For the past year, Donald Trump has been saying that “homicides are skyrocketing” and the country is “breaking down” with violence even as the data told a much different story. Now, as crime keeps declining, even Trump is finally changing his tune. Data and analysis from the FBI, Council on Criminal Justice, and Major Cities Chiefs Association all show that, overall, crime went down significantly in 2024, with violent crime largely returning to pre-pandemic levels. The good news defies expectations: homicide rates in Baltimore, Detroit, and St. Louis declined even beyond pre-pandemic levels to historically low 2014 rates. Now, early data suggests that the crime drop is continuing under Trump’s second term. It is still too early in the year to talk with confidence about crime trends in 2025, but at least one researcher projects that 2025 is on track to follow 2024 in terms of continued declines in homicides and violent crime.
— Read on www.vera.org/news/crime-is-down-in-2025-trump-doesnt-deserve-credit
Tag: Research
State and Local Law Enforcement Training Academies’ Training Topics and Instructors, 2022 – Statistical Tables | Bureau of Justice Statistics
Description
This report describes the number and types of basic training curricula of state and local law enforcement training academies in the United States in 2022. Conducted periodically since 2002, the findings in the report are based primarily on BJS’s 2022 Census of Law Enforcement Training Academies (CLETA), the fifth iteration of the data collection.
— Read on bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/state-local-law-enforcement-training-academies-training-topics-instructors-2022-statistical-tables
POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING ANALYSIS – MILLBURN, NEW JERSEY
Access the report here:
www.twp.millburn.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/15888/Millburn-Police-Department-Staffing-Analysis
Third-Party Policing A Randomized Field Trial to Assess Drug Crime Reduction and Police-Hotel Partnerships
Read the report here: www.policeforum.org/assets/ThirdPartyPolicing.pdf
“Police Misconduct: Combatting the Complicity Crisis” by Eric Arnold
Abstract
This Comment explores the current state of police reform in the city of Chicago, with a special focus on the various oversight agencies currently in force. Chicago has a long history of police misconduct, and the city has tried to make changes over the years to restore the community’s trust in policing. The police reform movement became especially prevalent in recent years following the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald by a Chicago Police Officer in 2014. This Comment will show why the current mechanisms in place are insufficient to bring the needed change to the Chicago Police Department, and that the Chicago Police Department has shown time and time again they are unable to police themselves. While there have been some effective changes to the city’s policing efforts in recent years, considerable room for improvement remains.
— Read on scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc/vol115/iss1/4/
New Braunfels Police Staffing Study
Current State, Promising Practices, Needs Assessment, Recommendations
As Trump Abandons Police Reforms, Some Local Officials Vow to Press On | The Marshall Project
The Department of Justice said it’s pulling back from policing changes. Will cities and states have the tools to enforce them?
— Read on www.themarshallproject.org/2025/05/24/trump-police-new-york-minneapolis
Austin Police Department- Chief’s 100 day plan
It’s always an admirable endeavor for police chief come out with a plan and vision for the police department. I hope Austin Police Department is successful with its implementation. You can access the plan through the link below.
www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Police/Chief Davis/APD-100-Day-Plan-Results.pdf
Homicide Victimization in the United States, 2023 | Bureau of Justice Statistics
Highlights
In 2023:
The rate of homicide victimization was 5.9 per 100,000 persons. This marks a decrease from the rate of 6.7 per 100,000 in 2022.
The male homicide victimization rate (9.3 per 100,000 persons) was 3.5 times greater than the homicide victimization rate for females (2.6 per 100,000).
The homicide victimization rate for black persons (21.3 per 100,000 persons) was more than 6 times the rate for white persons (3.2 per 100,000).
The largest percentage of homicide victimizations (39%) was committed by someone outside the family but known to the victim.— Read on bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/homicide-victimization-united-states-2023