The overestimation of crime rates is one of the most enduring and prevalent misperceptions in the U.S. Despite evidence clearly pointing to declines in various measures of crime in essentially every year over the last few decades, majorities of Americans during this same time span have consistently said crime has been increasing over the previous year. …
The 2016 election introduced an important wrinkle into this topic, as Donald Trump all but endorsed this misperception and campaign on concerns over rising crime. His rhetoric on crime arguably represented the strongest elite message communicated to the public concerning this misperception. CONT.
Alexander Agadjanian