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Ferguson effect

(US) The idea that increased scrutiny of police following the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, has led to an increased crime rate (or sometimes murder rate) in major US cities.

ˈfɝɡəsən ɪˈfɛkt104 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(US) The idea that increased scrutiny of police following the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, has led to an increased crime rate (or sometimes murder rate) in major US cities.

Origin: From the name of the city of Ferguson, Missouri. The term was coined by police chief Doyle Sam Dotson III and popularized by a Wall Street Journal opinion piece by Heather Mac Donald. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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