By Marc A. Levin and Khalil A. Cumberbatch
When robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he famously said “because that’s where the money is.” This has also been the sensible rationale for hotspot policing.
Yet the ruthless killing of Tyre Nichols was perpetrated by the now disbanded Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods (S.C.O.R.P.I.O.N.) policing unit, which was billed from its inception as an example of hotspot policing.
This report looks at the prevalence and concentration of shoplifting in two major cities—Los Angeles and Chicago—before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Examining data for the nation’s three largest cities through fall of 2024, this report finds that shoplifting levels remain higher than pre-pandemic rates. It also highlights two conflicting sources of federal data on the crime.
This month’s spotlighted member is Paul Cassell, Presidential Professor at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah.
December 3rd is Giving Tuesday, a national day of generosity. Please consider supporting the Council on Criminal Justice to help us build bridges across ideological divides and craft consensus for solutions that enhance safety and justice for all.
