DV Journal

Throughout the presidential race, Democrats pushed the narrative, energized by the FBI’s September 2024 Uniform Crime Report Summary, that violent crime was down.

It didn’t work, as Donald Trump went on to win both the popular vote and a strong Electoral College majority running on a platform promising to crack down on crime.

Now, new reports and legislative efforts at the state and federal levels reveal the true and darker reality about crime in America: Murders and other violent crimes have risen.

According to a report by John R. Lott Jr. of Real Clear Investigations, the FBI did what he referred to as a “stealth revision” of the figures in the Uniform Crime Report Summary of Crime in the Nation released September 2024. Lott says in his report that revised statistics show a sharp rise in the 2022 numbers.

“When the FBI originally released the ‘final’ crime data for 2022 in September 2023, it reported that the nation’s violent crime rate fell by 2.1 percent. This quickly became a Democratic Party talking point to counter Donald Trump’s claims of soaring crime. But the FBI has quietly revised those numbers, releasing new data that shows violent crime increased in 2022 by 4.5 percent. The new data includes thousands more murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults.”

Only a footnote at the bottom of page three of the FBI summary states: “The 2022 violent crime rate has been updated for inclusion in CIUS, 2023.”

That runs counter to the now questionable narrative pushed by major media outlets, as well as then-presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, in an official September 23 White House press release.

“Today’s new data submitted to the FBI confirms that our dedicated efforts and collaborative partnerships with law enforcement are working; Americans are safer now than when we took office,” she said. “Last year, we saw the largest ever one-year decrease in the homicide rate, which now stands 16 percent below its 2020 level. Violent crime is at a near 50-year low.”

Neither Harris nor President Joe Biden commented on the FBI revisions.

Contacted by DVJournal about the issue, the FBI acknowledged the data it reported for 2021 was not reliable.

“The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program transitioned from the traditional Summary Reporting System (SRS) to the more comprehensive National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) for the 2021 data collection year,” the Bureau wrote. “A significant number of agencies were unable to complete the transition to NIBRS in 2021. Due to the lower volume of participation, the FBI was unable to produce the traditional national estimates for 2021.”

Therefore, 2021 counts now showing in the 20-year estimation tables reflect only estimates based on the data directly reported to the FBI. “This explains why the figure appears different than the computed estimation published in the Crime in the Nation, 2022,” the FBI statement added.

The FBI had no further comment and the statement is not on the Bureau’s website.

Former Philadelphia assistant district attorney Carlos Vega said he has a hard time taking the FBI’s response at face value.

“It seems to me that big government wants to lull the public into a false sense of security when violent crime is actually out of control and aren’t telling us what’s really happening,” he said. “My question is, was this done to impact the election? Also, there was no press conference about this revision. It was all done very quietly and the general public isn’t going to go rooting around in the weeds looking for the real information. They’re going to believe what the government says.”

State Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) said the revisions by the Bureau make discerning the truth about important facts problematic.

“We initially saw figures from the FBI that painted one story, only to see those same figures later revised to tell a completely different one,” White said. “When the facts aren’t consistent, it becomes challenging to discern the truth. Regardless of what the statistics show, one thing remains clear: we need to hold criminals accountable for their actions.”

In an effort to counter rising crime, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), along with cosponsors Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced HR-27, to counter a nationwide trend of George Soros-backed “woke prosecutors” declining to prosecute murder, aggravated assault, robbery, rape, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and other serious crimes.

“Criminals are victimizing innocent Americans, and woke prosecutors are letting them do it over and over again. Louisianians and all Americans deserve to know when their district attorneys refuse to stand up for victims. Our bill would require prosecutors to report what crimes they fail to prosecute so that Americans can better hold their public servants accountable,” Kennedy said in a statement.

The bill would apply to state and local prosecutors in the 50 U.S. cities in which crime is most on the rise. Jurisdictions with a formal policy that eliminates cash bail for offenses involving a firearm would lose certain federal grant funding.

“Over the past two years, we’ve seen a disturbing trend in big-city district attorneys working to keep dangerous criminals on our streets rather than behind bars. The same type of woke policies have been enacted by progressive DAs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, and voters have had enough,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) who is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Perhaps not surprisingly, in Philadelphia at least one hundred accused criminals awaiting trial were released from the city jails. “The Defender Association of Philadelphia, in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office and the First Judicial District, worked to identify a list of people charged with relatively low-level offenses and who remained in jail because they couldn’t afford bail,” the Inquirer reported.

But the report titled “Violence in America: How the Pro-Criminal, Anti-Law Enforcement Policies Embraced by the Biden-Harris Administration Endanger All Americans” details how what it refers to as 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.

Exactly what Kennedy’s proposed bill would address.

Part of the report focuses on Philadelphia’s District Attorney Larry Krasner. During a committee field hearing held in Philadelphia on May 3, 2024, at the William J. Green Federal Building, Terri O’Connor testified about the 2020 murder of her police officer husband, Cpl. Jim O’Connor,  while his SWAT team was serving a warrant.

O’Connor said her husband’s accused killer, Hassan Elliott,  should have been in prison but was released.

“The man who fired the shots that killed my husband was charged two years prior for carrying a firearm without a license,” she said. She went on to describe in heartbreaking detail how the accused and co-defendants had been rearrested several times before the murder of her husband but were repeatedly released by the district attorney’s office, often with low bail, no bail, dropped or withdrawn charges, or time served.

“We have a district attorney who says crime is down. Well, obviously if you don’t prosecute criminals, of course, it appears that way,” O’Connor tearfully said.

The defendants have all been federally charged in the case.

“Fully prosecuting violent offenders will lead to safer communities, as those perpetrators are kept behind bars,” said White. “But this requires prosecutors to do their job effectively and not release offenders with inadequate prosecutions or sweetheart deals that put criminals first and victims last.”

The district attorney’s office did not respond to a request for comments.

My name is Hope Danoff, and I want to share with you the essence of Republicans With HOPE. I have always been a person of action, understanding at a very young age that one person can really make a positive change for others in our community. Recently, I worked with my township commissioner to install stop signs and traffic safety measures on my street.

I witnessed several different and disturbing policies enacted and trends such as open borders, crime, defunding and demoralizing the police, the foreign affairs debacles, the overtaking and indoctrination in our schools, biological males competing on women’s sports teams, and the corruption in Washington, D.C.

It seems that what is up is down, and what is down is up. I cannot just sit by when I see these things happening in our country.

The open border policy invites millions of undocumented migrants to our country. Many of the undocumented migrants are beautiful people longing for the American Dream, but many are not. Recent statistics released by ICE show 435,000 undocumented migrants with criminal convictions have been released into our towns. We are a country of immigrants and should use the legal immigration policy that works for everyone. Democrats want an open border, Republicans do not.

Crime has soared in our communities under Democratic policies. In part because of undocumented migrants, but also because we have normalized it and allow crime to occur without accountability. I see this everywhere, but it is worse in the very liberal cities. Republicans stand for law and order.

The economy has become so bad it’s difficult to make ends meet. Prices have soared including the necessities like groceries and fuel. More and more people are becoming dependent on government subsidies just to survive. The economic and inflation problems are caused by government over-spending with lack of accountability. Democrats spend with little or no limits. The most recent atrocity was the Inflation Reduction Act for $1.2 trillion which, ironically, caused inflation to rise. Republicans also overspend, but within limits. Republicans lean more towards smaller government (free market solutions with less government intrusion).

We are on the verge of WWIII. When America is weak, the world is in chaos. Republicans believe in peace through strength. As a two-party system, neither party is perfect, but we have to pick one when we vote. I see the Republican Party as the party of hope. We are building a big tent; diverse, enthusiastic, and positive movement in the Republican Party.

Whereas, the Democratic Party is not the party of the people. The Democrats are the party of the progressive elites desiring to force their ideas onto “we, the people.” Democrats are the party of big government. Ronald Reagan once said, “When government gets too big, freedom is lost. Government is supposed to be the servant. But, when a government can tax the people with no limit or restraint on what the government can take, then the government has become the master.”

So, why do the urban communities continue to vote Democrat? I believe the media is extremely biased with an overall narrative that Democrats are the party that will help urban communities thrive while demonizing Republicans. You can see with your own eyes that it is not working and it is time for a change! Liberal policies are destroying the urban communities with homelessness, crime, poor education, high taxes, and stifling opportunities. Republicans welcome all with policies we know work including free market solutions, law and order, school choice, opportunity to grow and thrive.

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For an alternate point of view, see: “Counterpoint: The 1994 Crime Bill’s Legacy–Thirty Years of Failure”

By the early 1990s, the United States had experienced dramatic and unprecedented surges in crime, with the violent crime rate up 470 percent from 1961 and the murder rate up 92 percent from that year.

Life in American cities was more dangerous than ever, and punishment was not fitting the crimes. While the median sentence for murder was 15 years, the median time served was only 5.5 years. The median sentence for rape was five years, but the median time served was a paltry three. Overall, violent criminals served, on average, 37 percent (2 years, 11 months) of their sentenced time. Forty-four percent of Americans said there was an area near where they lived that they would be afraid to walk alone at night.

In response to widespread pressure from law enforcement and residents, on September 13, 1994, former president Bill Clinton signed the bipartisan Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Commonly referred to as the 1994 Crime Bill, this omnibus package was the most serious federal effort to reduce violent crime in U.S. history. The bill injected billions into hiring police, created a grant program to encourage state adoption of Truth in Sentencing laws, added prison capacity, and criminalized gang membership — among other provisions.

Support for the bill was considerably higher among Black Americans (58 percent) than among White Americans (49 percent) — likely because Black Americans bore the brunt of violent crime victimization and homicide then and now.

After passage, violent crime and homicide rates ticked downward for the next two decades. The results were particularly acute for Black violent crime victims. From 1993 to 2005, the rate of Black non-fatal violent victimization dropped by more than 50 percent. While it would be foolish to attribute all of this to the 1994 Crime Bill alone, there is good reason to believe specific policies were influential.

Economist Steven Levitt completed the most comprehensive analysis of the crime decline that began in the mid-1990s and found four significant factors of impact. Two of them — the increased number of police on the streets and increased prison populations — can be directly tied to the 1994 Crime Bill.

Evaluations of the bill’s hiring program have found that the program increased the number of officers on the street and reduced crime. These results align with public safety research that has continuously demonstrated that more police means less crime. Analyses of police staffing levels and crime in Florida and New York City found increasing police levels reduced overall crime. Another recent study found each additional police officer prevents 0.1 homicides — an effect that’s twice as large for Black victims compared to White victims.

Harsher punishments and more incarceration likely contributed to the decline because incarceration has a significant incapacitation benefit. While in prison, criminal offenders cannot victimize the public. A review of existing literature by the Sacramento-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation found that any claims of prison being criminogenic cannot outweigh that incapacitation benefit. One analysis found that incapacitating one high-rate offender prevents, on average, 9.4 serious felonies. Two recent studies from the U.S. Sentencing Commission found that longer sentences reduced recidivism among released federal inmates.

The main criticism of these provisions is that they exacerbated “mass incarceration” —  a genuinely meaningless term that sounds scary but conveys no information. While it is true that U.S. incarceration rates are higher than Western Europe’s, we are not substantially more punitive. What we do have is a much higher rate of gun crime, which necessitates longer prison sentences and more incarceration.

This isn’t to say the bill was perfect, and in the 30 years since it became law, we have found ways to be more targeted in policing and sentencing. Overall, though, the 1994 Crime Bill marked a significant policy accomplishment and helped usher in a 20-year decline in violent crime that yielded fewer victims and more capacity for human flourishing in neighborhoods previously held captive by violence.

For an alternative point of view, see: “Point: When Violent Crime Was at Its Worst, Congressional Action Helped Get the Country Back on Track.”

The 1994 Crime Bill, a misguided policy choice rooted in fear and misinformation, has inflicted irreparable harm on communities nationwide. By prioritizing punitive measures over proven prevention strategies, this legislation has fueled mass incarceration, eroded civil liberties, and exacerbated systemic inequalities, all without demonstrably improving public safety.

The architects and advocates of the 1994 Crime Bill, including then-Sen. Joe Biden, sold it as a “tough-on-crime” panacea, promising a safer America. Yet, crime rates had already begun to decline before the bill was signed into law. The actual beneficiaries of this legislation were private prison corporations and law enforcement agencies, which saw their budgets and power explode.

Rather than investing in proven solutions that really make us more secure — such as affordable housing, mental health services, addiction treatment, education, youth mentorship, and diversion programs, we chose a path of punishment and control. This approach has not only failed to make us more stable and safe but has shattered families, destabilized communities and fueled economic inequality.

We all want and deserve to feel secure in our homes and communities. However, the consequences of this failed policy of overcriminalization and harsh punishment are clear. More than 5 million people are under the supervision of the criminal legal system. Nearly 2 million people, disproportionately Black and Indigenous, are living in jails and prisons instead of in their communities, a 500 percent increase since 1973.

Many individuals remain incarcerated for nonviolent offenses, including conduct related to marijuana that would not even be considered a crime in dozens of states today.

These individuals often return to communities ill-equipped to reintegrate, and are without affordable housing and an opportunity to make a living wage, thus perpetuating a cycle of crime and recidivism. Everyone deserves a second chance. Yet, overcriminalization has turned minor offenses into felonies, stripping people of their voting rights and employment opportunities. Heavy-handed surveillance has invaded our privacy and fostered mistrust between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect.

We need effective, evidence-based strategies that deliver proven solutions. We must acknowledge past failures and build a future based on justice, equity and compassion. This means investing in programs that benefit all by addressing the root causes of crime, such as poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity. It means reforming our criminal justice system to prioritize rehabilitation and second chances so people can return to their families and be productive community members. It means creating a society where everyone feels safe and supported, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

Leading with empathy and envisioning evidence-based solutions is an approach that invites bipartisan support, whether from President Biden — who stands by his son throughout Hunter’s struggles with addiction and challenges within the criminal legal system — or from former president Donald Trump, who signed the First Step Act as a measure aimed at maintaining public safety by reforming federal prisons and harsh sentencing laws to reduce recidivism, and decrease the federal prison population.

Everyone stands to benefit when our militarized law enforcement and bloated prison industry stop bleeding money away from proven and fair solutions that promote accountability while keeping us all more secure, such as affordable housing, accessible healthcare, living wages, diversion opportunities and addiction treatment.

All Americans want and deserve safety, accountability and justice. We can achieve these goals only by building a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. The 30th anniversary of the 1994 Crime Bill is a moment to reflect on the past and chart a new course. Let us commit to a future where we prioritize prevention over punishment, where we invest in our communities, and where everyone has the chance to live a life free from fear and government overreach.

As district attorney of York County, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of crime, addiction, and violence in our communities. Yet, I have also seen the remarkable power of redemption and the effectiveness of comprehensive strategies in reducing recidivism and combating the opioid crisis.

My experience in York County has reinforced my belief that justice must be both firm and fair, and that every person deserves a second chance to turn their life around. As Pennsylvania’s next attorney general, I am committed to expanding these successful approaches across the Commonwealth.

In York County, we’ve taken a tough stance against violent criminals and gangs. Our relentless pursuit of justice has resulted in a 30 percent reduction in crime during my first term as DA. But even as we crack down on those who threaten our communities, we must also recognize that incarceration alone is not enough to create lasting safety. That’s why I have prioritized programs that offer pathways to redemption for those willing to embrace change within themselves.

One of the initiatives I am most proud of is the Early Termination of Probation Program. This program has achieved a remarkable 95 percent success rate, helping individuals successfully reintegrate into society while reducing the strain on our criminal justice system. By working with local organizations, we have provided support and resources to those battling addiction, offering them the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Our efforts have led to a significant reduction in the prison population and have become a model for other counties across the state.

The opioid crisis is one of the most pressing challenges we face, and in York County, we’ve taken a comprehensive approach to combat it. As co-founder of the York County Heroin Task Force, now the York County Opioid Collaborative, I have worked tirelessly to address this epidemic at every level—from expanding our Drug Task Force to increasing access to treatment and recovery services. Our collaborative efforts have saved lives, and as attorney general, I will bring these proven strategies to the state level, ensuring that every Pennsylvanian has access to the help they need.

My vision for Pennsylvania goes beyond just fighting crime and addiction. It is about creating a justice system that is fair, compassionate, and effective. As your attorney general, I will continue to champion programs that reduce recidivism, support recovery, and provide second chance.

I will work to expand our reentry programs, improve probation practices, and ensure that our legal system prioritizes rehabilitation over retribution. But, make no mistake about, as I’ve done in York County, I will always come down hard on violent criminals who endanger our families and communities.

In Pennsylvania, we have the opportunity to build a safer, more just society. By combining tough, smart law enforcement with compassionate, evidence-based programs, we can reduce crime, combat the opioid crisis, and help those who are ready to change. My experience in York County has shown me that this balanced approach works, and I am committed to bringing these successes to communities across our Commonwealth.

Justice must be more than punishment—it must be about creating opportunities for a better future. Together, we can make Pennsylvania a place where every individual has the chance to rebuild, recover, and contribute to a safer, stronger society.

Crime and the porous border were the focus of a pre-debate telephone press conference held by the Trump campaign.

While Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and other speakers honed in on those topics, most reporters asked questions about the debate.

One topic that’s rarely reported is the so-called “bipartisan” immigration bill that Democrats blame former President Donald Trump for tanking.  Schmitt said the bill “fell apart because it would have made the problem worse.”

“It would have created a process outside of the judicial system that we have now for asylum agents to fast-track illegal immigrants to become citizens through asylum claims. That doesn’t exist now.”

“It would have supercharged. It would have created an express lane to more illegal immigration,” said Schmitt. “Secondly, it would have taken jurisdiction out of the state of Texas.” Instead, cases would be heard by the D.C. Court of Appeals. “This was a bad bill. It fell apart under its own weight because it didn’t help the situation. It made it worse.”

The DVJournal asked if Trump would hold Vice President Kamala Harris accountable during the debate for her flip-flopping on fracking, defunding the police and mandating EVs. That question did not get a direct answer.

“The president is certainly full of surprises,” said spokeswoman Danielle Alverez. “I know that we can expect him to be his charming self. We know he’s incredible when it comes to weaving in and out of topics. He’s incredible on those policy issues.”

Mace said, “Kamala Harris has been a disaster as border czar and unleashed a wave of violent migrant crime across the country and plenty of people in the mainstream media for years now dubbed her the border czar…The Harris-Biden administration took more than 94 executive actions on immigration, including halting construction of the border wall and ending the successful remain in Mexico policy.”

Crime Prevention Research Center President John Lott said despite recent claims that crime has fallen during the Biden-Harris administration, “violent crime has soared dramatically over the last few years. Total violent crime fell 17 percent during the Trump administration, and then it’s increased by 43 percent under Biden.” He explained of the two measures of crime statistics, the FBI data and the Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey, the latter is more accurate.

Many crimes are not reported to the police, who then turn that information over to the FBI, he said.

“If you look at total crimes in those cities using the National Crime Victimization data, only 8 percent of total violent crimes and only 1 percent of total property crimes result in arrests,” he said.

National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez said he’s worked under five different presidents, and “this is by far the worst we’ve seen in the 27 years I’ve been down here.”

“We have apprehended over 10 million people,” said Perez. “The scary number is the 2 million year-to-date are known gotaways.”

Many of those crossing the board, who come from 170 different countries, are gang members, he said.

“They’re taking over cities and towns, making every state a border state,” said Perez.  A Venezuelan gang, Tren de Auragua, and an El Salvadoran gang, MS 13, are very violent, he said.  “Not to mention the cartels that have profited under border Czar Harris’ reign.”

“They made money hand over fist,” bringing in people and illegal drugs, he said. And it’s not just the southern border. Illegal immigrants are also coming across the northern border from Canada, he said.

Answering a press question, Schmitt said Harris “was the tiebreaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which pumped $1.4 trillion [into the economy], which supercharged inflation. That’s her record. She proudly boasted about undoing all the successes that we had under President Trump’s term…This is her record, and he can’t really run away from it, although she doesn’t want to do press conferences, and she doesn’t want to handle the back and forth with reporters.”

Mace said Harris was the tie-breaking vote 33 times.

“She owns everything this administration has caused,” said Mace. “She celebrated. She cheered [President] Joe Biden on as the border czar…She can’t hide from border policy, that has seen spikes in inflation and spikes in crime. And she’s not taking the tough interviews. She’s not taking tough questions, and Donald Trump is out there every single day. He’ll talk for an hour and a half…There’s just no way out of flip-flopping or lying. She has lied over and over again on her policy. She has now taken policies from Trump’s website multiple times over. She’s plagiarized from Joe Biden’s policies and website.”

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Turn on the TV news at 11 p.m., and there’s a never-ending parade of shootings, carjackings, and other violent criminal incidents.

In recent years, police have been under attack, be it from Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, who advocated defunding the police, or progressive Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who has a reputation for prosecuting officers while being lenient toward offenders.

Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick was recently endorsed by the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, Pennsylvania State Troopers Association and 48 county sheriffs. Previously, the PA FOP had endorsed Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr., McCormick’s opponent.

“Dave’s committed to making sure we have the resources we need to fulfill our mission of protecting millions of Pennsylvania families,” said Pennsylvania State Troopers Association President Stephen Polishan.

It can be challenging for municipalities to hire enough police officers to fill vacancies.

Stefan Roots, the City of Chester mayor, told DVJ that Chester police are now on 12-hour shifts.

“We’re way below what we’re budgeted to hire,” said Roots, a Democrat who took office in January. The department has about 70 members, but he did not want to disclose the shortfall.

“What the 12-hour shifts do is take the amount of cops that we have and instead of dividing them by three throughout the day, we divide them by two. So, we automatically have more officers available on the streets.”

“Like every police department in America, the two Rs are recruitment and retention.”

The state police and, through District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, Delaware County Park Police are also filling in at City Hall, he said.

“So, we have more officers consistently on the streets than we’ve had in a long time,” said Roots. “And that’s the key.”

While crime has been creeping up, it’s lower than the historically high numbers of five and 10 years ago, he said.

In 2023, there were 13 homicides in Chester, 11 sexual assaults and 76 robberies. In the first six months of 2024, the city saw three homicides, four sexual assaults, and 11 robberies. Chester has about 33,000 residents. After years of financial difficulties, it’s currently under state receivership.

“It does help, the presence of law enforcement in the neighborhood,” said Roots. “It makes the bad guys think twice.”

Former Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan said, “The 12-hour shifts are sold as a way to save money, and they are popular with police. The problem is that it encourages the police to start pursuing other jobs. They are only working five or six days every two weeks as police officers, leaving a lot of free time. Instead of a police officer who is focused on policing all of the time, you end up with a real estate broker who is a police officer on the side.”

Mike Chitwood, former Upper Darby police superintendent, believes 12-hour police shifts will help “with more time on the streets.”

But he warns officers will burn out.

“Eventually, it’ll get tiring. Obviously, they don’t have the manpower. It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul,” said Chitwood.

He’s also concerned about officers from other agencies policing the town.

“There’s no way you’re going to get the same policing as from your own officers,” said Chitwood.

Roots is coupling his police shift change with an emphasis on enforcing a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew already on the books for youth under 18. He’s also highlighting the many activities available for young people through the Safe Summer Initiative.

Chitwood said enforcing the curfew should help.

Hogan said, “The community-based programs, like for juveniles, are only effective if they are paired up with vigorous enforcement tools. If the police do hot spot policing and target the most violent offenders, a juvenile program might add some marginal benefit. On its own, the program will not be effective.”

According to the state police, Delaware County had 32 murder/manslaughter cases in 2023 and 26 in 2024; there were 39 rapes in 2023 and 33 in 2024; and 393 robberies in 2023 with 113 so far in 2024.

In neighboring Chester County, there have been six murder/manslaughter cases in 2024 and five in 2025. Chester County saw 35 rapes so far this year and 67 last year. It reported 27 robberies in 2024 and 66 in 2023.

Bucks County had six murder/manslaughter cases in 2024 and eight in 2023. It reported 35 rapes this year and 72 last year. Bucks had 52 robberies in 2024 and 111 in 2023.

There have been eight murder/manslaughter cases in Montgomery County in 2024 and 22 in 2023. Montgomery County reported 50 rapes in 2024 and 104 in 2023. It listed 129 robberies in 2024 and 278 robberies in 2023.

McCormick promises to support law enforcement and be tough on crime.

“Joe Biden and Bob Casey’s soft-on-crime agenda has failed them and made our commonwealth more dangerous. It’s time our men and women in blue had a leader in Washington who will fight tirelessly to get them the support they deserve,” said McCormick. Casey, a Democrat, is in his 18th year in the Senate.

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As Pennsylvanians get ready to watch the first presidential debate Thursday night, they’re being treated to scary anti-immigration ads that castigate President Joe Biden over his open border policy, saying it’s led to the deaths of American women.

Conservative nonprofit Building American’s Future (BAF) says the ads are running in the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania.

The ad campaign, “Joe Biden’s open border—a nightmare for American women,” tells the story of how an illegal immigrant who was already wanted for murder was released into the U.S. by the Biden administration. He allegedly went on to kill Maryland mother of five Rachel Morin.

The video ad anchoring the buy, entitled “Again,” closes by saying: “Rachel Morin. Laken Riley. And countless others. They should be alive. Joe Biden’s open border — a nightmare for American women.”

“Again” tells how the immigrant from El Salvador allegedly raped and killed Morin, leaving five children without their mother. Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez was charged last week. Morin had been on a run when she met her demise.

“Again,” a 60-second digital ad, follows “Run,”  Building America’s Future’s viral ad featuring Laken Riley, who was also jogging when she was killed by an illegal immigrant. “Run” aired during Biden’s State of the Union address. “Run” garnered even more attention after CNN refused to air it. It was the only major cable news network that refused to air it.

The media buy also includes mobile billboards and 2D projections on famous buildings displaying portions of the ad in major metro areas of Atlanta, Greensboro, N.C., and Philadelphia. The paid media campaign around the debate runs from June 26 – 28 and will total more than $200,000.

Polls show Biden is vulnerable on the border chaos issue. A Morning Consult poll released earlier this month found former President Donald Trump with a 7-point advantage over Biden on who voters trust more to handle immigration. Among independents, Trump has a 22-point lead.

”These ads reinforce what almost all of us know: our southern border is wide open and too many of the people who snuck in have no regard for our laws or our lives,” said Guy Ciarrocchi, a conservative strategist and columnist for Broad+Liberty. “The ads explain the real impact of unsecured borders. The goal is less about having Biden voters change their minds; but rather, to remind those leaning to Trump why they can’t vote for Biden.”

Those concerns are apparently shared by Hispanic voters as well. A recent Equis poll of Latino voters in seven battleground states — including Pennsylvania — found 41 percent trusted Trump on immigration, as opposed to 38 percent for Biden.

“The disaster on the southern border Biden has caused is on a lot of minds. While it doesn’t require a lot of reminders, every opportunity to point out the horrible consequences of Biden’s failed policies is important,” said Charlie Gerow, a longtime Republican consultant.

The “AGAIN” spot says:

“It just keeps happening…

Laken Riley wasn’t the first.

And in Joe Biden’s America, sadly, she won’t be the last.

REPORTER: Also this morning, a major break in the murder case of a Maryland mother, the suspect was in this country illegally. He’s expected to be charged in the murder and rape of Rachel Morin.

Illegal immigrant Victor Hernandez.

He was wanted for murder… but Biden let him in.

REPORTER: Entered the country illegally after reportedly murdering a young woman in El Salvador.

REPORTER: He assaulted a 9-year-old girl and her mother at a home in Los Angeles.

Now, he’s charged with raping and beating Rachel Morin, mother of five, to death.

Rachel Morin. Laken Riley. And countless others. 

Joe Biden’s open border — a nightmare for American women.”

Biden’s campaign declined to respond to a request for comment.

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There is a common problem across our commonwealth and even our nation with some professions facing a shortage of workers – teachers and nurses being two of whom we hear a great deal about in the Legislature. What gets less attention and is more alarming is the police shortage, particularly in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Police Department currently has 1,500 vacancies, and they need our help to address this growing problem, especially considering the dire straits the city is in.

Criminals have been empowered to rule the streets by a district attorney who refuses to prosecute and who releases perpetrators right back into the community immediately after arrest. It is no wonder the police department is struggling to recruit new officers. Who wants to risk their lives for crimes that will just be thrown out by a DA who favors lawlessness?

We cannot turn a blind eye to crimes, and we cannot turn a blind eye to the men and women who have stepped up to do the job, but who need more boots on the ground. And those of us who don’t live in Philadelphia cannot turn a blind eye to the city and say, “not my problem.”

This is a Pennsylvania problem. A healthy, strong Philadelphia means a healthy, strong Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is the prime driver of the Pennsylvania economy.

Additionally, parents are hesitant to send their children to Philadelphia-based universities, which impacts those schools, the city and our future workforce. Businesses are leaving or not locating in the city, which decreases tax revenue and limits the attractions for tourists. At the same time, tourists simply don’t want to come because they don’t feel safe due to open drug markets and violent crime, including high rates of homicide.

The city’s Office of the Controller has a website with up-to-date mapping of “Philadelphia’s Gun Violence Crisis.” According to that site, as of June 11, 2024, there have been 120 homicides in Philadelphia, not to mention the 410 in 2023 and the 514 in 2022. So far there have been 468 shooting victims this year with 106 of those being fatal.

Those on the other side of the aisle will cry “gun control” in response to those numbers. I will remind them that the overwhelming majority of crimes involving a firearm are committed using an illegally obtained gun. Criminals do not care about gun laws, just as they do not care about taking another person’s life.

All this greatly impacts the local and state economy.

It also impacts Philadelphia’s border counties and beyond. Criminals don’t stop at the city limits. So, those communities in Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties are also feeling the impact – be it economically or by police officers encountering criminals during vehicle stops, if the person even stops and doesn’t simply flee and drive recklessly through suburban neighborhoods.

What those border counties do have though, is the ability to pay their officers well – starting at over $90,000, not including overtime, compared to Philadelphia’s average starting salary of $62,0000. This is much less money for a much more difficult, dangerous, and demanding job.

I am not disparaging the officers in those other counties. I am calling out the fact that Philadelphia must take drastic steps to improve safety and security to change how people view the city, and that starts with hiring, paying, supporting and retaining police officers. A once proud department is depleted and crest fallen from a morale perspective.

I look forward to working across the aisle in a bipartisan manner to develop solutions that will help this ailing city.  We need to bring the Philadelphia Police Department back to full complement and pay these brave souls a competitive salary and prosecute those who attempt to destroy the grand “City of Brotherly Love.” Then and only then, will she be restored.

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(This article first appeared in Broad + Liberty.)

Crime in Philadelphia’s four suburban counties largely dropped in 2023 when compared to the previous year, but in a statistical sense, many of those gains are being wiped out by large numbers of auto thefts continuing to plague southeast Pennsylvania, according to a Broad + Liberty analysis of the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting database.

Taking a wider view and comparing 2023 to 2018, the total number of “Part 1” offenses was up in Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware counties, but down in Chester County. “Part 1” offenses include most major felonies which are usually split into two categories: violent crimes like murder, rape, aggravated assault and others, or property crimes like burglary, car theft, or arson.

The data — especially the drop from 2022 to ‘23 — largely jibe with reports from earlier this spring noting that FBI statistics also showed a drop in violent crime over the same time frame, “continuing a downward trend after a pandemic-era spike,” according to the Associated Press.

But auto thefts continue to be the outlier in southeast Pennsylvania, with the spike that started in 2021 yet to be contained. Over the last two years, law enforcement officials all across the country have blamed a large part of the problem on a TikTok video that exposed security weaknesses in Kia and Hyundai cars, showing exactly how easy it was to break into those vehicles.

For example, from 2022 to ‘23, Bucks County saw significant drops in eight of eleven categories, such as a 50 percent drop in homicides, a 24 percent drop in robbery, and a 26 percent drop in arson. However, auto thefts were up twenty percent.

Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said in general, the numbers in her county are encouraging and reflect law enforcement’s commitment to target violence.

“Over the past few years, our office has focused resources on fully investigating and prosecuting those who illegally possess, purchase, manufacture, and traffic firearms,” she said. “Working with local, state, and federal partners, our Bucks County District Attorney’s Drug Strike Force has disrupted several organizations that offer illegally purchased, stolen, or privately manufactured for sale on the illegal market, in turn removing guns from the streets and saving countless lives.

“The increase in auto thefts is something we continue to work on every day through investigations and initiatives, including steering wheel lock giveaways to help mitigate the number of thefts to the affected Hyundai or Kia models. Last year, detectives and prosecutors with this office led the takedown of a massive catalytic converter theft ring that we are hopeful will serve as a deterrent to anyone considering stealing vehicle parts or vehicles in Bucks County.

If there is a noticeable gap in the coverage provided by the UCR database, it’s that it does not track firearm statistics, a category many district attorneys have focused on in recent years.

Delaware County saw the most number of categories with increases with four: robbery, aggravated assault, auto theft, and arson. Montgomery saw double-digit drops in seven categories. Chester County saw the best decline when comparing 2023 numbers to 2018, showing broad drops across seven categories across that six-year period.

Requests for comment to the district attorney’s offices in Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware counties were not returned.

The battle against auto thefts is mainly a phenomenon of southeast Pennsylvania.

Using the same data from the Uniform Crime Report, Philadelphia represents 70 percent of all auto thefts reported statewide. When folding in the four collar counties to that calculation, the five-county area accounts for 80 percent of all auto thefts reported statewide.

Even with the overall trends pointing down, crime still figures to be a prominent feature in the 2024 presidential, senate, and other races in Pennsylvania and across the country, with the election now exactly six months away.

A Gallup poll from March showed crime is the second biggest concern for the country, right behind inflation.

The statistics below are sourced from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Report. The numbers presented are raw offenses only, and do not include other data like arrests, number of cases charged, or percent of cases cleared.