Key Takeaways
The United States is experiencing an unprecedented surge in violent crime.
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According to the latest updates from the US Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey, we are witnessing record levels of violent crime.
Incidents of urban violence have seen an uptick.
A significant portion of criminal activities goes unreported to authorities.
From 2020 to 2024, there has been an increase in rates of intimate partner violence, violence from strangers, and violent acts involving weapons.
Notably, the rate of violent incidents, excluding simple assaults, has risen among individuals aged 50 to 64, and has doubled among households earning $200,000 or more.
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Author
Leonard Adam Sipes, Jr.
Crime in America.Net- “Providing Clear and Trusted Crime Data.”
Cited by numerous organizations including The Associated Press, USA Today, A&E Television, the nationally syndicated Armstrong Williams Television Show, various Justice Department documents, US Supreme Court briefs, C-SPAN, the National Institute of Health, academic libraries, and many other publications.
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For a detailed overview of crime trends in recent years, visit Violent and Property Crime Rates In The U.S.
Important Note
There is a notable distinction between reported crimes documented by the FBI (with the majority of criminal acts remaining unreported) and total crime figures gathered by the updated USDOJ National Crime Victimization Survey.
Important Note
Readers are encouraged to access the full report and examine the footnotes accompanying the charts for insights into statistical relevance (which signifies that observed changes are substantial enough to be unlikely due to chance).
Overview
My recollection of the significant rise in violence rates while examining the National Crime Victimization Survey for 2022 shows an increase from 16.5 to 23.5 per 1,000 individuals. Having monitored the NCVS for many years, I found this one of the most significant spikes in violence recorded in our nation’s history—an alarming shift.
Historically, fluctuations in the survey have been marginal, with some exceptions like the notable 28 percent spike from 2015 to 2018.
The 2022 NCVS indicated a staggering 44 percent rise in violent crime, according to analyst Jeff Asher, The Marshall Project, and ChatGPT.
According to a September 12, 2024 press release from the US Department of Justice, referencing the new 2023 report, “Data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) suggest that in 2023, the rate of nonfatal violent victimization was 22.5 per 1,000 individuals aged 12 or older, which was similar to the 2022 rate of 23.5 per 1,000.”
The most recent NCVS survey for 2024 indicates that violent crime rates remain stable.
This implies persistently high rates of violence across 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Urban violent crime rose in 2024 from 29.6 to 34.0 per 1,000. “Urban” refers to central cities with populations over 50,000 within metropolitan areas.
While many expected a decline in violent crime following the 44 percent surge in 2022, the data for 2023 and the latest findings for 2024 show persistent rates of violence.
America has entered a new era of heightened criminal violence.
50 Years of NCVS Data
The subsequent report originates from the Bureau of Justice Statistics at the US Department of Justice, relying on the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).
This extensive survey, initiated in 1973, was founded on the principle that most crimes go unreported to law enforcement. The understanding within the policing and criminological communities was that the true crime landscape is obscure without such data.
I have served as the senior specialist for crime prevention and statistics at the Department of Justice’s clearinghouse, devoting time working with Bureau of Justice Statistics experts to discuss the NCVS and how to effectively communicate its findings.
Even after the recent NCVS release, mainstream media seem to overlook this vital report. Would the same be true if federal statistics on health, jobs, or the economy were ignored? It would be deemed a gross oversight, yet essential information regarding crime remains largely unreported.
The US Census Bureau regards the NCVS as the country’s foremost account of criminal victimization.
Despite the media’s reliance on crimes reported to law enforcement through the FBI, it is crucial to acknowledge that a significant majority of crime goes unreported. Recent FBI figures indicate yearly reductions in violent crime of 3-4 percent.
Many criminologists argue that exclusively relying on reported crime data is a limited approach, which may present a distorted or inaccurate depiction of crime.
For perspective, about 80 percent of what constitutes crime involves property offenses, yet only 30 percent of these incidents are reported to authorities.
Discrepancy Between FBI and NCVS Figures
The National Crime Victimization Survey documented approximately 20 million crimes, while the FBI’s reported figures reveal around 14 million crimes reported to law enforcement. Furthermore, around 24 million instances of identity theft were recorded by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 21,403 specific identity theft complaints.
Reasons Victims Avoid Reporting Crimes
Most violent crimes are perpetrated by acquaintances, leading victims to view such incidents as personal matters. Regarding property crimes, victims often doubt that law enforcement can effectively identify offenders, discouraging them from filing reports.
Chart (click to enlarge)
An expansive market in personal security services has emerged, capitalizing on public fear of crime. Firearm ownership has surged, leading to estimates of around 400 million firearms in private hands.
It’s essential to recognize that just because a crime remains unreported doesn’t diminish the trauma experienced by victims or the financial investments made for personal safety.
As a former police officer, I encountered individuals who relocated due to property crimes or general crime rates in their neighborhoods. Studies indicate that crime is a considerable factor influencing people’s decision to move.
Reporting Rates: Only 13 Percent of Urban Sexual Assaults Reported
Crime reporting varies annually. A recent analysis highlighted that:
Roughly 38% of violent incidents in urban settings were reported to the police—lower than reporting rates in suburban (43%) and rural (51%) areas, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics from the USDOJ.
Victimization reporting for rape and sexual assault in rural locations (52%) was nearly four times higher compared to urban areas (13%), and about double than reported in suburban areas (29%).
Victims of simple assault reported higher rates in suburban (39%) and rural areas (46%) compared to urban areas (32%), with simple assaults likely accounting for roughly 55–60 percent of overall violent victimizations, as per ChatGPT.
Robbery reporting was lower in suburban (49%) than urban (63%) regions, but no statistical differences were noted in robbery rates reported across urban and rural areas.
The 44 Percent Surge: A Rise in Consistent Violent Crime Rates Amid FBI Reports of Declining Rates
There is ongoing discourse around crime and public apprehension in the United States. Violent incidents reported to authorities are showing a downward trend, particularly in urban regions.
Gallup surveys and other sources indicate near-record levels of fear surrounding crime.
The latest FBI data suggests an estimated 4.5 percent decline in violent crime for 2024, while 2023 showed about a 3.0 percent drop compared to 2022.
These decreases, though welcome, warrant cautious optimism, especially considering homicides spiked by 50 percent and aggravated assaults jumped by 36 percent from 2019 to 2022, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
Urban Violence Trends
The current discourse in 2025 revolves around urban crime, which reports substantial decreases in reported violent crime since 2022. Contrary to this, the National Crime Victimization Survey indicates urban crime increased from 29.6 per 1,000 in 2023 to 34.0 in 2024.
Bureau of Justice Statistics Report
The Bureau of Justice Statistics in the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs released Criminal Victimization on September 29, 2025. This report delivers official estimates regarding nonfatal criminal victimizations as both reported and unreported to law enforcement from the NCVS.
This is the 52nd report in a series commencing in 1973, encompassing statistics on nonfatal violent crimes (including rape, robbery, and assaults) alongside property crimes. While it provides characteristics regarding crimes and victims, it does not account for retail or corporate crimes, with identity theft addressed in a separate report.
Murders are not included since they do not allow for victim interviews.
Violent Victimization Statistics
Overall, there were 6.7 million incidents of violent victimization among individuals aged 12 or older in the United States for 2024.
This figure did not significantly differ from the count in 2023 but was higher than the reported number from 5 years prior, in 2020 (4.6 million).
In 2024, the rate of violent victimization was 23.3 incidents per 1,000 individuals aged 12 or older, showing no significant change from 2023. There were also no notable variations in the rates for specific categories of violent crime during this period.
There are observable increases from 2020 to 2024 in rates of intimate partner violence (from 1.7 per 1,000 individuals aged 12 and older in 2020 to 2.7 per 1,000 in 2024), stranger-related violent victimization (from 7.1 to 10.8 per 1,000), and violent crime involving weapons (from 3.4 to 5.4 per 1,000).
Chart (click to enlarge)
Property Victimizations
A round 13.1 million property victimizations occurred in 2024, comparable to the previous year. The total number of property victimizations for households in the U.S. also stood at 13.1 million in 2024, which was consistent with 2023 but greater than the count five years prior in 2020 (12.1 million). Property crimes consist of burglary, trespassing, motor vehicle theft, and other household thefts.
The property victimization rate remained stable from 2023 to 2024 (97.6 incidents per 1,000 households), aligning with the rate in 2022. There were no significant changes identified in specific types of property victimizations from 2023 to 2024.
The rate of motor vehicle theft escalated from 4.3 per 1,000 in 2020 to 6.3 per 1,000 in 2024.
Violence Trends Among Older Adults and Higher-Income Households
Rates of violent victimization (excluding simple assault) rose for individuals aged 50 to 64 during 2024.
From 2023 to 2024, the violent victimization rates also surged for individuals aged 35 to 49 (21.2 to 27.1 per 1,000) and for those in households making $200,000 or more (15.7 to 22.1 per 1,000).
Violent victimization rates according to sex, race or Hispanic origin, and marital status showed no substantial changes from 2023 to 2024.
From 2023 to 2024, the violent victimization rate excluding simple assaults for those ages 50 to 64 increased from 6.2 to 9.1 per 1,000, as did rates for households earning over $200,000 (from 4.0 to 8.0 per 1,000).
Conversely, rates for households earning between $25,000 and $49,999 dropped from 10.2 per 1,000 to 6.5 per 1,000.
Crime Reporting Trends: Significant Annual Increases for Some Offenses
About 48% of violent victimizations were reported to law enforcement in 2024, with no significant differences from the previous year.
However, the reporting rates for rape or sexual assault saw a significant decline, decreasing from 46% in 2023 to 24% in 2024.
A higher percentage of robbery incidents were reported in 2024 (73%) compared to 2023 (42%).
Additionally, the reporting percentages for aggravated assaults, violent crimes excluding simple assaults, domestic violence, and violence involving weapons all showed increases from 2023 to 2024.
In 2024, 30% of property victimizations were reported to law enforcement, a figure that remained unchanged from 2023, with no significant variations observed in the reporting of specific property crime categories between 2023 and 2024.
Firearm Victimization Reporting: 75% of Cases Reported in 2024, 10% Involved Firearms
Of the approximately 6.7 million violent incidents in 2024, about 660,000 cases (10%) involved the use of a firearm, a figure that remained consistent with 2023. Firearm-related victimizations are categorized as instances where the assailant either possessed, displayed, or utilized a firearm during the crime.
In 2024, about 75% of firearm victimizations were reported to the police, echoing the reporting rates found in 2023.
Demographic Insights on Offenders and Victims
Examining the demographic traits of both victims and perceived offenders in violent events reveals notable patterns. In 2024, the distribution of incidents involving male and female victims was roughly proportional to their representation in the U.S. population.
Violent incidents involving male offenders represented 76% of incidents, exceeding the male proportion in the population, while female offenders constituted 19% of incidents, which is less than half their population share.
In 2024, incidents involving victims from Asian or Native Hawaiian backgrounds were underrepresented (4%) compared to their population share (7%).
White offenders accounted for 47% of violent incidents, which is less than their population share (60%), whereas black offenders represented 28% of violent incidents, exceeding their population share (12%).
Victims aged 18 to 29 were involved in 27% of the incidents, surpassing their demographic representation (18%), while victims (61%) or offenders (66%) aged 30 and older made up a smaller share relative to their population proportion (73%).
Based on victim perceptions, more violent acts against white victims were committed by white offenders (1,706,750 incidents) compared to those committed by black offenders (57,370 incidents). Conversely, a greater number of violent crimes against black victims were perpetrated by black offenders (402,960 incidents).
Alongside the overall prevalence of violent crime, 2024 saw higher rates of persons aged 12 or older victimized by rape, sexual assault, aggravated assault, simple assault, and violent crime excluding simple assaults compared to five years earlier, in 2020.
Between 2020 and 2024, increases in stranger violence (from 0.54% to 0.77%) and violent crime with weapons (from 0.28% to 0.36%) were also observed.
In 2024, 416,580 individuals experienced one or multiple victimizations by intimate partners, exceeding figures from 2023 (296,260).
Utilization of ChatGPT for Fact-Checking
This article underwent fact-checking with ChatGPT, which provided recommendations to enhance accuracy and clarity.
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Additional Information
Appendix
The findings presented here are derived from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), an annual self-report survey administered throughout the year. Annual estimates are grounded in the number and characteristics of crimes respondents suffered within the previous six months, exclusive of the month they were interviewed. Thus, the 2024 survey encompasses incidents from July 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, using March 15, 2024, as the midpoint of this reference period. The analyses categorize crimes by the year of the survey rather than the year in which criminal acts occurred. To facilitate reliable longitudinal comparisons, this report scrutinizes only NCVS data gathered post the survey’s 1993 redesign. Since the NCVS relies on self-reported data, it is crucial to recognize that estimates may exclude victimizations not disclosed to NCVS interviewers.
