Little Rock's Murder Rate: A Puzzle Amid National Decline

Across the U. S. , crime rates are dropping, but Little Rock is bucking the trend. While most cities saw a decrease in murders, Little Rock's homicide rate went up by 16% from 2024 to 2025. This makes it one of the few cities where murders increased. Most crimes are down nationwide. A recent study looked at 40 cities and found that 11 out of 13 types of crimes decreased. Homicides dropped by 21% in most cities. But not in Little Rock. The city's murder rate is now higher than it was last year.Why is this happening? Experts aren't sure. They think it could be due to many factors, like social changes or new policies. But they need more data to be certain. Some guess that people staying home more might help, but this idea has flaws. For example, during the pandemic, young people spent more time at home, but murders still went up. Little Rock's murder rate is still lower than it was in 2021. That year, the city saw 41 murders, compared to 21 last year. So, while the recent increase is concerning, it's not as bad as it once was. Experts are still trying to figure out what's causing the drop in murders nationwide. They want to know what's working so they can keep the trend going. But without more research, it's hard to say what's really making a difference.