Crime has remained a major concern for voters in recent election cycles. But a new report points to sharp declines in violent crime across several large U.S. cities.
Data collected by the Major Cities Chiefs Association from 66 law enforcement agencies show that homicides fell 17.3% between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026, compared with the same stretch in 2025. Robberies declined 13.3%, aggravated assaults dropped 4%, and reported rapes were down 3.8%.
Memphis recorded the largest overall reduction in violent crime, with a 29% decline. Tulsa saw a drop of nearly the same size, while Indianapolis reported a 24% decrease.
Tulsa had the steepest fall in homicides, down 71%. Homicides also declined 65% in Aurora, Colorado, and 59% in Newark, New Jersey.
Reported rapes fell by half in Buffalo, New York. The number was down 37% in Tulsa and 28% in Memphis.
Indianapolis has seen crime decline across all of its districts, the city police department’s public affairs office said. Officials pointed to several initiatives and partnerships, including a task force focused on taking illegal guns away from people who use them to commit crimes.
“The entire city benefits when crime goes down,” a department spokesperson said. “This isn’t something that benefits just one neighborhood or one group of people. It benefits everyone who lives, works, and visits Indianapolis.”
A recent review by the National Council on Criminal Justice examined possible reasons for the nationwide drop in homicides. Researchers cited proactive policing and deterrence efforts as potential factors. They also suggested that life returning to a more normal rhythm after the pandemic’s social and economic upheaval may have played a part.
Smaller communities are reporting low crime rates, too. Polk County, Florida, has reached its lowest crime levels in 54 years, Sheriff Grady Judd said.
“Our index crime, rapes, robberies, murders, thefts, grand thefts, burglaries, auto thefts are at historic lows in this county,” Judd said.
He credited the sheriff’s office’s tough-on-crime approach and its partnership with the local state attorney. Judd said the agency makes clear that people who commit crimes will be arrested.
“If you get online and solicit prostitution, we’re going to arrest you,” he said. “If you get online and human traffic or try to human traffic children or adults, we’re going to arrest you. If you are a sexual predator going after our children online, we’re going to arrest you and we’re going to send you to prison for a very long time.”
