Crime articles
Is teen drug and alcohol use declining?
Teen substance use declined over time; vaping remained most common, with 33.8% of high schoolers in 2023, down 16.3 points from 2019.
What is the crime rate in the US?
In 2024, for every 100,000 people, the violent crime rate was 359 and the property crime rate was 1,760. Simply speaking, violent crimes are committed against people, property crimes are not. These crime rates do not include every violent and property crime, but rather four violent offenses and three property offenses that have been tracked since 1929.
How many people were deported from the US?
1.09 million in 2023. The Department of Homeland Security defines deportation as the removal or return from the United States of a person that is not a US citizen. However, a broader term, “repatriation,” can be used, which includes COVID-19 related expulsions from the US.
What does the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) do?
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a subdivision of the US Department of Justice responsible for enforcing the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States. The agency aims to reduce the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets. It also works to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations and collaborates with other agencies to combat drug-related crimes. It was established in 1973.
What does the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) do?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a subdivision of the US Department of Justice responsible for investigating and enforcing federal laws, protecting and defending the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, upholding and enforcing the criminal laws of the United States, and providing leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international partners. The FBI also focuses on cybercrime, public corruption, civil rights violations, and other major crimes. It was established in 1908.
What does the Department of Justice (DOJ) do?
The Department of Justice (DOJ, Justice Department) is an executive branch agency responsible for enforcing federal laws and ensuring public safety. Its functions include prosecuting criminal and civil cases, overseeing federal law enforcement agencies, managing federal prisons, upholding civil rights, and issuing justice-related grants. It was established in 1870.
What does the Secret Service (USSS) do?
The US Secret Service (USSS) is a subdivision of the Department of Homeland Security responsible for safeguarding the nation's financial infrastructure and payment systems, as well as protecting national leaders, visiting heads of state and government, designated sites, and National Special Security Events. The agency's dual mission includes investigating and preventing financial crimes such as counterfeiting, credit card fraud, and cybercrime, while also ensuring the security of the President, Vice President, their families, and other high-profile officials. It was established in 1865.
What does the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) do?
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is a subdivision of the US Department of Justice responsible for enforcing federal laws related to the regulation of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives, and arson. The agency's primary mission is to protect communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. It was established in 1972.
What does the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) do?
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent foreign intelligence agency. Its primary mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate information to the president and other policymakers to help safeguard national security. The CIA conducts covert operations and gathers intelligence on foreign entities to avert threats and inform governmental decisions. It was established in 1947.
How many people die from gun-related injuries in the US each month?
An estimated 2,300 in September 2025, the most recent month for which data is available. This includes homicides, suicides, accidents, and other incidents where a shooting was considered the primary cause of death.
How many people are in prisons in the US?
About 1.25 million at the end of 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. This number is up 2% from 2022 and includes anyone under state or federal jurisdiction. Prisoners sentenced to one or more years — usually for a felony conviction — make up 96.5% of this group, and the remainder includes people who are serving shorter sentences or awaiting sentencing.
Which cities have the highest murder rates?
St. Louis city, Missouri, had higher murder rates in its home county than any other major city.
Which states have the highest murder rates?
Mississippi’s homicide rate, the highest in the nation, is 14 times that of New Hampshire, the lowest.
How many cyberattacks occur in the US?
Over the past five years, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received an annual average of 863,000 cyberattack complaints.
How many states use private prisons?
More than half of states used private prisons in 2023, but they housed less than 10% of all inmates nationwide.
What FBI data says about law enforcement use-of-force
FBI data offers some insight into when use-of-force incidents happen and what happens when they do.
What is considered a mass shooting?
The FBI defines an active shooter as an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area, but the definition of mass shooting is less clear.
Which states have the highest and lowest crime rates?
Crime rates in the US hit record lows in 2024, while Hawaii saw the nation’s largest surge: violent crime was up 16.4%, and property crime was up 16.6%.
Which cities have the highest and lowest crime rates?
In 2024, violent and property crime rates were at their lowest levels in at least 48 years, having fallen by more than half since 1991.
How have property crime rates changed over time?
The national property crime rate decreased in 2024 to its lowest level in at least 48 years — the largest single year drop in that time.