- 11 of 13 major crime categories saw declines in the first half of 2025.
- Homicides dropped by 17% across 30 reporting cities.
- Carjackings, robberies, burglaries, and gun assaults fell sharply.
- Domestic violence rose by 3%, while drug offense levels remained steady.
- The only crime still elevated since 2019 is motor vehicle theft (+25%).
The Big Picture
A new mid-year crime trends report released by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) reveals significant declines in nearly every major crime category across 42 U.S. cities. The analysis, which covers data from January through June 2025, highlights continued improvements in public safety, particularly with a 17% drop in homicides compared to the same period last year.
What’s New
The CCJ report notes that out of 13 tracked offenses, 11 decreased in frequency in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The only exception was domestic violence, which rose by 3%, while drug offenses held steady. Homicides declined by 327 cases across the 30 cities that reported this data. Other violent crimes also saw improvement: aggravated assaults (-10%), gun assaults (-21%), sexual assaults (-10%), and robberies (-20%) all fell. Carjackings declined by 24%.
Property crime also saw positive trends. Motor vehicle thefts—previously on the rise—dropped 25% compared to mid-2024. Residential burglaries fell by 19%, non-residential burglaries by 18%, and larcenies and shoplifting both declined by 12%.
What They’re Saying
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted on X, celebrating the decline:
📊 Key Findings from the 2025 Mid-Year Crime Report
- Homicides down by 17% across 30 major U.S. cities (327 fewer deaths).
- Carjackings declined 24%, and robberies fell 20%.
- Motor vehicle thefts dropped 25% after years of rising trends.
- Sexual assaults declined 10%, and aggravated assaults fell 10%.
- Domestic violence was the only violent offense that increased, up by 3%.
- Drug offenses remained stable year-over-year.
- Compared to 2019: Robbery down 30%, sexual assault down 28%, burglary down 47%.
Historical Context
Compared to pre-pandemic benchmarks, the downward trend is even more noteworthy. The study shows that homicides in 2025 were 14% lower than the same period in 2019. Robberies fell 30%, sexual assaults dropped 28%, and domestic violence declined by 8%. However, motor vehicle thefts remain 25% higher than in 2019, bucking the broader downward trajectory.
The Bottom Line
While the numbers suggest meaningful progress, CCJ cautions that long-term crime trends remain volatile and poorly understood. The report urges continued investment in research and evidence-based strategies to sustain the progress and address remaining pockets of violence.
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