By Steve Neavling
The U.S. saw the sharpest drop in murders ever recorded in 2023, as homicides continued to decline from the pandemic-era spike, according to a report released Monday by the FBI.
The report, which is the FBI’s final crime data summary for the year, indicated approximately 2,500 fewer murders compared to 2022 — an 11.6% decrease, marking the largest annual decline since nationwide record-keeping began in 1960, according to crime analyst Jeff Asher, The New York Times reports.
The data also showed an overall reduction in violent crime, which fell by 3%, while property crime dropped by 2.6%. Burglaries were down 7.6%, and larceny declined by 4.4%. However, car thefts bucked the trend, increasing by more than 12% from the previous year.
Despite these improvements, crime continues to be a contentious issue in the presidential race. Former President Trump has characterized American cities as overrun with crime. Polling indicates that crime remains a top concern for Americans, even as the gap between public perception and actual crime rates persists.
A Gallup poll from last year revealed that 77% of Americans believed crime was rising, despite evidence to the contrary.
“Perceptions of safety aren’t shaped by statistics,” said Adam Gelb, CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice, a research group that also publishes crime reports. “They come from what people experience firsthand, see on TV, and engage with on soc
