The homicide rate declined in many of the nation’s largest cities in 2023, when compared to data from 2022.
An analysis published Thursday by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) showed the homicide rate in 32 major cities, 22 of which saw a decline from the previous year. Across all cities, the homicide rate declined by 10 percent, representing 515 fewer homicides in 2023 than in 2022.
Six cities experienced increases in the homicide rate: Syracuse, N.Y. (35 percent); Washington, D.C. (30 percent); Memphis, Tenn. (24 percent); St. Petersburg, Fla. (19 percent); Chattanooga, Tenn. (19 percent); Seattle (12 percent); Nashville-Davidson, Tenn. (3 percent) and Denver (1 percent). Two cities — Richmond, Va., and Omaha, Neb. — had no major change in the homicide rate when compared to the previous year.
Rochester, N.Y., and Arlington, Va., saw the two greatest homicide rate declines in 2023, down 32 percent and 29 percent.
Other cities that recorded homicide rates decline include Phoenix (down 10 percent); New York (down 12 percent); Los Angeles (down 14 percent); Chicago (down 14 percent), Detroit (down 16 percent); Raleigh, N.C. (down 19 percent); St. Louis (down 20 percent); Atlanta (down 20 percent); Philadelphia (down 21 percent) and Baltimore (down 23 percent).
The analysis showed that across the 32 cities, homicide was still higher in 2023 than in pre-pandemic levels but was improving. In 2023, the homicide rate was 18 percent higher than in 2019.
Other crimes remained a problem in many cities, in particular motor vehicle theft and carjackings. Motor vehicle thefts were up 29 percent in 2023, when compared to 2022. Carjackings spiked by 93 percent since pre-pandemic levels, when comparing 2023 levels to 2019.
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