This talk will discuss the recent homicide rise in the United States and its possible relationship with the “Ferguson Effect”. The Ferguson Effect can work in one or both of two ways: (1) Crime rates spike because the police are holding back, afraid they’ll be criticized later for what they see as doing their jobs. Or, (2) as community members lose faith in the police to protect and serve them effectively and fairly, they are more likely to carry weapons and settle disputes with violence. Neither version of the Ferguson Effect has been systematically evaluated. Dr. Rosenfeld calls for the more timely release of nationwide crime statistics to address crime problems as they arise.
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