ROCHESTER, N.Y. — New data shows the United States could see its lowest homicide rate in more than a century. The City of Rochester is included in the report.
A report from the Council of Criminal Justice found an 18% drop in the homicide rate for the first half of the year compared to 2025. If this trend continues, it would be the lowest level in more than 100 years.
In a pool that counted the number of homicides in 30 cities across the country from the first half of 2025 to the first half of 2026, 21 of the 30 cities recorded a homicide decrease, including a 76% drop in rates in Rochester.
“Murder and other crime rates are falling across the map, in cities with different political leadership, housing and economic conditions, policing and prosecution strategies, violence reduction models, and levels of federal enforcement activity,” said CCJ President and CEO Adam Gelb. “Local policies and programs surely matter, but the striking consistency of the decline suggests that macro-level forces are exerting enormous influence as well.”
The report also showed decreases in nine of 13 crime categories including carjackings, burglaries and assaults across cities with both Democratic and Republican leadership.
“As we continue to gain deeper understanding of the dynamics behind the nation’s crime trends, communities should invest in strategies that are supported by rigorous research and producing tangible results on the ground,” the report concluded. “For families who have lost loved ones to violence, even the continuing progress of 2026 is of little comfort. Keeping that in mind will help the United States stay on track toward a future of even greater public safety.”
The statistics can also be found on the Council on Criminal Justice website.
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