Violent crime in the nation's major cities plummeted in the first six months of 2024 as the early COVID-era crime surge subsides, new data suggests. While the drop in violent crime warrants acknowledgement, experts also say it underscores the need for states and the federal government to remain invested in violence prevention efforts.
An Axios analysis of preliminary data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association found that violent crime, which includes homicides, robberies, aggravated assault and rape, has dropped overall by 6 percent in 69 major cities between the first six months of 2024 and the same period in 2023. The MCCA data is one of five sets on violent crime in the U.S. to have recently been released, with each — though with slightly varied estimates — indicating a sharp decline in violent crime that rivals pre-pandemic levels, experts said.
