Violent crime in the United States saw a decrease in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to data released by the FBI. The statistics from the FBI’s annual “Summary of Crime in the Nation” show that overall violent crime decreased by about 3 percent nationally, with murders dropping by 11.6 percent and rapes decreasing by 9.4 percent. Aggravated assault, robbery, and property crime trends also showed a decrease.
However, one alarming trend was the surge in motor vehicle thefts, which saw a 12.6 percent increase in 2023. There were a total of 1,067,522 recorded incidents of motor vehicle thefts, indicating a concerning rise in this type of crime.
The decrease in violent crime comes at a time when crime has been a significant issue in the presidential election. A survey conducted by Pew Research found that 76 percent of President Trump’s supporters considered violent crime to be a “very important” issue in determining their vote, while 46 percent of Vice President Harris’s supporters ranked it as a leading issue.
The FBI’s data shows that violent crime is slowly declining after a significant increase in homicides in 2020. The tumultuous year, marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, protests following George Floyd’s murder, and changes to the criminal justice system, saw homicides surge by over 30 percent. In 2020, there were 22,510 murders and negligent manslaughters, compared to 16,964 in 2019.
Although the number of homicides in 2023 – totaling 19,252 – decreased from the previous year, they still remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. The FBI emphasizes that its data is collected from a wide range of law enforcement agencies, covering a vast majority of the population in the United States.
It is evident that while there has been progress in reducing violent crime, challenges remain, particularly in addressing the increase in motor vehicle thefts. Law enforcement agencies and policymakers will need to continue working together to address these trends and ensure the safety and security of communities across the country.
