U.S. Homicide Rate Hits Century Low, Report Shows

An independent think‑tank, the Council on Criminal Justice, analyzed monthly crime data from 30‑36 U.S. cities and found homicide rates fell 18% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, representing roughly 215 fewer killings. The decline places the nation on track for the lowest homicide rate in over a century, with the average homicide rate 51% lower than its 2022 peak. The report also noted reductions in other violent‑crime lethality (down 23%), residential burglaries (down 3%) and a 50% drop from pre‑pandemic burglary levels, while shoplifting rose 5% and drug offenses saw a slight increase. Most cities, regardless of political leadership, followed the downward trend, though a handful – including Norfolk, VA (up 64%) and San Francisco (up 55%) – bucked the overall pattern. Researchers warned that no single policy explains the drop, citing broader macro‑level forces such as changes in criminal‑justice operations, technology, and social shifts. Final FBI figures are expected later in the year.