DEBUNKING THE MYTH OF RUDY GIULIANI“CRIME FIGHTER”
by Jimmy Lohman
It is widely believed that Rudy Giuliani was responsible for a major crime reduction in New York City. It’s not true.
Contrary to popular mythology, during Giuliani's two terms as mayor, from 1994 to 2001,crime went down more in the rest of the United States than it did in New York City, according to FBI crime data from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Between 1994 and 2001, violent crime in New York City went down 46.8%. During the same period, violent crime in the entire United States went down 53%. In the neighboring state of New Jersey, between 1995 and 2004, violent crime went down 51% in the state's 6 largest cities
While Giuliani was mayor, robberies went down 60% in New York City, and 56%nationally – a statistically insignificant difference. Burglaries went down 53%in New York, and 49% nationally, also insignificant, and certainly not the stuff of which iconic boasts are made.
The crime rates before and after Giuliani’s tenure also make clear that the city’s crime decrease had absolutely nothing to do with Giuliani. The crime rate in the city started to drop precipitously before Giuliani was mayor. During the three previous years, 1991-1994, violent crime in NYC went down 17%, murders went down 22%, robberies down 23%, and burglaries down 20%.
Historic crime reduction throughout the United States in the 1990's was well-reported in the national media at the time. Halfway through Giuliani's tenure as mayor, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported(11/23/98): "For the sixth consecutive year, serious crime dipped in the United States, with the nation's murder rate dropping to its lowest level in 30 years, the FBI reported Sunday." A year later (10/18/99), the Washington Post covered the dramatic crime reduction in the 1990's, quoting renowned criminologist James Alan Fox, "When we say crime is falling, that is nationally. Nationally we are at a 30-year low. A homicide rate at 6 (per 100,000) is as low as 1967."
Four years after Giuliani’s tenure as mayor (1994-2001), the DOJ summarized crime trends from 1994-2005: "Since 1994, violent crime rates have declined[everywhere], reaching the lowest level ever in 2005."
The myth that Giuliani brought down crime in New York persists in its full glory to this day as “America’s Mayor” continues to gobble up headlines daily with his past and ongoing Ukraine escapades. And as sure as the sun rises, the media continues to refer inaccurately to his thoroughly undeserved reputation for “cleaning up New York.” It is long past time for this myth to be dispelled, ironically, as investigations of criminal activity swirl around Giuliani himself.
Jimmy Lohman is a criminal defense attorney in Austin, Texas. He received his law degree and B.S. in Criminology at Florida State University.