Unemployment associated with increase in violence early in COVID-19 pandemic

 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/941695

 

 News Release 28-Jan-2022
Study of 16 U.S. cities shows historic level of job losses associated with an increase in firearm violence and homicide
Peer-Reviewed Publication
University of California - Davis Health

 

The sharp rise in unemployment during the five months of the pandemic was associated with an increase in firearm violence and homicide in 16 American cities. That’s the finding of a new study from researchers at the Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP) at UC Davis.

The study was published in the Journal of Urban Health.  

The researchers did not find a corresponding increase in other crimes, such as aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and robbery.

“Economic disadvantage and income inequality have long been associated with increased risk of violence,” said Julia Schleimer, the lead author of the study and a research data analyst at VPRP. “Our results indicate that the acute worsening of economic conditions, as we saw at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, may also increase violence risk.” 

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