Changes in Crime Victimization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Guyana and St. Lucia: A Social Solidarity Explanation

This study examines changes in crime victimization levels which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and argues that observed changes may be related to changes in social solidarity which could have occurred as a result of the pandemic. The data sources include pre- and during-COVID-19 victimization surveys which were administered in Guyana and St. Lucia, as well as official crime data. Victimization survey data show a consistent decline in personal as well as household crime victimization in St. Lucia during the pandemic. Official crime data show similar declines. In Guyana, however, victimization survey data as well as official crime data show no changes during the pandemic. We also examined several measures of social solidarity and found that there was an increase in solidarity in St. Lucia after the pandemic. In contrast, the results show that there was no change in social solidarity in Guyana. The findings suggest that the decline in crime victimization in St. Lucia may be related to an increase in social solidarity after the pandemic, whereas no changes in crime levels in Guyana after the pandemic may be related to stability in the level of social solidarity. We examine the results in light of other competing explanations.