American homicides on track for lowest level in more than a century: ‘one of the most significant public safety developments in decades’

Data from 30 American cities shows an 18% decrease in homicides from 2025 to 2026, potentially marking the lowest annual homicide rate in over a century. A Council on Criminal Justice report notes declines in nine of 13 tracked crimes, including carjackings and burglaries, though shoplifting and drug offenses rose slightly. Cities like Norfolk and San Francisco saw significant homicide increases, bucking the national trend.