It was like something out of the horrors of New York City’s past. At 7:30 yesterday, there was a man. approach A woman was sleeping on the Coney Island F train. The man set the woman on fire. Then watched her burn to death peacefully. while the transport police tried to extinguish the fire
The suspect has been detained. But the murder was a horrifying milestone. There will be 11 murders on New York’s subways in 2024. Highest number in decades– It adds to the uneasiness that is prevalent in many people’s daily commutes. Transportation statistics show that other types of violent crimes There has also been an increase. On a per driver basisIt has millions of New Yorkers worried about whether they will be next.
But it’s not just the subway. The NYPD data I collected for the Manhattan Institute show Citywide, rape is at its highest level since at least 2006. Crimes such as robbery and car theft are among the highest levels since at least 2006. It is still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. The city was a witness. power surge in young criminal offenders and must face increasing irregularities, including An increase in shoplifting and The explosion of prostitution On Roosevelt Road in Queens
More recently, New York has proven that big, progressive cities can be safe and orderly, too. The city’s deep and sustained crime reductions in the 1990s and 2000s were twice as deep and twice as long as in the rest of the country—make it a nickname It’s been described as a “safe city,” but as the city curbs a recent spike in murders, gruesome crime stories are once again occurring every day. what happened?
The answer lies in systematic failures that leave the city’s criminal justice system ill-equipped to deal with rising crime. shortage of police officers Well-intentioned but dangerous reforms and widespread dysfunction at city hall. All of which is why it feels like America’s greatest city is slipping back into its bad old days.
The problem started with the New York Police Department. The nation’s largest police force is the NYPD. number There are about 33,000 sworn officers, but that’s down from about 36,000. In 2020– and as many as a quarter of officials are considering resigning. According to the information of Latest studies from John Jay College of Criminal Justice at CUNY.
As a result, the NYPD can do less than ever before along Roosevelt Avenue, for example. used to have 100 foot patrol officers Today there are 20 Police Benevolent Associations representing NYPD officers. made a complaint that the Transportation Office doesn’t have enough personnel to make subways safe; This has led to events such as Sunday’s brutal murder.
But the problem goes beyond the NYPD. From 2018 to 2022, New York State implemented comprehensive criminal justice reform. Although these changes are well-intentioned, And in some cases it was successful. But the loopholes and quirks They tend to bind the system.
The best known of these is New York’s bail reform. This significantly limits the use of pre-trial detention. Analysis John Jay’s Data Collaborative for Justice found that bail reform did not increase overall crime in the city. But it tends to increase crime among repeat offenders. including many repeat offenders who make headlines about several backrests in one day
But the state has also reformed the law that determines punishment for youths and juveniles. This has led to a significant increase in crimes among 16-year-olds. like that New York Bureau of Criminal Justice and it Make proactive changes Going to the evidence investigation process This requires prosecutors to deliver a huge amount of information to the defense in a shorter amount of time. As a result, many cases were not prosecuted.
Of course, the blame for the city’s problems lies first and foremost with the mayor. Eric Adams, a former NYPD officer, was elected by a powerful criminal faction. But since taking office He was also embroiled in a scandal that affected every part of his administration. That includes public safety: his former deputy mayor for public safety, Phil Banks. resigned amidst federal investigation and NYPD just forced Jeffrey Maddrey, the highest-ranking uniformed section chief. Amid allegations of sexual misconduct (Madrey denies the allegations)
New Yorkers shouldn’t have to live this way. Of course, it wasn’t that long ago that they did. In the 1970s and ’80s, New York was a hotbed of violence and urban decay. But smart surveillance and effective supervision keep it safe. And citizens and Americans alike should want that to happen again.
However, getting there means getting crime back under control. It would mean a dramatic expansion of NYPD hiring so that police can operate. It also means thoughtful and purposeful changes to criminal justice reform in New York. Judges in New York are required to be allowed to detain people awaiting trial based on their risk of reoffending. As in other states in the union, the burdensome requirements of discovery reform can be relaxed and we can make it easier to bring juveniles to adult court without destroying the basic objectives of the reform
The bottom line, however, is that the city needs new public safety leadership. Free from scandals and corruption. Veterans are optimistic about newly appointed Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. It is widely regarded as a model of administrative efficiency. She must be given the latitude. Clean the department–
All of these steps are necessary because New York’s crime problem is out of control. New York subway riders deserve better than spending their commute wondering if they might be set on fire. And everyone who believes American cities can and should be great also deserves better.
