Five Facts on Crime Rates in America
The Big Insight: Violent crime fell by one percent between 2020 and 2021, but that was after an increase of 5.2% between 2019 and 2020.
The FBI has released its statistics on violent crime in America in 2021, reporting a one percent drop in overall violent crime since 2020 but a 4.3% rise in murders. The bureau’s data from over the past decade show trends in large cities and smaller towns for a variety of offenses.
- Violent crime was up by 12% over the past decade nationwide, with murder and manslaughter up 26% and sexual assault up 38%.
Detroit, Memphis, and Milwaukee had the highest murder and aggravated assault totals among large cities reporting to the FBI’s new National Incident-Based Reporting System (which does not yet include several major cities like New York and Los Angeles).
- Robbery rates fell by 23% across the U.S. over the past decade.
While violent crime rates rose, burglary was down by 51% and larceny down 33%. There was, however, a 48% spike in motor vehicle theft.
- The violent crime rate in medium-sized cities was mostly stable.
In cities with 250,000-500,000 residents, violent crime rates were up just two percent over the past decade.
- Violent crime in towns with up to 100,000 residents was up 13% over the past decade.
By comparison, violent crime increased in small cities (population 100,000-250,000) by just three percent during this same period. Property crimes fell considerably in both the towns (down 33%) and the small cities (down 29%).
- U.S. states and municipalities spend about $140 billion per year on policing.
In inflation-adjusted dollars, this is up about seven percent over the past decade, and up 40% from 20 years ago. President Biden has proposed $32.2 billion in new federal spending to put “more police officers on the beat” through grants and community violence intervention programs.
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