DOJ releases final violent crime numbers for Biden administration

The Department of Justice (DOJ) released the final national crime data of the Biden administration as the president nears the end of his term. After a rise in violent crime during the 2021 pandemic, crime rates saw a significant decline in 2023, with major cities recording double-digit reductions in homicides.

Preliminary figures for 2024 show further declines in violent crime, with a 17.5% drop in murders, a 7.1% decrease in rape, a 3.6% decline in aggravated assault, and a 7.8% reduction in robberies over the first three quarters of the year.

Violent crime dropped 1.7% from 2021 to 2022, 3% from 2022 to 2023, and 10.3% from the second quarter of 2023 to 2024. The murder rate dropped by 6.1% between 2021 and 2022, by 11.6% in 2023, and by 22.7% in 2024.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco praised the DOJ’s Violent Crime Reduction Strategy, which she said had made "historic progress" in addressing violent crime. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with law enforcement at all levels to achieve these results.

The DOJ's strategy targeted key drivers of violent crime, including gun violence and repeat offenders, while also focusing on building community trust and investing in prevention and intervention programs.

The report indicated that violent crime decreased in 62 of the 85 major cities studied, with murder rates falling in 64 cities. While no single cause can explain the trends, the report credits the strong partnership between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies as a major factor.

The DOJ’s focus on gun violence and repeat offenders, combined with advanced technologies and data-driven strategies, contributed to the decline in violent crime. Monaco concluded, “We are seeing returns on our efforts,” with violent crime on a downward trajectory after its peak during the pandemic.

As President Biden’s term ends and President-elect Trump prepares to take office, the DOJ’s final report highlights the administration’s progress in reducing violent crime over the past three years.

This article was reported by journalist Angelia.