Researchers find not prosecuting low-level crimes leads to less crime
According to researchers from Texas A&M, New York University and Rutgers who studied data from Suffolk County in Massachusetts, not prosecuting low-level crimes leads to less crime overall. The three university researchers analyzed 67,553 misdemeanor cases in Boston, Winthrop, Revere and Chelsea between 2004 and 2018. The researchers also reviewed Boston crime data from January 2017 to February 2020.
The data was analyzed to see what effect current District Attorney Rachael Rollins' refusal to prosecute low-level nonviolent misdemeanors - such as shoplifting, drug possessions or motor vehicle offenses - would have on repeat offenses and crime overall. Rollins took office in 2019.