Crime in Washington, DC: What You Need to Know
Following President Trump’s announcement about federal efforts to combat crime in Washington, DC, this brief examines trends for eight different crime types in the nation’s capital going back to 2018.
Following President Trump’s announcement about federal efforts to combat crime in Washington, DC, this brief examines trends for eight different crime types in the nation’s capital going back to 2018.
Violent crime has fallen sharply over the past three years. Its news we should all celebrate—and it’s critical that we understand why if we want to extend progress into 2026 and beyond. Experts and leaders from the Council on Criminal Justice came together for a fast-paced discussion of the most common—and controversial—claims.
A 21% drop would push homicide rate to a new historic low, new CCJ analysis finds
CCJ brought together leading experts to assess what’s driving the homicide decline, including changes in criminal justice policy, shifts in technology use, and broader social and economic trends.
With homicide down 21%, the 2025 homicide rate may reach the lowest level ever recorded in law enforcement or public health data going back to 1900, CCJ’s year-end analysis finds.
This comprehensive analysis of arrest trends is the first of its kind since the federal government stopped releasing detailed arrest data in 2020. It shows that arrests fell sharply in 2020 during the pandemic—and have stayed down since then.