Quietly Revised FBI Data Shows Massive Jump in Crime Under Biden-Harris

The FBI’s quiet revision of its 2022 crime data has revealed a startling 4.5% increase in violent crime, contradicting initial reports and raising serious questions about data accuracy and transparency.

At a Glance

FBI revised 2022 crime data, showing a 4.5% increase in violent crime rate instead of a previously reported decrease.
The adjustment includes an additional 1,699 murders, 7,780 rapes, 33,459 robberies, and 37,091 aggravated assaults.
Experts criticize the FBI’s communication strategy and raise concerns about data reliability.
The revision impacts public perception of safety and policy development.

FBI’s Quiet Data Revision Reveals Alarming Increase in Violent Crime

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has quietly revised its 2022 crime statistics, revealing a significant 4.5% increase in the violent crime rate. This adjustment starkly contradicts the initially reported 1.7% decrease, raising concerns about data accuracy and the agency’s transparency in handling such critical information.

The revised data indicates a 4.9% increase in violent crime incidents from 2021 to 2022, a stark contrast to the previously reported decline. This adjustment includes an additional 1,699 murders, 7,780 rapes, 33,459 robberies, and 37,091 aggravated assaults for 2022 alone.

Implications for Public Safety and Policy

The significance of this revision extends beyond mere numbers. It directly impacts public perception of safety and critically affects policy development at various levels of government. The original decrease was used politically by Democrats to commend the Biden-Harris administration’s public safety efforts, highlighting the real-world consequences of data accuracy in governance and public discourse.

“Today’s new data submitted to the FBI confirms that our dedicated efforts and collaborative partnerships with law enforcement are working,” Harris said when the first data was released. “Americans are safer now than when we took office.”

This statement by Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the potential for misinformation when relying on preliminary or inaccurate statistics. The revision has raised doubts about the accuracy of subsequent crime data, extending beyond the misreported 3% drop in violent crimes for 2023.

Experts Voice Concerns Over Data Reliability

The Crime Prevention Research Center identified the FBI’s data adjustment, bringing it to public attention. Professor Carl Moody of the College of William & Mary expressed concern about the reliability of FBI data, stating, “The huge changes in 2021 and 2022, especially without an explanation, make it difficult to trust the FBI data.”

John Lott, founder and president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, criticized media outlets for not correcting their reports based on the revised data, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting in shaping public understanding of crime trends.

“To give people an idea of the size of the change, when the 2022 data came out in September 2023, they initially reported that violent crime had fallen by 2.1% in 2022. That’s the final data, supposedly, for 2022. The revision of that final data that came out last month, now claims that rather than the 2.1% drop, that there was actually a 4.5% increase in violent crime that occurred in 2022. That’s a 6.6 percentage point change there,” Lott told Fox News Digital.

Political Implications and Ongoing Debate

The data revision has reignited political debates about crime and public safety. The Trump campaign criticized the Biden administration, claiming the revised data supports their stance on rising crime. Conversely, the White House maintains that violent crime is at a near 50-year low, citing the American Rescue Plan’s impact on public safety.

This discrepancy in interpretation highlights the complex nature of crime statistics and their potential for political manipulation. It also underscores the need for transparent, accurate, and timely reporting of crime data to inform both public opinion and policy decisions.

Looking Forward: Ensuring Data Integrity

The FBI’s transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in 2021, replacing the Summary Reporting System (SRS), was intended to improve data collection. However, this transition has led to decreased reporting rates from law enforcement agencies, potentially affecting the comprehensiveness of the data.

As the debate over crime statistics continues, the incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of data integrity in shaping public policy and perception. It calls for increased scrutiny of government statistics and emphasizes the need for transparent communication when revisions are made to ensure public trust and informed decision-making.