Murders continue historic decline despite spikes in a few cities, study finds
Summary
The overall murder rate in the United States kept going down in the first half of 2026, continuing a long-term decline. However, some cities like San Francisco and Dallas saw increases in homicides compared to last year, according to a new study by the Council on Criminal Justice.Key Facts
- The national homicide rate in the U.S. declined from January to June 2026.
- 21 out of 30 cities surveyed showed an average 18% drop in homicides during this time.
- Eight cities, including San Francisco, Dallas, and Norfolk, saw increases in homicide rates compared to 2025.
- San Francisco’s homicide rate reportedly rose by 55%, but police reported only a small increase from 13 to 16 homicides.
- Dallas experienced a reported 30% rise in homicides in the study, but local police data do not fully agree with this figure.
- Other cities like Austin saw smaller increases, while cities including Denver, Chicago, and Charlotte saw single-digit rises.
- The study found nine types of crimes decreased overall, with the biggest drop in carjackings.
- Researchers noted no single reason explains the drop in murders but mentioned factors like technology changes and less alcohol abuse.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
