First Half of Year Crime Stats COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Crime Trends
Memphis, Tenn. (Memphis Shelby Crime Commission) — The Public Safety Institute and the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission have released preliminary crime figures from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for the first half of 2020 (January-June) compared to certain previous years. In some cases, the figures reflect significant changes during the COVID-19 pandemic period of April-June compared to figures released earlier for just the first quarter of the year (January-March).
The most significant change is in the major violent crime rate (based on reported murders, robberies, rapes and aggravated assaults). At the end of the first quarter, the major violent crime rate had actually dropped 4.3% in the city of Memphis and 5.2% countywide compared to the first quarter of 2019. The decline was driven by significant declines in reported robberies and aggravated assaults. Taking the -19 months of April-June into account, though, the major violent crime rate is up 9.7% in Memphis and 9.1% countywide for the first half of the year compared to 2019.
The increase in the major violent crime rate is attributable to significant increases in murders (up to 29.9% in Memphis and 26.2% countywide) and aggravated assaults (up 15.3% in Memphis and 14.7% throughout the county, reversing the declines during the first quarter of the year). Both murders and aggravated assaults usually involve perpetrators and victims who know each other.
Also troubling was the increase in all reported offenses involving guns — up 23% in Memphis and 22% countywide.
On the other hand, reported robberies — where the victims are usually random and unknown to the perpetrators — declined. Through June, reported robberies were down 9.5% in Memphis and 10.3% countywide compared to the first half of 2019. (There had actually been a slight increase in reported robberies in Memphis during the first quarter of the year.) So, during the COVID-19 months of April-June, there was a decline in reported random acts of major violent crime, but they were more than offset by violent crimes involving individuals who knew each other.
There were some interesting twists in the reported major property crime rate as well (which includes reported burglaries, motor vehicle thefts and other felony thefts). Overall, the major property crime was down 8.4% in Memphis and 8.1% throughout the county, driven by a very significant decrease in the burglary rate — minus 23.6% in Memphis and minus 22.2% countywide compared to the first half of last year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have been at home, especially during the day, likely serving as a deterrent to would-be burglars.
On the other hand, reported motor vehicle thefts increased by 11.4% in Memphis and 9% countywide. Motor vehicle thefts by juveniles tend to increase when schools are closed, which has been the case for most schools since March.
As was the case during the first quarter of the year, reported domestic violence cases were down for the first half of the year compared to the first half of last year — declining 7.8% in Memphis and 7.9% throughout Shelby County. However, because of the COVID-19 crisis, many domestic violence victims may feel it is unsafe to call 911 with perpetrators remaining close by in the home and with no alternative places to go for safety. So, the figures could be somewhat skewed.
Amy Weirich, Shelby County District Attorney and chair of the Safe Community Plan, stated, “Any citizen seeing these increases in murder and aggravated assault should be disturbed. In some cases, the victim is the intended target. In others, the victim is an innocent bystander. Either way, too many families are grieving the tragic, senseless, deaths of their loved ones. The police will investigate. Our office will prosecute. Bu until there are fewer members of our community embracing violent behavior, little will change.”
More information on local crime trends are available on the Crime Commission’s website at www.memphiscrime.org.