FactSentinel

Contrary to this widespread belief, crime rates in the United States have actually declined significantly over the past three decades. According to FBI Uniform Crime Reports and Bureau of Justice Statistics data, both violent crime and property crime rates peaked in the early 1990s and have fallen substantially since then. Violent crime rates dropped approximately 49% between 1993 and 2022, while property crime decreased by roughly 55% during the same period. Even accounting for year-to-year fluctuations, the long-term trend shows a dramatic downward trajectory.

The misconception that crime is constantly rising often stems from several factors. Media coverage tends to emphasize violent incidents and sensational crimes, creating an availability bias where people overestimate crime frequency based on what they see in news reports. Additionally, local crime spikes in specific cities or neighborhoods can create the impression of nationwide trends. Survey data consistently shows that Americans believe crime is increasing nationally, even during years when statistics show declines. This perception gap highlights the difference between actual crime data and public perception.

While certain types of crime have seen recent increases in specific years or locations, and data collection methods have evolved over time, the overall 30-year trend remains clear: crime rates are substantially lower today than they were in the early 1990s, making the claim of steady increases factually incorrect.