The study found that, on average, the number of murders declined by 4 percent between 2021 and 2022 — a decrease of 242 homicides in 27 cities that reported data — though that rate remained 34 percent higher than it was in 2019. The report points out that the number of murders occurred about half the amount as during historical peak periods, in 1990 and 1991.
The homicide rate changes between cities varied greatly. 13 cities were included in the report. Homicides increased from 2021-2022. The range of homicides was from Houston which experienced a slight increase of less then 1% to Raleigh (N.C.) which witnessed a 47 percent increase. However, fourteen cities had either no changes or saw decreases in homicides. There was no change in murder rates in St. Louis and a reduction of 40 percent for Richmond, Va.
On average, the rate of robberies in 2022 increased by 5.5%, while that for nonresidential thefts rose 11 percent. Larcenies increased 8 percent. However, all of these crime rates remain lower than in 2019.
“In no case did we find crime rates returning to prepandemic 2019 levels,” Professor Rosenfeld stated. “Violent crimes still remain above those levels, and the property crimes, despite the increase, continue to remain below those levels.”
He noted that a rise in motor vehicle thefts was the most widespread trend across the cities they tracked — with a notable exception being Boston, which saw a 27 percent decline. The report showed that motor vehicle thefts rose by 59% between 2019 and 2022, as well as by 21% from 2021-2022. The report found that vehicle thefts rose more than twofold in eight cities; they increased by three times in Norfolk, Va.
