Crime in Washington, D.C.
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:25:41 PM Wikipedia source
Crime in Washington, D.C., is directly related to the city's demographics, geography, and unique criminal justice system. The District's population reached a peak of 802,178 in 1950. Shortly after that, the city began losing residents, and by 1980 Washington had lost one-quarter of its population. The population loss to the suburbs also created a new demographic pattern, which divided affluent neighborhoods west of Rock Creek Park from the less well-off neighborhoods to the east. Despite being the headquarters of multiple federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the nationwide crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s greatly affected the city and led to large increases in crime. The number of homicides in Washington peaked in 1991 at 482, a rate of 80.6 homicides per 100,000 residents, and the city eventually became known as the "murder capital" of the United States. The crime rate started to fall in the mid-1990s as the crack cocaine epidemic gave way to economic revitalization projects. Neighborhood improvement efforts and new business investment have also started to transform neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River, leading to the first rise in the District's population in 60 years. By the mid-2000s, crime rates in Washington dropped to their lowest levels in over 20 years, to less than a fifth of record highs. From 2024-2025, the rate of violent crime in DC reached a 30-year low, according to data from the United States Attorney's office. In August 2025, President Donald Trump claimed without evidence that Washington, D.C. was "overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals". D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser countered Trump's claim, stating that violent crime in the DC area is at its lowest level in three decades.
Infobox
Tables
| Crime trends, 1995–2018 | ||||
| Year | Violent crime | Change | Property crime | Change |
| 1995 | 2,661.4 | - | 9,512.1 | - |
| 1996 | 2,469.8 | −7.1% | 9,426.9 | −0.9% |
| 1997 | 2,024.0 | −18% | 7,814.9 | −17% |
| 1998 | 1,718.5 | −15% | 7,117.0 | −8.9% |
| 1999 | 1,627.7 | −5.3% | 6,439.3 | −9.5% |
| 2000 | 1,507.9 | −7.4% | 5,768.6 | −10.4% |
| 2001 | 1,602.4 | 6.3% | 6,139.9 | 6.4% |
| 2002 | 1,632.9 | 1.9% | 6,389.4 | 4.1% |
| 2003 | 1,624.9 | −0.5% | 5,863.5 | −8.2% |
| 2004 | 1,371.2 | −15.6% | 4,859.1 | −17.1% |
| 2005 | 1,380.0 | 0.6% | 4,489.8 | −7.6% |
| 2006 | 1,508.4 | 9.3% | 4,653.8 | 3.7% |
| 2007 | 1,414.3 | −6.2% | 4,913.9 | 5.6% |
| 2008 | 1,437.7 | 1.7% | 5,104.6 | 3.9% |
| 2009 | 1,345.9 | −6.8% | 4,745.4 | −7.6% |
| 2010 | 1,241.1 | −7.8% | 4,510.1 | −5% |
| 2011 | 1,130.3 | −8.9% | 4,581.3 | 1.6% |
| 2012 | 1,177.9 | 4.2% | 4,628.0 | 1.0% |
| 2013 | 1,219.0 | 3.5% | 4,790.7 | 3.5% |
| 2014 | 1,244.4 | 1.9% | 5,182.5 | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 1,269.1 | 2.1% | 4,676.2 | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 1,205.9 | -5.3% | 4,802.9 | 2.4% |
| 2017 | 1,004.9 | -16.5% | 4,283.9 | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 995.9 | -0.7% | 4,373.8 | 2.3% |
| 1995 | 2,661.4 | - | 9,512.1 | - |
| 2018 | 995.9 | −62.5% | 4,373.8 | −54.0% |
| Year | Homicides |
| 1985 | 147 |
| 1986 | 194 |
| 1987 | 225 |
| 1988 | 369 |
| 1989 | 434 |
| 1990 | 472 |
| 1991 | 482 |
| 1992 | 443 |
| 1993 | 454 |
| 1994 | 399 |
| 1995 | 360 |
| 1996 | 397 |
| 1997 | 301 |
| 1998 | 260 |
| 1999 | 241 |
| 2000 | 239 |
| 2001 | 241 |
| 2002 | 264 |
| 2003 | 249 |
| 2004 | 198 |
| Year | Homicides |
| 2005 | 196 |
| 2006 | 169 |
| 2007 | 181 |
| 2008 | 186 |
| 2009 | 144 |
| 2010 | 132 |
| 2011 | 108 |
| 2012 | 88 |
| 2013 | 104 |
| 2014 | 105 |
| 2015 | 162 |
| 2016 | 135 |
| 2017 | 116 |
| 2018 | 160 |
| 2019 | 166 |
| 2020 | 198 |
| 2021 | 226 |
| 2022 | 203 |
| 2023 | 274 |
| 2024 | 187 |
References
- "DEA History Book, 1985 - 1990"https://web.archive.org/web/20060823024931/http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/history/1985-1990.html
- "District of Columbia Crime Rates 1960 - 2016"http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm
- "District of Columbia Crime Index Rates Per 100,000 Inhabitants"http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/us/13deecee.html?_r=1&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FPeople%2FW%2FWilliams%2C%20Anthony%20A.
- Washington Examinerhttp://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2010/12/dcs-population-tops-600k-marking-first-growth-60-years
- www.justice.govhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/violent-crime-dc-hits-30-year-low
- "Uniform Crime Reports"https://web.archive.org/web/20041024015252/https://www.fbi.gov//ucr/ucr.htm
- Crime in the United States, 2018https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/table-4
- Joanne Savage, "Interpreting 'Percent Black:' An Analysis of Race and Violent Crime in Washington, DC", Journal of Ethni
- Crime in the United States, 2018https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/table-1
- The Observer
- The Washington Post
- The Washington Timeshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/1/dc-homicides-drop-half-last-decade/
- "A Study of Homicides in the District of Columbia"https://web.archive.org/web/20120214222509/http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/frames.asp?doc=%2Fmpdc%2Flib%2Fmpdc%2Fpublications%2Fallreports%2Fhomicidereport.pdf
- Homicide Watch D.C., "92," [1], January 1, 2013http://homicidewatch.org/2013/01/01/92/
- "Crime in Prince George's is at lowest level since 1975, police say"https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040358/http://www.gazette.net/stories/01142010/prinnew162102_32559.php
- "Citywide Crime Statistics Annual Totals, 1993-2005"https://web.archive.org/web/20080522125604/http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1239,q,547256,mpdcNav_GID,1556.asp
- Hate Crime Statistics, 2008https://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2008/data/table_13dc.html
- Hate Crime Statistics, 2006https://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2006/table13dc.html
- Hate Crime Statistics, 2005https://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2005/table13washdc.htm
- The Washington Timeshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/19/race-based-hate-crimes-spike-in-dc/
- "2023 was District's deadliest year in more than two decades"https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2024/dc-crime-homicide-victims-shooting-violence/
- "More DC arrests prosecuted as US attorney pushes back on criticism"https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/more-dc-arrests-prosecuted-as-us-attorney-pushes-back-on-criticism/3448952/
- "Secure DC Crime Bill: Council unanimously passes legislation to reduce crime in the District"https://www.fox5dc.com/news/secure-dc-crime-bill-council-unanimously-passes-legislation-to-reduce-crime-in-the-district
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-08-11/trump-expands-l-a-military-tactics-by-sending-national-guard-to-washington-d-c
- MPDChttps://mpdc.dc.gov/dailycrime
- "Brief History of the MPDC"https://web.archive.org/web/20110823193617/http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1230,Q,540333,mpdcNav_GID,1529,mpdcNav,%7C31458%7C.asp
- chicagotribune.comhttps://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-georgetown-dc-story.html
- DC Historic Siteshttps://historicsites.dcpreservation.org/items/show/18
- washington.orghttps://washington.org/DC-information/washington-dc-history
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/11/AR2006071100720.html
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/20/AR2006102001031.html
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/12/AR2006071201785.html
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/15/AR2006111501632.html
- WUSA Channel 9https://web.archive.org/web/20130615211812/http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=72724&catid=158
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/07/AR2008060701806.html
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/10/AR2009071002750.html
- CNNhttps://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-presidency-dc-crime-08-11-25
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/12/trump-presidency-news-dc-crime/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/15/trump-dc-police-chief-dea
- CourtListenerhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71116258/district-of-columbia-v-donald-j-trump/
- "About the District of Columbia Courts"https://web.archive.org/web/20080509090112/http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/about/index.jsp
- "United States District Courts"https://web.archive.org/web/20081205020014/http://www.uscourts.gov/districtcourts.html
- "Attorney General Duties"https://web.archive.org/web/20040818080754/http://occ.dc.gov/occ/cwp/view,a,3,q,530960,occNav_GID,1522,occNav,%7C31705%7C,.asp
- "About Us"https://www.usdoj.gov/usao/dc/About_Us/index.html
- "United States Attorneys Mission Statement"https://www.usdoj.gov/usao/
- "Statement on the District of Columbia Attorney Act, H.R. 1296"https://web.archive.org/web/20081212030451/http://federalworkforce.oversight.house.gov/documents/20080424175551.pdf
- "Establishment of an Office of the District Attorney Advisory Referendum Approval Resolution of 2002"https://web.archive.org/web/20090206151350/http://dccouncil.washington.dc.us/images/00001/20020710134641.pdf
- "2007 Statistical Summary"https://web.archive.org/web/20080705113619/http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/docs/DCC2007AnnualReport-StatisticalSummary.pdf
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/20/AR2007102001106_pf.html
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/24/AR2008042403414.html
- "Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia - FY2009 Budget Request"https://web.archive.org/web/20090813044305/http://csosa.gov/budget/2009/fy09_csosa_summary_statement.pdf
- Corrections Todayhttps://web.archive.org/web/20080916004142/http://csosa.gov/Olipa/pubs/supervising_criminal_offenders_feb2006.pdf
- Pierre, Robert E. "N.C. Prison Doesn't Serve D.C. Inmates Well, Critics Say" (Archive). The Washington Post. October 14,https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/14/AR2007101401420.html
- Kruzel, John. "Visitation Slights: How Two Policies Stack the Deck Against D.C. Inmates" (Archive). May 22, 2013. Retriehttp://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2013/05/22/visitation-slights-how-two-policies-stack-the-deck-against-d-c-inmates/
- Fornaci, Philip (Director of the DC Prisoners' Project). "Federal Bureau of Prisons Oversight Hearing" (Archive). Subcomhttp://judiciary.house.gov/_files/hearings/pdf/Fornaci090721.pdf
- Fornaci, Philip (Director of the DC Prisoners' Project). "Federal Bureau of Prisons Oversight Hearing" (Archive). Subcomhttp://judiciary.house.gov/_files/hearings/pdf/Fornaci090721.pdf
- "Feds May Seek Death Sentence In Ky. Inmate Slaying"https://web.archive.org/web/20141213021008/http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2013/09/14/feds-may-seek-death-sentence-in-ky-inmate-slaying/
- Henri E. Cauvin, Overcrowding at D.C. youth detention center draws criticism, The Washington Post (January 21, 2010).https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/20/AR2010012004707.html
- "New Beginnings Youth Development Center Archived 2012-02-29 at the Wayback Machine." District of Columbia Department ofhttp://dc.gov/DC/DYRS/Youth+Services/DYRS+Facilities/New+Beginnings+Youth+Development+Center
- "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Maryland City CDP, MD"https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st24_md/place/p2451075_maryland_city/DC20BLK_P2451075.pdf
- "GR2009052900126.gif." The Washington Post. Retrieved on October 7, 2010.https://web.archive.org/web/20101108092215/http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2009/05/29/GR2009052900126.gif
- "District of Columbia 1960 to 2019"http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm
- "Court strikes down D.C. handgun law"https://web.archive.org/web/20080919223155/http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/03/09/gun.ban.ruling/index.html
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/26/AR2008062600615.html
- The Washington Posthttp://blog.washingtonpost.com/dc/2008/06/dc_attorney_general_all_guns_m.html