Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
In a recent episode of Nights with Chris Bo, host Chris Bole welcomed Dr. John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, to discuss shocking revisions in the FBI’s crime data.
The changes, quietly revealed in the FBI’s latest report, have sparked controversy and questions about transparency.
During the segment, Bole didn’t mince words: “This study your team is behind has the potential to shape this election. Misinformation—or worse—has been spread, suggesting the Harris-Biden administration made America safer, but your findings say otherwise.”
Dr. Lott detailed the issue, explaining that the FBI’s initial report for 2022 claimed violent crime had dropped by 2.1%. However, the updated data reveals a 4.5% increase in violent crime for the same period.
“This change means there were over 880,000 more violent crimes than originally reported, including over 1,600 additional murders and 7,000 more rapes,” Lott said.
He noted that the revisions were buried in a footnote and only discernible by comparing last year’s data files with the current release.
Transparency Under Fire
The lack of transparency in these revisions left many questioning the FBI’s motives.
“At the very least, you want the FBI to be upfront,” Lott said. “Instead, reporters rely on press releases, which didn’t even mention the revisions. It’s outrageous.”
Lott emphasized that this isn’t a small adjustment.
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“This is the largest percentage increase in violent crime ever recorded over a three-year period in the 51 years the National Crime Victimization Survey has been conducted,” he explained. “Since 2020, violent crime has increased by 55%, with robberies up 63% and aggravated assaults up 55%.”
Bole likened the situation to the Obama-era jobs reports, where numbers were routinely revised after initial releases.
“These aren’t minor updates. They flip the narrative from a decline in crime to a significant increase,” Bole said.
FBI’s Silence Raises Questions
When asked if the revisions were a result of incompetence or something more, Lott admitted there’s no clear explanation.
“They haven’t responded to my team’s inquiries, even after media coverage began. When they do address it, it’s bureaucratic gobbledygook,” he said.
Bole pressed further, asking whether the FBI’s silence might indicate embarrassment or an attempt to avoid scrutiny.
“Whatever the reason, it’s unacceptable for an agency at the center of political debates to withhold transparency,” Lott replied.
A Call to Action
Dr. Lott encouraged viewers to explore the findings at crimeresearch.org, where the Crime Prevention Research Center continues to monitor and analyze crime data.
Bole wrapped up the segment by thanking Lott for shedding light on the issue. “This is critical information that voters need to understand,” he concluded.
The FBI’s revised data not only alters public perception of crime trends but also raises broader concerns about the reliability of official statistics. Hopefully, things will change under the next Trump administration.
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