Indianapolis crime declines as criticism rises
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
State and federal politicians have repeatedly hammered Indianapolis as a city in crisis — even as violent crime continues to fall sharply across multiple categories.
Why it matters: The gap between rhetoric and reality has real consequences for Indy's reputation, and that reputation remains in the political crosshairs with recent criticisms of Marion County's ability to keep offenders in custody.
By the numbers: First-quarter crime data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association show double-digit percentage drops in Indianapolis homicides (-32.4%), rapes (-19.7%), robberies (-46.7%), and aggravated assaults (-44.6%) compared to Q1 2025.
- The encouraging start to the year follows criminal homicides dropping by 20% and non-fatal shootings dropping by 21% from 2024 to 2025.
- Overall, homicides in 2025 were down about 45% from the city's pandemic-era peak in 2021.
Zoom out: Data from 67 major U.S. law enforcement agencies follows a similar pattern, suggesting a systemic, nationwide trend.
- Across the country, homicides dropped 17.7%, robberies fell 20.4%, rapes declined 7.2% and aggravated assaults decreased 4.8%.
Yes, but: Year-over-year declines locally have not stopped the claims that Indianapolis is the root of all Central Indiana's public safety problems.
Zoom in: When former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was stabbed downtown in October 2025, Gov. Mike Braun and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith rushed to social media to blame city leaders — then deleted their posts after Sanchez was arrested and charged with felony battery.
- After a violent weekend last November, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita called for President Trump to deploy the National Guard to Indianapolis, saying it was "shameful that this is a regular occurrence and even more shameful that the leadership here refuses to do anything about it."
- In late May, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam publicly blamed Marion County's criminal justice system after a suspect with more than 30 criminal cases since 2020 was arrested for a violent carjacking in Carmel, writing that the city exports crime to surrounding counties.
- Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears pushed back, calling her framing "completely disingenuous" and noting the suspect's most recent conviction was in Hancock County, where a judge released him without additional jail time just four days before the carjacking.
- Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Jim Banks took aim at Mears on the Senate floor, pointing to the murder of 23-year-old recent IU grad Brett Scrogham in an Indy parking garage as an example of how "soft-on-crime policies are ruining this great city."
The latest: Hendricks County Prosecutor Loren Delp joined the fray this week, taking to Facebook to call for accountability from Marion County leaders while telling the story of an Indianapolis man who was at the center of a February 2025 police pursuit and crash that claimed the lives of a 2-month-old and a 3-year-old sibling.
- The post received support from Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman, who said he agreed with everything Delp and Banks had to say, while noting that it is not an IMPD problem but a systemic one.
Plus: During an Indiana State Police press conference last week, Braun said the state will continue to step in if Indianapolis and other cities can't bring crime under control.
What we're watching: Whether anything productive will come of the public spats.
- In the wake of Finkam's comments, it was announced that she and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett are teaming up to lead a regional public safety summit that will convene multiple times per year with mayors and police chiefs from across Central Indiana.
Go deeper: Summer in the City provides weekend program for teens