Violent crime declined significantly across major U.S. cities in 2025, according to a new year-end report released by the Council on Criminal Justice. The nonpartisan organization analyzed crime trends in 40 large cities and found that 11 of 13 major crime categories decreased compared with 2024.
Nine of those categories declined by double digits, the report said, Red State noted, citing the report.
Homicides fell by 21 percent across the cities studied, representing one of the largest year-over-year drops in recent decades.
Motor vehicle theft declined by 27 percent, while burglary, shoplifting, and several categories of violent assault also recorded substantial decreases.
The Council on Criminal Justice said the declines were broad-based and observed across regions, though the magnitude of change varied by city.
The findings continue a downward trend that began after a sharp rise in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Homicide rates surged nationally between 2020 and 2021, a period marked by disruptions to policing, court operations, and social services.
Since 2022, homicide rates have declined each year, with 2025 marking the fourth consecutive annual decrease.
The council reported that homicide levels in 2025 were approximately 25 percent lower than in 2019 across the cities with consistent data.
Several cities recorded particularly large reductions in homicide.
Washington, D.C., reported a decline of approximately 40 percent compared with the prior year.
Denver recorded a 41 percent drop in homicides, while Omaha reported a decline of roughly 40 percent.
Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Buffalo each reported homicide declines exceeding 30 percent.
The report noted that while many large cities experienced improvements, the pace and scale of reductions varied widely.
Some cities continue to experience elevated levels of gun violence compared with pre-pandemic levels.
The Council on Criminal Justice cautioned that no single factor explains the decline in crime and said multiple influences likely contributed.
Researchers cited changes in policing practices, community-based violence intervention efforts, demographic shifts, and the easing of pandemic-related disruptions as potential contributors.
The Major Cities Chiefs Association separately reported an overall decline of about 20 percent in homicides across 67 large law enforcement agencies nationwide.
The FBI has not yet released its finalized national crime data for 2025, though preliminary indicators align with the downward trends reported by city-level data.
Several cities also reported notable milestones in public safety outcomes.
New York City recorded its lowest level of gun violence since records began, according to local officials.
Philadelphia reported its lowest homicide total since 1966.
Chicago reported a roughly 30 percent decline in homicides compared with the previous year.
Despite the declines, experts said crime rates remain above historical lows in some jurisdictions and emphasized the importance of sustained prevention efforts.
The council said long-term trends should be evaluated over multiple years to determine whether recent reductions persist.
Researchers also noted that crime trends can fluctuate due to economic conditions, population changes, and enforcement strategies.
Public safety officials said continued coordination between law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and community organizations will be critical in maintaining reductions.
The report emphasized that crime statistics represent real-world impacts on communities and public safety.
The Council on Criminal Justice said it will continue tracking crime trends to assess whether the downward trajectory continues into 2026.
