Adam Gelb reports a historic decline in national homicide rates as 21 of 30 surveyed cities see murders drop by 18%

Adam Gelb, president and CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice, reported that the national homicide rate reached a historic low in 2025 and continued to fall through the first half of 2026. The analysis showed that 21 of the 30 major cities surveyed experienced an average 18% decrease in murders compared to the same period in 2025. The decline suggests that macro-level forces, such as technological advances and a nationwide decrease in alcohol abuse, are influencing crime rates across various political and economic landscapes. While many cities saw significant improvements—including Lincoln, Nebraska, which recorded zero homicides—eight cities, such as Norfolk, Virginia, and San Francisco, saw spikes in deadly violence. Local law enforcement agencies have occasionally disputed the specific percentages of the report. For instance, the San Francisco Police Department noted a smaller increase than the study suggested, while Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot highlighted that the city's murder rate in 2025 was the lowest in four decades.

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