Violent crime rates rise in Cleveland in early 2026
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Violent crime rose in Cleveland in early 2026, bucking a nationwide decline that began after the pandemic-era crime spike.
Why it matters: Cleveland is an outlier among major U.S. cities.
- Data from 67 of the largest U.S. law enforcement agencies show violent crime fell across major categories during the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025.
- The quarterly reports collected by the Major Cities Chiefs Association have been a good measure of trends that are reflected in the annual FBI crime data released in the fall.
By the numbers: Homicides rose in Cleveland from 19 to 25, an increase of more than 30%.
- Aggravated assaults rose by more than 20%.
Yes, but: Both rapes and robberies fell by around 20%, in line with larger nationwide trends.
Context: These increases come after significant drops in local violent crime last year.
Zoom in: Some of the nation's biggest cities posted especially dramatic homicide declines in the first three months of 2026.
- Among those that saw sizable percentage drops in homicide were Washington, D.C. (64.7%), Philadelphia (54%), and Memphis (34.4%).
- New York City experienced a 31.7% drop in homicides during Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first months in office.
Between the lines: The new numbers complicate the political narrative around crime heading into the 2026 midterms. President Trump has repeatedly described major Democratic-led cities as gripped by violent crime.
- Data show many urban areas have become significantly safer over the last two years, with drops beginning in the second half of the Biden presidency and continuing under Trump.
Yes, but: The recovery remains uneven.
- Some cities still reported increases in certain violent crime categories, such as a 100% spike in homicides in San Diego, even as overall violence fell.
The intrigue: Police leaders also caution that crime trends can shift quickly heading into the summer months, when violence historically rises.
The bottom line: America's largest cities are continuing to get safer in 2026, even as crime remains one of the country's most politically potent issues.