There’s been a lot of buzz this week around Empower’s three issue pillars: education, justice and work.

Are murder rates declining? Check out the latest news from The New York Times and reporting from WLBT’s CJ LeMaster that suggests murder rates in America and Jackson may be dropping.

Another state has rung the bell for education freedom! New Hampshire Governor Chis Sununu signed a law that expands eligibility for the state’s Education Freedom Accounts.

Mississippi is paying a high cost for incarceration. A new report from FWD.us says additional criminal justice improvements can strengthen Mississippi’s workforce and economy while advancing public safety.

Check it all out below!

Murder Rates Declining?

A recent New York Times article suggests that murder rates may be going down across the country.

According to author German Lopez, murder rates are down more than 12 percent in major cities. While current levels are still higher than those in 2019, this new information is an encouraging sign that the country may be headed back in the right direction.

Lopez says there are several possible reasons for the decline in murders:

• Returning to “normal” after the COVID-19 pandemic
• The passage of time since the unrest caused by George Floyd’s death
• Adoption of policies that invest more in policing or support community-led efforts to break up violence

This comes on the heels of reporting by C.J. LeMaster that murder rates in Mississippi’s capital city may be declining. While concerns remain about potential underreporting, data shows that Jackson’s homicide rate has fallen 37% compared to this time last year.

However, WLBT reports Jackson recently experienced four homicides over four short days, demonstrating the need for continued crime reduction efforts.

We maintain that the most effective way of addressing crime is through prevention. To that end, our recent violent crime report highlighted the need for investing in police, addressing mental health and substance use disorder services at the community level, and preparing prisoners for life after incarceration so they are less likely to re-offend.

Mississippians remain concerned about crime in the state, and we should continue to identify ways to curb crime rates effectively.

The High Cost of Incarceration

Last week, FWD.us released a new report on the economic impacts of incarceration in Mississippi. The report suggests additional criminal justice reforms can strengthen Mississippi’s workforce and economy while advancing public safety.

Empower Senior Vice President Wil Ervin offered his thoughts on the report in a statement to the Magnolia Tribune:

“We believe incarceration plays a necessary role in our justice system, but our state incarcerates more people per capita than anywhere else in the world. In many cases, there are more effective, less costly ways to improve public safety than incarceration. If incarceration were the answer to improving public safety, Mississippi would be the safest place in the world. Other conservative states have simultaneously improved public safety and reduced incarceration, and conservative voters overwhelmingly support these efforts.

More than 90% of inmates will ultimately be released from prison. With that in mind, we must commit to preparing those individuals for success once they re-enter society so they are less likely to reoffend. This report outlines the significant barriers individuals face to accessing meaningful work post-incarceration. Empowering Mississippians to pursue a path other than the one that led them to prison should be one of our highest priorities. Doing so improves public safety, reduces taxpayer burden, and economically benefits both individuals and societies.”

Magnolia Tribune’s Sarah Ulmer penned an article on the report on June 26 that included parts of Ervin’s statement.