Over the last few years, the number of violent crimes in Oregon as well as across the country, has increased steadily. People are committing more and more violent crimes and the result is that people no longer feel safe in their own town or in their own homes in many cases.
Portland saw an 83% rise in its murder rate in 2020. The nation saw a 30% rise that year.
When the rate of violent crime goes up, people look for someone or something to blame. Crime and its possible causes turn into major political issues.
Do policies increase or decrease crime?
Are violent crimes exacerbated because of recent policy reforms? The answer isn’t totally clear. The Brennan Center for Justice, which is a part of New York University Law School, recently issued a report asking that question. Researchers concluded that there is a lack of evidence to support the connection between the increase in violent crimes and progressive policies.
Meanwhile, other researchers looked into the effect of more punitive policies and found it’s similarly unclear whether they help reduce the incidence of violent crime. As many have noted, the recent increase in violent crime has occurred across the country, in states with more lenient policies and more punitive policies alike.
Such times of uncertainty
Still, the increase in crime has people worried, and politicians have responded by talking more about tough-on-crime policies. The political environment could lead to crackdowns and increased penalties.
Sound legal advice from a knowledgeable criminal lawyer
If you have been charged with a violent crime, you will want to have the best legal representation possible. Not only will you want to minimize the impact that your case has on you and your family right now but you also don’t want it to change your life irreparably. An experienced Oregon criminal lawyer can make sure that you don’t face your ordeal alone and you will hopefully get the support that you need and that you deserve to move on with your life