A new report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association shows the majority of U.S. cities whose law enforcement agencies provided preliminary data had lower violent crime figures between January through June this year compared to the same time period in 2023. 

The data represents figures for the first half of 2024 and comes after crime of almost every type saw a decrease in 2023, according to FBI data released earlier this year. 

What You Need To Know

  • A new report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association shows the majority of U.S. cities whose law enforcement agencies provided preliminary data had lower violent crime figures between January through June this year compared to the same time period in 2023
  • The data represents figures for the first half of 2024 and comes after crime of almost every type saw a decrease in 2023, according to FBI data released earlier this year 
  • When looking at all of the preliminary data provided from local law enforcement across the country combined, every category of violent crime saw a decrease overall compared to the first half of 2023
  • In a statement, MCCA told Spectrum News that while violent crime continues to “trend down” for most of its local law enforcement agencies, rates of homicides and aggravated assaults are still higher overall in the cities it tracks compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the homicide rate spiked

In the midyear comparison report, the Major Cities Chiefs Association or MCCA, an organization of police executives representing population centers across the U.S. and Canada, looked at preliminary data from local law enforcement agencies on homicides, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults in 69 American cities and counties for the first half of 2024. 

When looking at all of the preliminary data provided from local law enforcement across the country combined, every category of violent crime saw a decrease overall compared to the first half of 2023. In total, the cities and counties saw over 650 less homicides, over 1,400 less rapes, nearly 3,000 less robberies and over 7,500 less aggravated assaults from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2024 compared to the same time frame in 2023. 

Looking at the areas individually, only 15 of the 69 cities and counties represented in the data saw increases in homicides. About 21 areas reported an uptick in instances of rape and 21 reported increases in cases of robbery. About 19 saw an increase in aggravated assaults. 

In a statement, MCCA Executive Director Laura Cooper told Spectrum News that while violent crime continues to “trend down” for most of its local law enforcement agencies, rates of homicides and aggravated assaults are still higher overall in the cities it tracks compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the homicide rate spiked. Cooper added, however, that both rape and robbery had “sizable decreases.”

“The midyear numbers are encouraging but more work remains to get us to historic lows,” the statement concluded. 

Attorney General Merrick Garland lauded the figures from the MCCA in a statement on Monday as "another indicator of a substantial reduction in violent crime in major cities across the country."

"This updated data comes in the wake of last year’s historic drop in homicides nationwide and one of the lowest levels of violent crime in 50 years," Garland's sttaement continued. "The Justice Department’s work together with our partners to drive down violent crime is paying off."

The report comes just three months from November’s presidential election. In past recent election cycles, crime has been a significant issue, with Republicans often seeking to use the topic against their Democratic opponents. 

Before he dropped his bid for a second term and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden frequently pointed to falling crime rates in 2022 and 2023 to counter GOP attacks on Democrats being “soft on crime.” 

The preliminary data for the first half of 2024 could give Harris, who has leaned into her background as a former prosecutor and attorney general during her first three weeks as the Democrats’ candidate for president, more footing to do the same. 

Harris' campaign celebrated the news, as well as the news of lower numbers of encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, two lines of attack from Republicans against the Democratic candidate.

"Crime is down. Border crossings are down," said Harris campaign spokesman James Singer. "Donald Trump’s angry rants do not change the facts or the results. Under Trump, America was less safe, and we saw unprecedented violence, chaos and division. Right now, America is stronger and safer because of the work of Vice President Kamala Harris and nonpartisan public officials across the country. Violent crime is at record lows, the border is more secure, and unlike Donald Trump, the vice president is committed to enforcing the law, not breaking it.”

Although the largest city, Atlanta, in the major battleground state of Georgia saw a slight increase in homicides and rape in the first half of 2024 compared to the prior year. The areas of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Raleigh, both in the state of North Carolina, which Democrats are seeking to flip blue this year, saw increases in homicides.