I don't trust the stats. Things that would have been reported as crimes 15 years ago aren't being called in now.
* Leaders inside the police force have incentives to make it look like their departments are effective and nudge the numbers.
* Elected officials, such as the mayor, have incentives to make it look like the police department is effective and reinforce the number nudgers.
* This has a reinforcing cycle where number nudgers are promoted and in turn promote other number nudgers until leadership is saturated. More creative accounting practices are encouraged as the environment becomes more competitive.
* Many District Attorney's are happy to prosecute lesser charges that are easier to convict on instead of more serious charges that more accurately reflect the reality of what happened.
* Leaders inside the police force have incentives to make it look like their departments are effective and nudge the numbers.
* Elected officials, such as the mayor, have incentives to make it look like the police department is effective and reinforce the number nudgers.
* This has a reinforcing cycle where number nudgers are promoted and in turn promote other number nudgers until leadership is saturated. More creative accounting practices are encouraged as the environment becomes more competitive.
* Many District Attorney's are happy to prosecute lesser charges that are easier to convict on instead of more serious charges that more accurately reflect the reality of what happened.