Good News: How US Cities Have Reduced Violence and the Lessons to Take Away

After a spike in violence across much of the country in 2020, homicides decreased by 11.6% from 2022 to 2023, while aggravated assault decreased an estimated 2.8%. This trend has continued in the first half of 2024, with an 18% decline in gun assaults compared to the same period in 2023.

Those are national data points, but let’s look at what this means sub-nationally. In 69 major cities across the US, homicides dropped a dramatic 17% during the first half of 2024 compared to the last period in 2023. Violent crime has also gone down in those cities by roughly 6%. Included in this count are cities that have long struggled with persistent violence—such as Boston which achieved a 78% reduction in homicides, Philadelphia with a 42% decrease in 2024, and Baltimore, which decreased its homicide rate by 21% in 2023 and 34% in the first half of 2024.

Importantly, these reductions have not been a result of mass incarceration or other highly-punitive measures. Rather these declines have been largely a result of targeted, balanced, community oriented, and—crucially—well resourced efforts. 

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