Summary: Largely because of media coverage, residents have a distorted view of crime rates in this [state/city/county]. The Crime Rate Study Commission Act creates a commission that will seek to de-legitimize misinformation and stereotypes about rates of crime.
NOTE: The problem is, if a lawmaker says that crime is declining, much less plummeting, residents will not believe it. There needs to be a reason for press coverage of this information, and it needs to be repeated as often as possible. A Commission has the best chance of getting out the truth.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
This Act shall be called the “Crime Rate Study Commission Act.”
SECTION 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE
(A) FINDINGS—The legislature/council finds that:
(1) Residents in our state/city/county tend to believe that the numbers of crimes rise year after year and that crime rates are unusually high. And yet, that is objectively false. According to [police source], violent crime in [jurisdiction] is down XX% since [date] and XX% since [older date].
(2) The contradiction between belief and reality about crime rates is a nationwide problem. For example, according to The Gallup Poll, 49 percent of Americans thought crime was rising in 2025 while only 33 percent thought is was falling. In fact, crime plummeted from 2024 to 2025.
(3) Misinformation about crime rates tends to distort public policy. A democracy requires accurate information to make rational decisions that benefit everyone.
(B) PURPOSE—This law is enacted to educate policymakers and residents in order to improve public policy.
SECTION 3. CRIME RATE STUDY COMMISSION
In section XXX, the following new paragraphs shall be inserted:
(A) MISSION OF THE CRIME RATE STUDY COMMISSION—The Crime Rate Study Commission shall work to obtain and publicize the best data about crimes and de-legitimize misinformation and stereotypes.
(B) CREATION OF THE COMMISSION—The governor/mayor/county executive will appoint a commission consisting of [nine] voting members reflective of diverse political, racial, cultural, income and ability groups, including:
(1) Three members who are policy experts or from the academic community.
(2) Three members who represent the judicial and law enforcement community.
(3) Three members state/local from state/local government agencies that have some jurisdiction over the problems caused by crime.
(C) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION—The Crime Rate Study Commission shall:
(1) Meet monthly, or more often as needed, to receive information, direct research, create strategies to publicize truth and responses to disinformation about crime.
(2) Conduct a public hearings allowing experts, organizations, and individuals to provide information.
(3) Use the Internet to accept input, making it simple for residents to participate in the effort.
(4) Create and promote resources, including truthful counterarguments to debunk misinformation about crime, which may include text, audio, video or slideshow presentations designed for any particular audience, including government agencies.
(5) Make recommendations, whenever appropriate, to the legislature/council about the most appropriate and effective efforts to education the public about crime.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
This law shall become effective on XXXX 1, 202X.