Rising murder rate in Columbus bucks US trend

Columbus is one of nine large U.S. cities to show an increasing homicide rate at a time when crime overall is declining, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice shows.

The center at the New York University School of Law gathered crime statistics on Columbus and 29 other largest U.S. cities. The numbers indicate trends in overall crime, violent crime and homicide are declining this year, heading to levels nearly as low as 1990.

Ames Grawert, an attorney in the Brennan Center’s Justice Program, said the numbers “show that crime and murder are expected to fall in the nation’s largest cities this year, a sign that grim warnings about a nationwide crime wave remain unfounded. ... Crime remains close to record lows, in the nation as a whole and in our city centers.”

The study runs counter to statements by President Donald Trump, who on several occasions has said the U.S. crime and homicide rate are at a four-decade high.

“Fears of a national crime wave pushed by President Trump and Attorney General (Jeff) Sessions have been used to justify or promote controversial changes on everything from sentencing practices, to drug policy, to immigration enforcement,” said Inimai Chettiar, director of the Brennan Center’s Justice Program. “Fear sells, and the administration hopes

“Fear sells, and the administration hopes people will buy it. But, their claims aren’t backed up by the facts.”

— Inimai Chettiar, director of the Brennan Center’s Justice Program

people will buy it. But, their claims aren’t backed up by the facts.”

Brennan Center researchers collected crime statistics from police departments in the 30 largest cities and estimated year-end numbers based on historical trends. They said the crime rate this year is expected to decline 1.8 percent, violent crime is projected to be about the same, and murder rate is likely to drop 2.5 percent compared with 2016.

While the study represents overall trends, Columbus is among the cities to show an increase in homicides.

Ohio’s largest city has had 93 homicides so far this year, an increase of nearly 39 percent over the 67 homicides at this time last year.

Brennan Center statistics showed Columbus’ homicide rate peaked at about 22 per 100,000 population in the early 1990s before dropping to fewer than 10 per 100,000 in 2015. The rate began increasing in 2016 and shot up this year.

The Brennan Center study found other major cities showing homicide rate increases are Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, El Paso, Louisville and Nashville.