The popular claim that Mother’s Day has the lowest crime rate in the US is a myth with no supporting evidence.
It originated as a humorous 2020 tweet (later deleted by the poster) joking that moms skip their “regular crime sprees” for brunch. The meme went viral on social media, but fact-checkers like Snopes and local news outlets (e.g., 10News, WKYT) have repeatedly debunked it.
Key Findings from Available Data
- No national daily breakdown exists: The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program aggregates data monthly, not by specific dates or holidays, so there’s no official nationwide stat for Mother’s Day.
- Local checks show nothing unusual:
- In New York City (2020 example): Mother’s Day had 265 arrests — lower than the next Sunday (353), but higher than several other Sundays (e.g., 152–196 on some April dates).
- In Minneapolis (2021): 154 crimes reported on Mother’s Day, vs. 138 the week before. No suspicious drop.
- Police departments (e.g., Rapid City PD) have publicly stated there’s “no evidence” for the claim.
What About Crime Patterns More Broadly?
Crime varies more by time of day, day of week, and season than by specific holidays like this:
- Weekends (especially Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays) often see higher violent crime due to nightlife, alcohol, and social gatherings. Sundays have been noted as peak days for certain gun homicides in some studies.
- Property crimes might dip on holidays when people are home, but overall daily fluctuations are normal and not uniquely tied to Mother’s Day.
- Holidays in general can be mixed: Some see drops in certain reports (e.g., fewer calls on Christmas), while others see spikes in domestic issues.
Counterpoint: Domestic Violence
Some shelters report an uptick in domestic violence calls around Mother’s Day, possibly due to family stress, expectations, or perpetrators using the day to criticize mothers in front of kids. For example, Family Violence Prevention Services in San Antonio noted increases in calls post-Mother’s Day. This aligns with broader patterns where holidays involving family gatherings can heighten tensions rather than reduce all crime.
In short, the t-shirt joke is funny precisely because it’s not backed by real stats — it’s just a clever meme. Crime doesn’t magically plummet because moms are busy; data shows business as usual for most days.