Crime is down in the US across the board in first three months of 2024
Violent crimes and property crimes such as burglaries and motor vehicle thefts are down in every region of the country, according to FBI data released on June 10.
Rates of violent crime and property crime dropped in the first three months of 2024, both declining by 15% compared to the first three months of 2023, according to the FBI’s latest Quarterly Uniform Crime Report, published on June 10.
The drop in crime occurred in all regions of the United States and continues a downward trend since 2020, when violence surged during the COVID-19 pandemic under President Donald Trump.
“This data makes clear that last year’s historic decline in violent crime is continuing,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a news release.
The largest decline was in categories of murder and rape, which both dropped by 26% nationwide in the first three months of 2024 compared to the same time period a year earlier.
Homicides had surged between 2019 and 2020, increasing 30% in the largest single-year increase since the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics began tracking homicides, according to CNN.
“This continued historic decline in homicides does not represent abstract statistics. It represents people whose lives were saved — people who are still here to see their children grow up, to work toward fulfilling their dreams, and to contribute to their communities,” Garland said.
Robberies declined by 18% in the first three months of 2024 compared to the same time period in 2023, while aggravated assault declined by 12%, according to the FBI statistics. Meanwhile, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts, which are classified as property crimes, both dropped by 17%.
President Joe Biden took partial credit for the drop in crime nationwide.
“This progress we’re seeing is no accident. My Administration is putting more cops on the beat, holding violent criminals accountable, and getting illegal guns off the street – and we are doing it in partnership with communities,” Biden said in a statement. “As a result, Americans are safer today than when I took office.”
Biden said that the work is not done, however.
“After we saw the largest increase in murders ever recorded during the previous Administration, my Administration got to work protecting the American people,” Biden said. “But there is more to do. I will continue fighting for funding for 100,000 additional police officers, and crime prevention and community violence intervention programs. Every American deserves to feel safe in their community – which is why I will continue to invest in public safety.”
