Mon Sep 23 18:22:33 UTC 2024: ## Violent Crime in US Drops in 2023, Continuing Post-Pandemic Trend: FBI Report

**WASHINGTON** – The FBI reported a 3% decrease in violent crime in the US for 2023, continuing a downward trend following the spike seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Murders and non-negligent manslaughter saw a particularly significant drop of nearly 12%.

While violent crime remains a hot-button issue in the 2024 presidential race, with former President Donald Trump claiming it’s “through the roof” under President Biden, the FBI data paints a different picture. Though the pandemic surge in 2020 was significant, violent crime is still considerably lower than it was in the 1990s.

The FBI’s data shows a return to near pre-pandemic levels in 2022, with the rate falling from 377 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2022 to 364 per 100,000 people in 2023. This is only slightly higher than the rate in 2019.

The largest decreases in violent crime were reported in major cities with populations over 1 million, with a nearly 7% drop. Smaller communities, however, reported a slight increase.

While rapes and aggravated assault decreased significantly, property crime also dipped, but motor vehicle theft rose by nearly 13%. The motor vehicle theft rate reached its highest level since 2007, exceeding 319 per 100,000 people.

The FBI’s report aligns with findings from the Council on Criminal Justice, which analyzed crime rates in 39 US cities. The Council found that most violent crimes are at or below 2019 levels.

While Trump cites a different Justice Department survey suggesting a rise in crime under the Biden administration, the FBI report and the National Crime Victimization Survey use different methodologies and capture different aspects of crime.

The victimization survey, conducted through interviews with victims, reports an increase in crime victimization since 2020. However, it acknowledges that the 2023 rate is not statistically different from 2019, when Trump was in office.

The FBI’s report highlights a continued decline in violent crime, suggesting a return to pre-pandemic levels. The data provides a counterpoint to the narrative of escalating crime and underscores the need for nuanced analysis of crime trends.

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