Crime articles
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.
How does US law enforcement work? Who has jurisdiction?
Law enforcement in the US is a partnership between tens of thousands of agencies.
How many police officers die in the line of duty?
In 2024, over 100 officers died while on duty. Of those deaths, nearly 60% were purposeful killings, and 40% were accidental.
Who are school resource officers, and what do they do for school safety?
As of the 2019–2020 school year, there were 23,426 SROs in the United States. SROs perform various duties that can be categorized into investigative, enforcement, patrol and response, security, mentoring, and teaching activities.
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.
Data says domestic violence incidents are down, but half of all victims don’t report to police
Fewer victims reported the crime to authorities in 2019 than in 2010, according to a Bureau of Justice Statistics survey.
What is naloxone and how is it used in the US?
Tens of thousands die from opioid overdoses in the United States yearly — but medicines like Narcan can reverse overdoses and help reduce the toll.
How is crime measured in the US?
The FBI relied heavily on estimates for 2021 crime statistics due to low response rates from law enforcement agencies.
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.
What’s behind all these cases of unruly aircraft passengers?
Since 2020, the FAA has dealt with a record number of violent and unruly aircraft passengers — and has levied millions of dollars in fines. What’s going on in the sky and what are authorities doing about it?
Right to carry gun laws: Explained
Concealed and open carry gun laws differ between states.
How many rape kits are awaiting testing in the US? See the data by state.
The federal government spent over $1.3 billion to clear the rape kit backlog since 2011, but a USAFacts analysis uncovered thousands of rape kits awaiting testing in 2022.
Where are crime victimization rates higher: urban or rural areas?
Crime victimization rates are higher in urban than rural areas, but despite a rise in urban violent crime victimizations reported in 2021, rates have been falling for decades.