What's Going On With Crime in America?

In 2023, the story of crime in the U.S. is a mix of good news and bad news. Let's start with the good: violent crimes are down a bit from where they were before the pandemic hit in 2019. That’s right, the lockdowns of 2020 sent homicide rates soaring by almost 30%, but things have calmed down since then. Bigger cities have seen some real progress. Violent crimes like rape and aggravated assault are way down compared to a few years ago. But hold on, there’s a catch: smaller towns aren't doing as well. They’re still seeing a slight increase in violent crimes.

Now for the not-so-good news: car thefts have skyrocketed! We’re talking about levels we haven’t seen since 2007. Experts warn that while these national trends give us a big picture, they might not show what’s happening right in your own backyard. Here's something to think about: the FBI’s latest report covers a whopping 94% of Americans, but it misses out on some data because not all agencies are on board with reporting. And guess what? Some systems are still switching over, so things might look different as time goes by.

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