While New York City has seen a dramatic reduction in murders and shootings, the number of felony assaults (and other offenses that can be counted by volume) is increasing. The high volume of these offenses shapes residents’ perceptions of their quality of life, including how safe they feel walking down the street or riding the subway and whether they consider their neighborhoods secure.
When it comes to local crime, Americans are generally interested in details about specific incidents as well as the underlying causes of local criminal activity. But they are less interested in comparing the frequency of local crime with that of a larger area or region. And while many of those who get local crime news from social media, locally focused apps or friends, family and neighbors say they find these sources fair to all racial and ethnic groups, fewer of those who get their information from local law enforcement, local politicians or the TV news say the same.
In general, people who frequently consume local crime news tend to be more concerned about crime’s impact on them and their families. These individuals are also more likely to report feeling safe in their communities and express confidence that local law enforcement is doing a good job keeping them safe. Taking advantage of the availability of local crime data is one way for property owners to help their residents and tenants feel more confident about their safety and security. Signing up for local crime alerts is another. These alerts can keep residents informed about a variety of relevant events, from an increased risk of robbery to neighborhood watch programs that encourage community vigilance.