Peter Moskos
@moskos.bsky.social
Author of Back from the Brink. https://t.co/mABbQyS1jf
Professor. Writer. New Yorker. Here for the pigeons and also discourse on policing and criminal justice.
Professor. Writer. New Yorker. Here for the pigeons and also discourse on policing and criminal justice.
"Rates of imprisonment have grown dramatically in the last 40 years." What a fabulously hilarious progressive spin on their own data/chart which shows NY incarceration rates in massive decline over the past 30 years! www.prisonpolicy.org/profiles/NY....
November 16, 2025 at 11:17 PM
"Rates of imprisonment have grown dramatically in the last 40 years." What a fabulously hilarious progressive spin on their own data/chart which shows NY incarceration rates in massive decline over the past 30 years! www.prisonpolicy.org/profiles/NY....
For what it's worth, answering this question is kind of the foundational point of "Back from the Brink" (which happens to be a great read). amzn.to/47U4Kk9
November 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
For what it's worth, answering this question is kind of the foundational point of "Back from the Brink" (which happens to be a great read). amzn.to/47U4Kk9
For those who insist poverty is the driving force behind crime and violence, please answer me this:
From 1990 to 2000, NYC saw a 20.5% increase in people living in poverty (a 10% increase in rate). 283,994 more people!
How did murders simultaneously drop by two-thirds in 1990s NYC?
From 1990 to 2000, NYC saw a 20.5% increase in people living in poverty (a 10% increase in rate). 283,994 more people!
How did murders simultaneously drop by two-thirds in 1990s NYC?
November 16, 2025 at 8:32 PM
For those who insist poverty is the driving force behind crime and violence, please answer me this:
From 1990 to 2000, NYC saw a 20.5% increase in people living in poverty (a 10% increase in rate). 283,994 more people!
How did murders simultaneously drop by two-thirds in 1990s NYC?
From 1990 to 2000, NYC saw a 20.5% increase in people living in poverty (a 10% increase in rate). 283,994 more people!
How did murders simultaneously drop by two-thirds in 1990s NYC?
Your occasional reminder that in NYC the vast majority of criminal cases are not prosecuted. In the Bronx just 22% of felony and 12% of misdemeanor arrests result in a conviction. (Outside NYC, in the rest of the state, the figures are 67% and 52%, respectively.) qualitypolicing.com/same-city-di...
November 14, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Your occasional reminder that in NYC the vast majority of criminal cases are not prosecuted. In the Bronx just 22% of felony and 12% of misdemeanor arrests result in a conviction. (Outside NYC, in the rest of the state, the figures are 67% and 52%, respectively.) qualitypolicing.com/same-city-di...
The NYPD has an insane focus on gun related crime. Every gun crime is tracked at an executive level. There are daily inter-agency meetings that discuss _every_ gun arrest. Daily. 1,000 and counting. They treat gunshots like crimes. They have an entire detective unit dedicated to gang violence.
November 11, 2025 at 4:24 AM
The NYPD has an insane focus on gun related crime. Every gun crime is tracked at an executive level. There are daily inter-agency meetings that discuss _every_ gun arrest. Daily. 1,000 and counting. They treat gunshots like crimes. They have an entire detective unit dedicated to gang violence.
I like that our Baltimore Peanut Gallery on Twitter gets a shout out! We -- Me Kim, Mark, the Black Pirate, and Tony -- were a force for good, calling out the bad leadership of Baltimore at the time. Tony had to delete account before he went back to public service!
November 7, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I like that our Baltimore Peanut Gallery on Twitter gets a shout out! We -- Me Kim, Mark, the Black Pirate, and Tony -- were a force for good, calling out the bad leadership of Baltimore at the time. Tony had to delete account before he went back to public service!
Tony was right about Harrison, FWIW.
November 7, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Tony was right about Harrison, FWIW.
The L flag flying above Wrigley tonight
October 12, 2025 at 4:04 AM
The L flag flying above Wrigley tonight
Do people not realize this murder is preventable? We need to change our laws (slightly) and elect better/tougher prosecutors.
I don't understand how this happens again and again, and people are like, "well, crime is down." This is predictable and preventable.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/n...
I don't understand how this happens again and again, and people are like, "well, crime is down." This is predictable and preventable.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/n...
October 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Do people not realize this murder is preventable? We need to change our laws (slightly) and elect better/tougher prosecutors.
I don't understand how this happens again and again, and people are like, "well, crime is down." This is predictable and preventable.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/n...
I don't understand how this happens again and again, and people are like, "well, crime is down." This is predictable and preventable.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/n...
"Man, 64, Is Fatally Beaten in a Subway Station After Chance Encounter"
The murderer “still had anger issues,” said a rehabilitation counselor.
And a long criminal history.
And 4 arrests since June 21.
He's obviously dangerous and not well, so… we release him till he murders?
The murderer “still had anger issues,” said a rehabilitation counselor.
And a long criminal history.
And 4 arrests since June 21.
He's obviously dangerous and not well, so… we release him till he murders?
October 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
"Man, 64, Is Fatally Beaten in a Subway Station After Chance Encounter"
The murderer “still had anger issues,” said a rehabilitation counselor.
And a long criminal history.
And 4 arrests since June 21.
He's obviously dangerous and not well, so… we release him till he murders?
The murderer “still had anger issues,” said a rehabilitation counselor.
And a long criminal history.
And 4 arrests since June 21.
He's obviously dangerous and not well, so… we release him till he murders?
From 2013
Southern District of New York | Twenty-Third Defendant Pleads Guilty In LIRR Disability Fraud Scheme | United States Department of Justice share.google/Quasx6QxxYAh...
Southern District of New York | Twenty-Third Defendant Pleads Guilty In LIRR Disability Fraud Scheme | United States Department of Justice share.google/Quasx6QxxYAh...
October 8, 2025 at 3:46 PM
From 2013
Southern District of New York | Twenty-Third Defendant Pleads Guilty In LIRR Disability Fraud Scheme | United States Department of Justice share.google/Quasx6QxxYAh...
Southern District of New York | Twenty-Third Defendant Pleads Guilty In LIRR Disability Fraud Scheme | United States Department of Justice share.google/Quasx6QxxYAh...
It is scandalous that every big NYPD chief happens to be "disabled" when they retire.
"Tax free 3/4 of his salery life time benefits... because of an ankle injury he received on Randall's Island while on duty last year."
Bullshit. This is corruption.
www.nydailynews.com/2025/10/06/t...
"Tax free 3/4 of his salery life time benefits... because of an ankle injury he received on Randall's Island while on duty last year."
Bullshit. This is corruption.
www.nydailynews.com/2025/10/06/t...
October 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
It is scandalous that every big NYPD chief happens to be "disabled" when they retire.
"Tax free 3/4 of his salery life time benefits... because of an ankle injury he received on Randall's Island while on duty last year."
Bullshit. This is corruption.
www.nydailynews.com/2025/10/06/t...
"Tax free 3/4 of his salery life time benefits... because of an ankle injury he received on Randall's Island while on duty last year."
Bullshit. This is corruption.
www.nydailynews.com/2025/10/06/t...
I've taken enough moon pictures to know they never really work, but the moon was rising over Central Park and it was really beautiful, you'll just have to trust me.
October 7, 2025 at 4:48 AM
I've taken enough moon pictures to know they never really work, but the moon was rising over Central Park and it was really beautiful, you'll just have to trust me.
"It's not a political party. It's a 'membership organization'." Whatever, dude.
Meanwhile in the real world: "We ran a great DSA campaign and are using the Democratic Party line as a politic tactic."
Meanwhile in the real world: "We ran a great DSA campaign and are using the Democratic Party line as a politic tactic."
October 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM
"It's not a political party. It's a 'membership organization'." Whatever, dude.
Meanwhile in the real world: "We ran a great DSA campaign and are using the Democratic Party line as a politic tactic."
Meanwhile in the real world: "We ran a great DSA campaign and are using the Democratic Party line as a politic tactic."
From a NYC park bathroom today. Seems like a very fair request.
October 5, 2025 at 12:25 AM
From a NYC park bathroom today. Seems like a very fair request.
Why _does_ the left so casually celebrate cop killers? How does this not normalize political violence? I mean the BLA cop killers were _overtly_ politically violent. They killed cops. That should be more defining that "acupuncturist."
A deep dive by Michael Moynihan. www.youtube.com/live/4_VFzl2...
A deep dive by Michael Moynihan. www.youtube.com/live/4_VFzl2...
October 1, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Why _does_ the left so casually celebrate cop killers? How does this not normalize political violence? I mean the BLA cop killers were _overtly_ politically violent. They killed cops. That should be more defining that "acupuncturist."
A deep dive by Michael Moynihan. www.youtube.com/live/4_VFzl2...
A deep dive by Michael Moynihan. www.youtube.com/live/4_VFzl2...
Just because there's a greater longer-term trend doesn't make that *that* hard to tease out. I mean, it happened overnight. When have you ever seen an overnight reported "violent gun crime" reduction like this?
September 30, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Just because there's a greater longer-term trend doesn't make that *that* hard to tease out. I mean, it happened overnight. When have you ever seen an overnight reported "violent gun crime" reduction like this?
Big year-to-year drops are always good. Here, too. But an _overnight_ drop of this magnitude? I can't think when I've seen that before.
The only other times I've seen a dramatic overnight change was _up_, after civil unrest in 2015 Baltimore and 2020 in a lot of cities.
The only other times I've seen a dramatic overnight change was _up_, after civil unrest in 2015 Baltimore and 2020 in a lot of cities.
September 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Big year-to-year drops are always good. Here, too. But an _overnight_ drop of this magnitude? I can't think when I've seen that before.
The only other times I've seen a dramatic overnight change was _up_, after civil unrest in 2015 Baltimore and 2020 in a lot of cities.
The only other times I've seen a dramatic overnight change was _up_, after civil unrest in 2015 Baltimore and 2020 in a lot of cities.
Now with 7 weeks of data on each side National Guard deployment in DC. Reported violent gun crime in DC is down 44%. Homicides during this period went down 22 to 11.
(Last year during the same two time periods before and after August 11, there were 28 and 24 homicides and many more gun crimes.)
(Last year during the same two time periods before and after August 11, there were 28 and 24 homicides and many more gun crimes.)
September 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Now with 7 weeks of data on each side National Guard deployment in DC. Reported violent gun crime in DC is down 44%. Homicides during this period went down 22 to 11.
(Last year during the same two time periods before and after August 11, there were 28 and 24 homicides and many more gun crimes.)
(Last year during the same two time periods before and after August 11, there were 28 and 24 homicides and many more gun crimes.)
[Mamdani voter:] The DSA party isn't radical. He's a "democratic socialist." It's no different from Sweden or other mainstream western European style "socialist" parties and systems.
[DSA press release:] LONG LIVE THE GLORIOUS CUBAN REVOLUTION! SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BLACK PANTHER COP-KILLING COMRAD!
[DSA press release:] LONG LIVE THE GLORIOUS CUBAN REVOLUTION! SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BLACK PANTHER COP-KILLING COMRAD!
September 27, 2025 at 4:12 PM
[Mamdani voter:] The DSA party isn't radical. He's a "democratic socialist." It's no different from Sweden or other mainstream western European style "socialist" parties and systems.
[DSA press release:] LONG LIVE THE GLORIOUS CUBAN REVOLUTION! SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BLACK PANTHER COP-KILLING COMRAD!
[DSA press release:] LONG LIVE THE GLORIOUS CUBAN REVOLUTION! SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BLACK PANTHER COP-KILLING COMRAD!
[Leftist:] I just don't understand how people can think the left supports violence, glorifies cop killers, and seeks a Marxist revolution.
[Chicago Teachers Union:] Hold my beer.
[Chicago Teachers Union:] Hold my beer.
September 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
[Leftist:] I just don't understand how people can think the left supports violence, glorifies cop killers, and seeks a Marxist revolution.
[Chicago Teachers Union:] Hold my beer.
[Chicago Teachers Union:] Hold my beer.
It's tough to refute the lies from ideologues. Police abolitionists have big platforms and insist "the sky is green." Some people believe them. It demoralizes me to note that the sky is blue (and sometimes gray).
But if not me, who? Mike Pesca picks up the slack.
www.thefp.com/p/an-anti-co...
But if not me, who? Mike Pesca picks up the slack.
www.thefp.com/p/an-anti-co...
September 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
It's tough to refute the lies from ideologues. Police abolitionists have big platforms and insist "the sky is green." Some people believe them. It demoralizes me to note that the sky is blue (and sometimes gray).
But if not me, who? Mike Pesca picks up the slack.
www.thefp.com/p/an-anti-co...
But if not me, who? Mike Pesca picks up the slack.
www.thefp.com/p/an-anti-co...
Having potential murder charges facing you is a big deal. IN the end, there's a nine page report, of which about 1,000 words are summary specific to his incident. (There's a lot of generic legal template.) 4 months. oag.maryland.gov/News/Documen...
Also, there are some typos in the 2nd paragraph.
Also, there are some typos in the 2nd paragraph.
September 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Having potential murder charges facing you is a big deal. IN the end, there's a nine page report, of which about 1,000 words are summary specific to his incident. (There's a lot of generic legal template.) 4 months. oag.maryland.gov/News/Documen...
Also, there are some typos in the 2nd paragraph.
Also, there are some typos in the 2nd paragraph.
A guy wanted for murder is chased by cops, shoots at cops, get shot by cops. All on body cam. Why does it take four months to conclude "subject officers did not commit a crime." What new information was gathered in months two and three?
September 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A guy wanted for murder is chased by cops, shoots at cops, get shot by cops. All on body cam. Why does it take four months to conclude "subject officers did not commit a crime." What new information was gathered in months two and three?
This is the future liberals want.
September 22, 2025 at 9:31 PM
This is the future liberals want.