Does Trump have a point on crime? Take our quiz.

Former president Donald Trump says crime in the United States is out of control. Even to many Americans who distrust Mr. Trump, this might appear to be a plausible claim, as polls show high concern about public safety. The quiz below will test your knowledge, allow you to compare your results with those of other Americans and help you figure out what the nation’s leaders should do about crime.

The term “violent crime” includes murders, rapes, robberies and egregious assaults (known as “aggravated assaults”). Because assaults are by far the most common, the rise and fall in violent crime really measures the increase and decrease of aggravated assaults. It’s also important to specifically look at murder rates.

Crime across the nation fell steadily in the 1990s and early 2000s. It stayed relatively low until the coronavirus pandemic disrupted American society. Many major cities saw the highest crime rates in decades. But some were hit harder than others.

New York, once synonymous with crime, remains far safer than some other cities. While a few urban areas continue to struggle, violent crime has, overall, significantly declined in 2023 compared with 2022, according to data from the FBI and the Major Cities Chiefs Association. That’s an encouraging trend, especially in many cities. But how do crime rates compare with pre-pandemic levels?

Pre-pandemic crime rates were historically low. The country has not returned to the high-crime days of decades ago. But many parts of the country have seen in recent years a rise in juvenile crime, with teenagers increasingly committing violent acts or becoming victims. Some observers blame pandemic school closures for knocking young people off track and making them indifferent to social norms. Yet there’s also been heightened attention on immigrants, including from Mr. Trump.

So, while immigration is a big issue in need of new policy, crime rates are not the reason.

The pandemic was also hard for police and prosecutors. These front-line jobs required law enforcement officials to be in person most, if not all, days. Many police departments have reported low morale and difficulty recruiting.

This suggests that police wages are somewhat competitive — and that localities might consider investing in non-monetary inducements, such as more civilian support for officers currently expected to be mental health specialists, social workers, armed response officers and crime investigators all in one.

Overall, violent crime jumped during the pandemic, but the worst appears to be over in most of the country. Crime, especially violent crime, significantly dropped in 2023, according to FBI data. Even cities, such as D.C., that had crime spikes last year are seeing decreases in early 2024. Even so, crime remains elevated compared with pre-pandemic levels. This is especially true for crimes such as carjacking and motor vehicle theft, which have been driven in part by social media tactics such as “Kia Boys” that urge young people to steal cars.

Some things appear to have helped. Police and prosecutors in cities such as Baltimore — which saw a dramatic 20 percent decrease in homicides last year — have focused on identifying and charging a the most severe offenders. Baltimore police were able to solve slightly more murder cases last year. The best deterrent is certainty of punishment. Public outcry had compelled local leaders to invest resources into public safety, including more real-time technology such as cameras and license-plate readers. And local governments hired more than 350,000 people last year, which finally returned employment in this sector to pre-pandemic levels. That means many localities now have more police, educators, social workers and counselors on staff. This enhances public safety and support programs to people in need, especially young people. Smarter policing requires more civilians providing services that police need not be responsible for: mental health support; substance abuse treatment; violence de-escalation; help with housing.

Mr. Trump is wrong about crime; as usual, he seeks to stoke discontent for personal gain. But getting back to pre-pandemic levels — or better — will require a sustained push among city leaders, public safety officials and social services.