House Judiciary Report Links ‘Defund the Police’ Policies to Crime Surge

Uncategorized

A recent report from the House Judiciary Committee has linked a surge in violent crime to policies stemming from the “Defund the Police” movement, which gained traction after the George Floyd protests. The report argues that Democratic cities across the nation have seen a dramatic rise in both violent and non-violent crime following the implementation of these policies, alongside the election of “rogue prosecutors” who, according to the report, have deprioritized public safety.

Republican Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, took to social media to highlight the report’s findings. “This report highlights how rogue prosecutors in Democrat-run jurisdictions downgrade serious crimes, refuse to prosecute the laws on the books, and put violent criminals ahead of innocent communities,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). Jordan further criticized Democratic prosecutors like Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, accusing them of releasing violent criminals back onto the streets with little regard for public safety. “Americans are less safe under the Biden-Harris Administration and their pro-criminal policies,” Jordan added.

The report draws on testimony from the Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance. These groups conducted an in-depth review of why crime rates have surged in Democratic-controlled cities in the wake of police defunding efforts.

According to the report, a key factor in the rise in crime has been the actions of Democratic leaders who embraced the “Defund the Police” movement, reducing funding for law enforcement agencies. These cuts, coupled with the election of progressive prosecutors in several major cities, are said to have led to an environment where crime has flourished.

“Prominent Democrats—up to and including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris—have embraced the misguided and dangerous ‘Defund the Police’ movement,” the report reads. The document further claims that liberal interest groups have worked to elect “far-left” prosecutors in Democratic-run cities, who in turn have taken steps to reduce police budgets and implement policies that keep criminals on the streets. “These pro-criminal and anti-law enforcement policies endanger all Americans and make communities less safe,” the report asserts.

The report cites specific examples of how crime has increased in cities that cut their police budgets. In New York City, for instance, the Democratic leadership reduced the police department’s budget by $1 billion in 2020. According to the report, major crimes in the city surged by 23% in 2022 compared to the previous year. Philadelphia, which reduced its police budget by $33 million, saw a notable rise in homicides in 2022.

While Democratic officials have pointed to decreasing crime rates in recent months, the report contends that violent crime remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. “Although Democrats claim that violent crime is decreasing, crime rates are still far higher than pre-pandemic levels, and crime continues to wreak havoc on American communities,” the document states.

In addition to the financial cuts to law enforcement, the report focuses heavily on the role of so-called “rogue prosecutors” who, it alleges, have contributed to the crime wave by prioritizing the rights of criminals over public safety. These prosecutors are said to have been elected in large part due to the efforts of liberal advocacy groups and have implemented policies that, in the committee’s view, have exacerbated the problem.

The report describes these prosecutors as “far-left” and accuses them of working to “fundamentally change the criminal justice system.” It asserts that they have systematically downgraded felonies to misdemeanors, refused to prosecute certain crimes, and eliminated cash bail requirements, allowing dangerous criminals to return to the streets with minimal consequences.

The report singles out prosecutors like Alvin Bragg in Manhattan and Larry Krasner in Philadelphia as key examples of this trend. According to the findings, these prosecutors “refuse to prosecute entire categories of crime, systemically downgrade felonies to misdemeanors, and refuse to request bail for criminals,” all of which have contributed to rising crime rates.

The report also tackles the issue of bail reform, a policy popular in some Democratic-run cities that aims to reduce or eliminate cash bail for certain crimes. Critics argue that this has allowed violent offenders to be released back into their communities with little supervision.

“These laws and policies eliminated cash bail, restricted judges from imposing constraints on dangerous criminals, and even mandated the immediate release of criminals back into the community,” the report states.

Proponents of bail reform argue that it prevents the penalization of individuals who cannot afford bail and ensures that defendants are not unfairly detained before their trial. However, the report maintains that such policies have made cities more dangerous by allowing violent offenders to avoid jail time and return to the streets.

The rising crime rates and policies that allegedly led to them have also had significant political ramifications. According to the report, some voters in suburban areas around cities like New York are shifting their political allegiances away from Democrats and toward Republican candidates who have emphasized a “law-and-order” platform. Former President Donald Trump has capitalized on these concerns, with his message resonating with voters who believe that the Biden-Harris administration has failed to address the growing crime problem.

As the debate over crime and public safety continues to play out on the national stage, the House Judiciary Committee’s report adds fuel to the ongoing political discourse about the effectiveness of Democratic policies following the “Defund the Police” movement and the election of progressive prosecutors.


Source

Source

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *