The year is expected to end with over 2, fewer murders than in With ticking down, the nation is poised to finish the year with its biggest annual drop in homicides on record, according to preliminary data from law enforcement agencies both large and small.
The drop in homicides comes as more than three-quarters of Americans say there is more crime in the U. Adding to that perception is the annual National Crime Victimization Survey published this month by the U. Bureau of Justice Statistics that found the number of violent crime victims nationwide climbed from Cities say the drop in homicides and other violent crimes can be attributed to expanded efforts to prevent crime, including working with community volunteers, targeting gun possession in high-crime areas and placing officers on foot and bike patrols.
It's really a national decline. Asher said his analysis is based on available preliminary crime data provided by law enforcement agencies. The challenge faced by local law enforcement to bring down the country's homicide numbers for the second consecutive year following a record jump in and a sizable increase in , was achieved this year with a major assist from the U.
Justice Department and bipartisan gun-control legislation passed by Congress, officials said. Monaco said the federal government has played the role of "force multiplier" in helping local law enforcement drive down the nation's murder rate by identifying and removing the most prolific shooters and violent offenders from the streets.
And with that tool, we've charged more than defendants with new gun trafficking and illegal trafficking," Monaco told ABC News. Smaller cities are also seeing dramatic decreases in homicides.
