How have crime rates in the United States changed over the last 50 years?
Fiona Spooner
We all want to live somewhere we feel safe.
Crime is clearly a concern for many people. Nearly 60% of Americans say that reducing crime should be a top priority for the US president and Congress.1 A similar share says that violent crime is very important when making decisions about which political candidates to vote for.
Tracking crime rates is crucial to understanding whether strategies to reduce offenses are effective and for identifying areas of concern.
Unfortunately, the quality of crime...