Council on Criminal Justice

Violent crime in the United States fell by an estimated 9.3% in 2025, marking the largest year-to-year decline since the FBI began estimating crime in 1936. The decline was broad, with robbery dropping 18.5%, aggravated assault falling 7.2%, and property crime also declining sharply by 12.4%.

Violent crime in the United States fell by an estimated 9.3% in 2025, marking the largest year-to-year decline since 1936. The murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate dropped 18.1%, tying the lowest recorded rate since national estimates began. Property crimes also saw sharp declines, with burglary dropping 15.8% and motor vehicle theft falling 22.7%.

Violent crime in the U.S. fell by an estimated 9.3% in 2025, marking the largest year-to-year decline since 1936. The estimated murder rate also dropped significantly, while property crimes experienced sharp declines, including motor vehicle theft and burglary.

The Department of Homeland Security attributes declining U.S. crime rates to the deportation of violent criminal illegal immigrants, citing a Council on Criminal Justice report showing significant drops in homicides, carjackings, and other crimes. Examples of recent deportees include individuals linked to gangs like Tren de Aragua and with convictions for homicide, drug trafficking, and armed carjacking.

The Department of Homeland Security attributes declining violent crime rates in the U.S. to the deportation of violent criminal illegal immigrants, citing a Council on Criminal Justice report showing significant drops in homicides, carjackings, and other crimes. The White House highlights the report as evidence of progress on law and order, while DHS provides examples of recent deportations involving individuals linked to gangs and criminal convictions.

Multiple states have passed laws to combat organized retail crime, including creating new criminal offenses, increasing penalties, and establishing task forces. The legislation addresses evolving threats like cargo theft, gift card fraud, and e-commerce schemes, with examples such as a $1 million seizure of stolen merchandise in Los Angeles linked to the platform Whatnot.

States are enacting new laws to combat organized retail crime, including gift card fraud and cargo theft, by increasing penalties and forming specialized task forces. Recent seizures of stolen goods, such as a $1 million haul in Los Angeles linked to an e-commerce resale scheme, highlight the growing sophistication of these crimes.

Over a dozen U.S. states have passed legislation this year to combat organized retail crime, including creating new criminal offenses, increasing penalties, and establishing task forces. The measures address evolving tactics like cargo theft, gift card fraud, and e-commerce schemes, exemplified by a $1 million seizure in Los Angeles linked to stolen merchandise from brands such as ALO and SKIMS. Shoplifting rates in 2026 rose 4% compared to 2025, with organized theft rings using sophisticated methods like hacking into merchandise delivery systems.

Homicide rates in 30 U.S. cities declined by 18% in the first half of 2026, with 215 fewer killings compared to the same period in 2025, continuing a trend of historic lows since the pandemic-era surge in 2022. A Council on Criminal Justice report notes the decline spans diverse cities but warns no single policy or factor explains the drop, which may be influenced by macro-level forces like criminal justice changes and social shifts.

Over a dozen states have passed new laws to combat organized retail crime and gift card fraud, including harsher penalties and specialized task forces. Authorities have seized millions in stolen goods, and reports indicate rising shoplifting incidents linked to sophisticated theft rings.

Homicide rates in U.S. cities declined 18% in the first half of 2026, with 215 fewer killings across 30 cities, marking a continuation of a historic downward trend since 2022. The Council on Criminal Justice reported widespread but not universal reductions, with four cities, including Minneapolis, showing rates above 2019 levels.

States are strengthening laws and law enforcement efforts to combat organized retail crime, including gift card fraud and cargo theft. Over a dozen states passed legislation this year to create new offenses, increase penalties, and establish task forces. The Los Angeles Police Department recently seized $1 million in stolen merchandise linked to an e-commerce resale scheme.

States are enacting new laws to combat organized retail crime, including gift card fraud and cargo theft, with over a dozen states creating criminal offenses and specialized task forces this year. Authorities have reported seizures of stolen goods worth millions and noted rising shoplifting rates in 2026 compared to 2025.

States are expanding efforts to combat organized retail crime through new legislation, harsher penalties, and specialized task forces. The crimes include cargo theft, gift card fraud, and sophisticated schemes like hijacking freight shipments. Recent seizures, such as $1 million in stolen merchandise in Los Angeles, highlight the growing scale of these operations.

Homicide rates in the U.S. continued a historic decline in 2026, with a 18% drop across 30 cities, according to a Council on Criminal Justice report. The decline, which builds on a post-2022 trend, saw 215 fewer killings in the first half of 2026 compared to 2025, though Minneapolis and three other cities reported higher rates than 2019 levels.

Crime rates, including homicides, continued to decline in 36 U.S. cities in the first half of 2026, with homicide rates dropping 18% compared to 2025. The Council on Criminal Justice analysis noted the national homicide rate could reach a century low, though some cities like Minneapolis saw rates above 2019 levels.

Crime rates in U.S. cities continued declining in 2026, with homicide rates dropping 18% in 30 cities, according to a Council on Criminal Justice report. The decline follows pandemic-era surges but is not universal, with Minneapolis and three other cities reporting higher 2026 rates than 2019 levels.

A new report from the Council on Criminal Justice indicates that Norfolk's homicide rate increased by 64% from the first half of 2025 to the first half of 2026. The report compares Norfolk to 30 other cities sampled during this period.

Homicide rates in U.S. cities declined by 18% in the first half of 2026, with 215 fewer killings across 30 cities compared to 2025. A report by the Council on Criminal Justice attributes the drop to macro-level forces like changes in criminal justice operations, technology, and social shifts, though the decline was not universal, with Minneapolis and three other cities reporting higher rates than 2019.

Crime rates in 36 U.S. cities declined in the first half of 2026, with homicides falling 18% compared to 2025, according to the Council on Criminal Justice. The decline builds on a trend since 2022 but was not universal, with Minneapolis and three other cities reporting higher homicide rates than 2019.

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.

A report by the Council on Criminal Justice shows an 18% decrease in homicide rates across 30 U.S. cities from 2025 to 2026, with 215 fewer homicides. The study also noted drops in carjackings, residential burglary, and aggravated assaults, though shoplifting and drug offenses rose slightly. Experts attribute the nationwide trend to broader factors rather than localized policies.

A report by the Council on Criminal Justice shows an 18% decrease in the homicide rate in 30 U.S. cities from 2025 to 2026, with 215 fewer homicides. The trend suggests the annual homicide rate could reach its lowest level in over a century. Declines in nine crime categories, including carjackings and aggravated assaults, contrast with small increases in shoplifting and domestic violence.

Murder rates in Washington D.C. are likely declining to historic lows not seen since 1900, with a steeper drop than in other U.S. cities. A Council on Criminal Justice report notes a 18% reduction in homicides and 41% drop in robberies in D.C. compared to 2025, attributing the trend to factors like demographic shifts and police technology improvements.

Incarcerating women costs 25-75% more annually than men, with projected growth in women’s prison populations and correctional costs through 2035. Annual spending on women’s justice involvement is expected to rise from $23–$26 billion in 2025 to $30–$34 billion by 2035.

New reports from the Council on Criminal Justice highlight that incarcerating women in the U.S. costs 75% more than men, with their prison population rising over 600% since 1980. The reports suggest reducing women's sentences could save tax dollars without significantly increasing violent crime.

Incarcerating women costs 25% to 75% more annually than men, with projected growth in women’s prison populations and correctional costs through 2035. Annual spending on women in the justice system is expected to rise from $23–26 billion in 2025 to $30–34 billion by 2035, driven by population increases and higher healthcare and operational expenses.

Incarcerating women costs states 25% to 75% more annually than men, with projected growth in women’s prison populations and correctional costs through 2035. Annual spending on women in the justice system is expected to rise from $23–26 billion in 2025 to $30–34 billion by 2035, driven by population increases and higher healthcare and security expenses.

A report by the Council on Criminal Justice projects rising costs and women’s prison populations through 2035, with incarceration costs for women estimated at 25-75% higher than men annually. Researchers attribute this to factors like healthcare expenses and facility logistics, with women’s correctional costs expected to grow from $23-26 billion in 2025 to $30-34 billion by 2035.

A federal carjacking bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn aims to ease prosecutors' ability to secure convictions, potentially leading to harsher sentences including the death penalty. Critics argue the bill could disproportionately incarcerate young adults, particularly Black men, and exacerbate racial disparities in sentencing.

A federal bill aims to ease carjacking convictions by lowering the intent requirement, raising concerns about harsher sentences for young adults, particularly Black men. Critics argue it risks perpetuating racial disparities, while supporters claim it strengthens federal prosecutors' ability to combat carjackings.

Preliminary FBI data shows a 9.3% decline in overall violent crime in 2025 compared to 2024, with murders dropping 18.1% and property crime falling 12.4%. The data, covering 96% of the U.S. population, aligns with projections from the Council on Criminal Justice, which suggested 2025 may have the lowest homicide rate in over a century.

Preliminary FBI data shows U.S. violent crime fell 9.3% in 2025 compared to 2024, with murders dropping 18.1% and property crime decreasing 12.4%. The data, covering 96% of the population, aligns with projections from the Council on Criminal Justice, which suggested 2025 may have the lowest homicide rate in over a century.

Preliminary FBI data shows a 9.3% drop in U.S. violent crime in 2025 compared to 2024, with murders declining 18.1% and property crime falling 12.4%. The data, covering 96% of the population, aligns with projections of a potential record-low homicide rate.

Preliminary FBI data shows a 9.3% drop in overall violent crime in 2025 compared to 2024, with murders declining 18.1% and property crime falling 12.4%. The data, covering 96% of the U.S. population, aligns with projections from the Council on Criminal Justice that 2025 may have the lowest homicide rate in over a century.

Washington, D.C.'s homicide rate has dropped by half compared to 2025, with the Trump administration attributing the decline to federal crackdowns, including U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's enforcement and National Guard deployment. Criminologists caution that national crime trends and court backlog reductions may also contribute to the drop.

Washington, D.C.’s homicide count has dropped by half compared to 2025, with the Trump administration attributing the decline to a federal crackdown led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and increased law enforcement presence. Criminologists caution that nationwide crime drops and court backlog reductions may also play a role, while the White House highlights Trump’s crime task force as a key factor in reducing violence.