Crime in the U. S. : A Look at the Numbers

Crime rates in the U. S. have been going down since the pandemic. This is true for both violent and property crimes. In fact, aggravated assault and burglary rates hit their lowest points last year since the pandemic started. Homicides have also dropped significantly. In 52 of the largest cities, homicides fell by about 38 percent since 2020. Some cities are now seeing the fewest murders in half a century. Mass shootings, where four or more people are killed, are also at their lowest since tracking began in 2006. Experts believe this trend will continue. They think the country is getting safer. But they also warn that poverty, inequality, and easy access to guns could lead to future crime spikes. The federal government has been investing in community organizations to help fight violence. This has made a big difference. But violence can build on itself, so it's hard to predict the future.Looking at the numbers, homicides in big cities fell by about 20 percent last year. Cities like Seattle, Denver, and Phoenix saw big drops. Even cities like Memphis and Baltimore, which have had high crime rates, saw improvements. Auto thefts surged in 2021 but have been going down since then. Mass killings with guns also dropped to their lowest levels in years. Burglaries have been declining since the pandemic, partly because more people were working from home. The data comes from more than 100 police departments across the country. It covers about 15 percent of the nation's population. This data helps experts understand crime trends. They use it to predict what might happen in the future. But it's important to remember that crime is complex. Many factors can influence it.