The latest crime numbers are in, and they paint a picture that few expected just a few years ago. Homicides are falling. Carjackings are falling. Robberies are falling. Vehicle thefts are falling. According to new mid-year data released by the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice, the United States is now on pace for one of the lowest homicide rates recorded in more than a century.
The report arrives 18 months after President Trump returned to the White House pledging to restore law and order, and the administration is pointing to the latest statistics as evidence that its public safety agenda is producing measurable results.
The Council on Criminal Justice analyzed crime data from dozens of large cities across the country and found that homicides dropped 18 percent during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year. That represents 215 fewer murder victims in just six months.
The broader trend is even more striking. Homicides have fallen 51 percent from their first-half 2022 peak. Carjackings are down 73 percent from their 2023 high, while residential burglaries have declined 56 percent from their 2018 peak. Motor vehicle theft has dropped 51 percent from 2023 levels.
The report examined 13 different categories of crime across 36 cities that consistently publish monthly statistics. Nine of those categories declined during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
Carjacking experienced the steepest one-year improvement, falling 47 percent. Motor vehicle theft declined 20 percent, robbery dropped 17 percent, residential burglary fell 13 percent, and homicide declined by 18 percent.
The improvements were widespread, although not universal. Twenty-one of the 30 cities reporting homicide data recorded fewer killings than a year ago. Rochester posted a remarkable 76 percent decline, while Little Rock saw homicides fall 61 percent. Arlington recorded a 60 percent decrease, and Colorado Springs reported a 53 percent drop.
The report did not ignore areas where crime moved in the opposite direction. Homicides increased in eight cities, including Norfolk, San Francisco, Dallas, and Salt Lake City. Domestic violence reports rose 8 percent across the available sample, while drug offenses increased 12 percent.
Researchers cautioned that the 36-city sample does not represent every community in America. They also noted that the nationwide decline in homicides began during the second half of 2022 and did not attribute the improvement to any single policy or elected official.
Even with those caveats, the White House argues the numbers reflect the administration’s emphasis on public safety. Officials highlighted not only the national decline in violent crime but also improvements in cities where federal law enforcement resources have been expanded.
According to the administration, Memphis has seen homicides decline by more than 43 percent this year. Washington, D.C., is down more than 42 percent, while New Orleans has recorded a decline of more than 32 percent. Los Angeles has also experienced a notable reduction, with homicides down more than 18 percent.
The administration credits those improvements to increased support for law enforcement, enhanced cooperation with local agencies, immigration enforcement, and a greater focus on targeting repeat violent offenders and organized criminal networks. Federal task forces operating in several major cities have been highlighted as a key component of that strategy.
Crime trends are influenced by a wide range of factors, including local policing strategies, economic conditions, demographic changes, community programs, and prosecutorial policies. Even so, presidents are often judged by the conditions that exist during their time in office and the priorities they establish.
While challenges remain in cities where violent crime continues to rise, the latest figures indicate significant progress in many parts of the country. Behind every percentage point are real communities experiencing fewer violent crimes and families spared from tragedy. The data suggests the national conversation on public safety may be entering a new chapter, with broad declines across multiple categories of both violent and property crime.
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