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The largest cities - with a population of more than 1 million -
saw murders drop by more than 20%, while violent crime in those
cities went down by more than 10%, according to the FBI
Quarterly Uniform Crime Report, which collects data from
thousands of police departments around the country.
The nationwide decreases extended beyond killings to virtually
every category of violent and property crime, including rape,
assault, and robbery.
The only category to see an increase in 2023 was motor vehicle
theft, which went up by nearly 11%.
The data is at odds with the public perception that crime is
worsening. In November, a Gallup poll found than nearly
two-thirds of Americans viewed crime as either extremely or very
serious, and more than three-quarters of Americans believed
crime was on the rise.
Republicans, including presidential candidate Donald Trump, have
attacked Democrats as weak on crime. In response, President Joe
Biden has touted the lowered crime rates, particularly in large
cities.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, in a statement on Tuesday,
credited the Justice Department's violent crime reduction
strategy, including targeting gangs and repeat offenders,
seizing illegal guns and hiring more officers.
FBI data showed homicides spiked nearly 30% in 2020 to a
two-decade high.
(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by David Gregorio)
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