{"id":37508,"date":"2024-09-23T13:15:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T13:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=37508"},"modified":"2024-10-13T18:41:15","modified_gmt":"2024-10-13T18:41:15","slug":"gun-violence-in-philadelphia-plummeted-in-2024-%e2%88%92-researchers-arent-sure-why-but-here-are-3-factors-at-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/gun-violence-in-philadelphia-plummeted-in-2024-%e2%88%92-researchers-arent-sure-why-but-here-are-3-factors-at-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Gun violence in Philadelphia plummeted in 2024 \u2212 researchers aren\u2019t sure why, but here are 3 factors at play"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Carla Lewandowski<\/a>, Rowan University<\/a><\/em> and John A. Shjarback<\/a>, Rowan University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philadelphia experienced a surge in shootings and homicides<\/a> during the COVID-19 years that disproportionately affected young Black<\/a> and Latino men<\/a> in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods<\/a> with drug markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, Philadelphia had 499 homicides \u2013 nearly 150 more<\/a> than the previous year. Gun violence worsened in 2021 \u2013 with 562 homicides<\/a> that year \u2013 and then dropped slightly in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, recent data shows a notable decline in these crimes over the past two years. As of late September 2024, homicides are down 40% for the year to date compared with 2023<\/a>. And the number of shooting victims<\/a> has decreased similarly \u2013 from 1,236 in the first eight months of 2023 to 758 for the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As professors<\/a> of criminal justice<\/a> who live in Greater Philadelphia, we know that there is no single explanation for the drop in gun violence. Rather, many factors at both the local and national levels could be playing a role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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