Homicides fell 35% in SF during first half of 2025
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Homicides fell by 35% in San Francisco during the first six months of 2025 compared to the same time last year, continuing a downward trend in overall violent crime, according to new data from a law enforcement organization.
The big picture: The preliminary figures from the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), a measure of trends that are generally reflected in annual FBI crime data released a year later, highlight decreasing crime rates after pandemic-era spikes.
By the numbers: The San Francisco Police Department reported 11 homicides in the first half of 2025 compared to 17 during the same period in 2024, per the MCCA.
- Similar declines were documented for rape (down 53%), robberies (down 27%) and aggravated assault (down 13%).
Between the lines: San Franciscans have long advocated for criminal justice reform, but public drug use and disorderly streets have bolstered the desire among some for a tougher-on-crime platform.
Reality check: Reported homicides have steadily dropped in recent years and reached their lowest point in decades last year.
Zoom out: Reports from 68 other law enforcement agencies show a 19% drop in homicides in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to MCCA data.
- An Axios analysis found that Denver, Honolulu, Orlando, Portland and Tampa all had a 50% or more decrease in homicides during that period.
- Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Seattle all had declines in homicides of more than 30%.
Context: Violent crime ticked up nationwide early in President Biden's term, but reports show it's dropped significantly since then as law enforcement agencies responded to the pandemic surge and improved data collection.
San Francisco recently opened its first restorative justice center in the SoMa to support formerly incarcerated people, survivors of domestic violence and youth diversion efforts.
- Community Works aims to curb incarceration rates and alleviate impacts on low-income communities of color by prioritizing healing and accountability over punitive measures.