U.S. Homicides Reach Lowest Levels in Over a Century

New data released today, January 22, 2026, by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) confirms a monumental shift in American public safety. Homicides in major U.S. cities plummeted by 21% in 2025, marking the largest single-year decline in recorded history.

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If this trend mirrors the final national count, the U.S. homicide rate will hit approximately 4.0 per 100,000 residents—a level of safety not seen in the United States since the early 1900s.

Where the Biggest Gains Happened

Of the 35 major cities analyzed, 31 saw a decrease in homicides. The recovery is particularly striking in cities that struggled most during the pandemic-era spike.

• Washington, D.C. & Denver: Both saw massive 40-41% reductions in one year.
• Baltimore: Continuing a long-term trend, the city is now down 60% from its 2019 levels.
• Omaha: Recorded a 40% drop, highlighting that the improvement isn’t limited to the largest coastal hubs.

Beyond Homicides: A Broad Decline in Crime

The report shows that violence isn’t the only thing receding; property and transit-related crimes are also in a freefall:

• Carjackings: Down a staggering 43%.
• Motor Vehicle Theft: Dropped 27%, finally reversing the “Kia/Hyundai” theft wave.
• Residential Burglary: Decreased by 16%.

Why Is This Happening?

Researchers point to a “perfect storm” of positive factors that finally took hold in 2025:

• The “Post-Pandemic” Reset: The social instability of the early 2020s has largely dissipated.
• Targeted Investment: Federal funds from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act allowed cities to scale “Violence Interrupters”—community members who mediate conflicts before they turn deadly.
• Improved Solving Rates: Police departments are solving a higher percentage of cases, which acts as a powerful deterrent.

The Road Ahead

While the news is overwhelmingly positive, experts warn against complacency. Much of the funding for these community programs is tied to pandemic-era grants that are set to expire. To keep these rates at historic lows, cities will need to find permanent ways to fund the social infrastructure that drove these results.