Homicide levels trending lowest in more than a century: Research

The U.S. is on track to reach a new historic low in the annual homicide rate in 2026, according to a new report released Thursday. 

The rate of reported homicides in the first half of 2026 was 18 percent lower than it was during the same period in 2025, according to data from 30 cities included in the Council on Criminal Justice’s (CCJ) report on nationwide crime trends. 

This percent change accounted for a total of 215 fewer homicides this year. 

The CCJ report at the end of last year estimated that the U.S. homicide rate in 2025 dropped to around 4 per 1,000 people. This would be the lowest rate since 1900, if confirmed by FBI data. The independent research center’s new report on crime statistics for the first half of this year indicates an improvement on this trend. 

Reported homicides are now 51 percent lower than they were from an all-time high in the first half of 2022. Carjacking, residential........

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