CCJ began producing periodic crime trend reports in July 2020. Initial reports examined crime changes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the police killing of George Floyd and the nationwide protests that followed. Subsequent biannual reports have expanded to include a larger number of cities and a spotlight on noteworthy trends in specific crimes, such as the dramatic rise in motor vehicle theft that occurred in 2022.

The reports are based on monthly incident-level data obtained from online portals of city police departments. Incident counts are collected within days of the end of the study period to provide a timely snapshot of crime across the nation. As a result, these figures may and often do differ from data subsequently published by the police departments and from other counts released later by the FBI as part of its national crime reporting program. For the most up-to-date information for a specific city, please visit its website.