UpClose With Jamila Hodge

President Trump announced on September 12 that he would dispatch military troops and federal agents to Memphis, TN, in an effort to reduce crime and violence. This brief examines six-month trends for 10 different crime types in Memphis, as well as separate data on gun thefts.

The administration’s investment of federal law enforcement resources in DC offers a chance to prioritize public safety over politics. But doing so will require building lasting crime-fighting infrastructure beyond the temporary surge.