GOP's attempts to win back the suburbs. Republicans are hoping to use the renewed fears of crime as a central part of their campaign messaging to persuade suburban voters, who are predominantly white and over the past few years, have shifted more toward the Democratic Party. The GOP sees them as the key to helping them take back control of the House and Senate next year.
Republicans have specifically sought to link Democrats to the "defund the police" movement, even as many in the party remain opposed to the idea of reducing police budgets or restructuring departments. In solidly blue Minneapolis, voters opposed a ballot initiative in last week's elections to replace its police department with a new one focused on public safety.
In New York's state legislature, Republicans made gains in suburban regions in last week's elections, with campaigns emphasizing public safety. In Connecticut, Republican state senators last month urged Democrats to hold a special session to adopt resolutions to promote "a safer Connecticut." And Glenn Youngkin's stunning gubernatorial win in Virginia was not without an emphasis on fighting crime throughout the state – and success in the suburbs.
In 2021, 23% of adults reported being the victim of a crime. Those recent crime victims are significantly more likely than those who have not been the victim of a crime to be concerned about falling victim to each of the crimes surveyed.
According to the poll, of the most common ways Americans seek to mitigate crime is avoiding dangerous areas. In recent years, Americans have also increasingly relied on arming themselves with guns, knives or mace, installing alarm systems and getting a dog.
But among the most commonly cited crimes to cause worry for Americans at least occasionally is computer hacking, at 74%, and identity theft, at 72%. Meanwhile just 43% of Americans worry about their car being stolen, 33% worry about getting mugged and 30% worry about being the victim of terrorism.
And while city residents' worry about each of the crimes measured has not changed much compared to 2020 levels, Gallup noted, suburban and rural residents are much more concerned in 2021 about car theft, mugging and their home being burglarized when they're not there.
An FBI report released in September revealed that the number of killings in the U.S. soared in 2020, jumping nearly 30% since 2019 for the largest single-year increase on record. But overall crime, which includes different types of property crime, decreased by about 6%.
Questions:
Are the Democrats out of the loop on law and order with their "defund the police" messaging?
Are liberals missing the boat concerning American fears of crime (whether real or perceived)?
Who is to blame for declining confidence in the Democrats when it comes to crime issues? The Republicans for seizing on those fears in dishonest ways? OR the Democrats by dismissing the fears of suburban Americans?
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