Overall, the coronavirus pandemic has been a nightmare for most of the country. It has significantly taxed resources at the local, state, and federal level, and has caused a substantial strain on the American medical system. However, there has been a silver lining to it all: crime has dropped significantly across the country, with the drop in crime being particularly noticeable in large cities like New York City.
The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is the single greatest health crisis to have faced the United States in over a century. To limit the spread of the virus, most states, including New York, have instituted strict quarantines that forced people to stay home except when necessary. While those quarantines are slowly being relaxed, people are still reticent to go outside except when they absolutely must, as they are still afraid of becoming infected with the coronavirus.
A side effect of all this, however, has been a substantial drop in most kinds of crime, particularly muggings and thefts. Police attribute this change in crime rates due to a lack of available targets for criminal activity on the streets since most people are staying indoors whenever possible. Additionally, even when people do go outside and congregate together, they usually prefer to keep their distance, making it more difficult for pickpockets or other criminals to perform their typical misdeeds. The overall drop in crime may also be the result of police officers simply not wanting to arrest people for minor crimes, which minimizes their own risk of COVID infection.
Unfortunately, not every type of crime has gone down during the pandemic. For example, car burglaries and robberies of commercial storefronts have increased significantly as thieves exploit unattended cars and shuttered storefronts. Additionally, murder rates have been on the rise, a fact that is attributable to people being forced to stay indoors, particularly in households where domestic violence is a factor.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for a criminal offense, you will need legal counsel to help you preserve your rights and work to get the best possible outcome for your matter. A New York criminal defense lawyer, who is experienced in handling criminal cases of all sorts, can advise you of your legal rights and will fight for your best interests in court. If you or your loved one has been arrested, contact the Suffolk County criminal defense attorneys at McGuire, Peláez and Bennett at (631) 348-1702.
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