New FBI statistics released this week indicate a continued decrease in overall violent crime in the United States, following a spike during the pandemic. The data shows a 13% drop in murders during the last quarter of 2023 compared to the same period the previous year, with violent crime overall down by 6%. Property crime also saw a slight decrease of about 3% nationwide, although it increased by a similar amount in the Northeast and in major cities with populations exceeding one million.
The quarterly report, based on information provided by approximately 80% of law enforcement agencies across the country, offers a positive outlook on the state of crime in the nation. Final detailed data for 2023 is anticipated to be released later this year.
President Joe Biden highlighted the significant reduction in the murder rate, attributing it to the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed in 2021. This legislation allowed cities and states to allocate $15 billion towards public safety initiatives. Attorney General Merrick Garland also expressed optimism about the data, emphasizing law enforcement efforts to combat gangs, illegal firearms, and other criminal issues.
The FBI's findings align with a report from the Council on Criminal Justice, which revealed a 10% decrease in homicides across 32 surveyed cities compared to the previous year. However, violent crime rates remain elevated in many urban areas compared to pre-pandemic levels.
In 2020, homicides surged by 29%, marking the largest one-year increase since the FBI began tracking such data. Experts attribute this rise to various factors, including the disruptive impact of the pandemic, increased gun violence, economic concerns, and heightened stress levels. While crime rates stabilized in the subsequent year, a data collection overhaul at the FBI led to the exclusion of numerous major cities from the report.
Overall, violent crime in the U.S. decreased in 2022, approaching levels seen before the pandemic, although property crimes experienced an uptick during that period.
