Long-Term Effects of the Pandemic on Poverty and Crime in Indiana

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant effects on national trends related to poverty and crime across the country. Overall, the crime rate has dropped, due in part to the fact that more people are staying home. As people stopped driving their cars and going places, violent crimes and robberies decreased drastically in most major cities – however, homicides and shootings have largely remained the same or even increased.

With so many workplaces forced to shut down, it is unsurprising that the pandemic has created an economic crisis, leaving millions of people without a job or the means to buy food or pay their mortgage or rent. According to the United States Department of Labor, 74.7 million people have lost work since the start of the pandemic, with most of those losses occurring in industries that pay below-average wages. This has led to an increase in poverty, including in Indiana.

A Closer Look at COVID’s Impact in Indiana

If you’ve been struggling over the last year, you are certainly not alone. Recent reports indicate that Indiana residents have experienced considerable economic hardship since last March, including:

• 25 percent of Indiana workers earn less than $20,000 per year, and nearly 34 percent of Hoosiers are considered low-income.
• The current unemployment rate in Indiana is 4.2 percent.
• In April 2020, unemployment in the state reached its peak high of 16.9 percent.
• In Indianapolis alone, 15,949 households received rental assistance last year, totaling $33.8 million.
• Approximately 887,000 people in Indiana struggle with food insecurity.

While the unemployment rate has undoubtedly decreased, these numbers suggest that Indiana’s economic recovery will be a lengthy process, with individuals who were already struggling before the pandemic often hit hardest by income loss. While federal COVID relief funds have helped bolster families in need, many experts predict that more hardships are yet to come – meaning that in the long run, Indiana and other states will likely see an increase in criminal activity as well.

Have You Been Convicted of a Crime During the Pandemic?

If you are facing criminal charges due to poverty or other hardships sustained during the pandemic, you need an experienced attorney on your side. At Razumich & Associates, P.C., we understand the shock and fear a person accused of a crime feels. You may even feel that nothing can be done to help you – but nothing could be further from the truth.

Speaking with the attorneys at Razumich & Associates is an investment in your freedom and your future. Contact us today at 317-449-8657 or email [email protected].