Cleveland sees drop in homicides, violent crime
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Violent crime plunged across America's biggest cities in 2025, including Cleveland, per new data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
Why it matters: If these staggering drops are reflected in broader national figures that'll come later, "the U.S. homicide rate in 2025 would be the lowest observed since at least 1900," the independent Council on Criminal Justice said.
🔎 Between the lines: Experts say a complex tangle of technological and social factors has curtailed homicides since the surge during COVID.
- Research credits "policing strategies and incarceration rates" and very long-term trends that include "mental health treatment and gun laws, the beautification of vacant lots and the phasing out of lead, which impairs brain development," the New York Times reports.
- "Improvements in life-saving medical care have also reduced the homicide rate."
The big picture: The Major Cities Chiefs Association report shows declines across every major violent-crime category in 2025 compared to 2024. The report covers 67 of the nation's largest police departments and confirms other studies that reported big declines last year.
- Cities report homicides overall fell 19%.
- Robberies dropped about 20%.
- Aggravated assaults were down nearly 10%.
Zoom in: Cleveland homicides dropped from 122 in 2024 to 108 in 2025, an 11.5% decrease.
- Rapes fell 25%. Robberies fell 21%. Aggravated assaults fell 11%.
Between the lines: If the phasing out of lead is a long-term indicator of lower crime, Cleveland got some good news this week.
- Childhood lead poisoning rates fell for the second year in a row and are now at their lowest level on record, per Signal Cleveland.
👀 The intrigue: The White House has changed its tone and begun touting the declines, while crediting its policies.