Six cities saw an increase in homicides from 2023 to 2024, according to a study by the Council on Criminal Justice.
Why It Matters
The Council on Criminal Justice studied data from 29 cities, including New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Many of the cities saw a decrease in homicides from 2023 to 2024.
Across the 29 cities, the number of homicides was 16 percent lower from 2023 to 2024, representing 631 fewer homicides.
What To Know
Colorado Springs had the highest increase in homicides from 2023 to 2024 at 56 percent. When comparing the number of homicides last year to 2019, the city saw a 101 percent increase.
In Charlotte, homicide increased by 13 percent from 2023 to 2024. The number of homicides increased by 2 percent last year when compared to 2019 data.
From 2023 to 2024, Arlington, Texas saw a 7 percent increase in homicides. The number of homicides last year was the same as the number of homicides in 2019.
Three other cities saw an increase in homicides from 2023 to 2024. Those cities are Louisville, Kentucky at 5 percent, Fort Worth at 4 percent and Albuquerque, New Mexico at 1 percent.
When compared to 2019, homicides increased by 60 percent in Louisville last year and 20 percent in Albuquerque. Fort Worth saw a decrease of 7 percent.
There are 12 cities that saw a decrease in homicides from 2023 to 2024, but the number is still higher than 2019 data. Those cities are Nashville; Austin; Syracuse, New York; Atlanta; Chicago; New York City; Memphis; Lincoln, Nebraska; Norfolk, Viriginia; Rochester, New York; Washington, D.C., and Chandler, Arizona.
What cities have the highest murder rates?
The study also looked at the homicide rates in five major cities from 2013 to 2024.
St. Louis had the highest homicide rate in 2024 at 48.6 per 100,000 people, followed by Detroit at 37 and Baltimore at 35.2.
The Council on Criminal Justice said that multiple factors could explain the rise and subsequent fall of homicide rates. Theories offered by crime scholars include pandemic-related changes in people's daily activities, emotional stress levels and economic stress levels, changes in policing, a decline in public trust in law enforcement, and the suspension or reduction of social supports and programs.
The council studied trends in other violent offenses as well as property and drug offenses. From 2023 to 2024, 12 of the 13 offenses studied were lower overall.
What are the most dangerous cities in the U.S.?
U.S. News and World Report named Memphis as the most dangerous place in the U.S. in its 2024-2025 ranking. The list is based on murder and property crime rates per 100,000 people.
St. Louis, Detroit, Birmingham and Little Rock were also listed in the top five.
What People Are Saying
The Council on Criminal Justice, in its study: "While these crime reductions are promising, the United States still experiences high levels of homicide compared to other industrialized nations, and progress should not slow local, state, federal, and community efforts to adopt comprehensive, evidence-based strategies to reduce violence."
What Happens Next
Several cities are working on initiatives to help combat violent crime rates and increase public safety. In Louisville, Mayor Craig Greenberg laid out his priorities for the 2025 legislative session, including securing the autonomy to require background checks and waiting periods on all gun sales.
"There are some unique issues going on here in Louisville with respect to violent crime compared to other parts of Kentucky. And we in Louisville should have the autonomy to have all the tools that we can think of to reduce the amount of gun violence here in Louisville," Greenberg said.
In May of last year, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade expressed hope that a growing police force and work by nonprofits could help increase public safety.
"The public safety needs and landscape have changed," Mobolade said.
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