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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

Homicide
32.78
Rape
25.52
Robbery
295.85
Aggravated assault
242.91
Total violent crime
597.06
Burglary
169.97
Larceny-theft
1584.91
Motor vehicle theft
509.76
Arson
not reported
Total property crime
3523.34

Tables

Year
Year
Crime trends, 1995–2018
Year
Crime trends, 1995–2018
Violent crime
Crime trends, 1995–2018
Change
Crime trends, 1995–2018
Property crime
Crime trends, 1995–2018
Change
1995
1995
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1995
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2,661.4
Crime trends, 1995–2018
-
Crime trends, 1995–2018
9,512.1
Crime trends, 1995–2018
-
1996
1996
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1996
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2,469.8
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−7.1%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
9,426.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−0.9%
1997
1997
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1997
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2,024.0
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−18%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
7,814.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−17%
1998
1998
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1998
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,718.5
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−15%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
7,117.0
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−8.9%
1999
1999
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1999
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,627.7
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−5.3%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
6,439.3
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−9.5%
2000
2000
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2000
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,507.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−7.4%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
5,768.6
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−10.4%
2001
2001
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2001
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,602.4
Crime trends, 1995–2018
6.3%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
6,139.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
6.4%
2002
2002
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2002
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,632.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1.9%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
6,389.4
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4.1%
2003
2003
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2003
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,624.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−0.5%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
5,863.5
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−8.2%
2004
2004
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2004
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,371.2
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−15.6%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,859.1
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−17.1%
2005
2005
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2005
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,380.0
Crime trends, 1995–2018
0.6%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,489.8
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−7.6%
2006
2006
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2006
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,508.4
Crime trends, 1995–2018
9.3%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,653.8
Crime trends, 1995–2018
3.7%
2007
2007
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2007
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,414.3
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−6.2%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,913.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
5.6%
2008
2008
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2008
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,437.7
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1.7%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
5,104.6
Crime trends, 1995–2018
3.9%
2009
2009
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2009
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,345.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−6.8%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,745.4
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−7.6%
2010
2010
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2010
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,241.1
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−7.8%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,510.1
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−5%
2011
2011
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2011
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,130.3
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−8.9%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,581.3
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1.6%
2012
2012
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2012
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,177.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4.2%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,628.0
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1.0%
2013
2013
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2013
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,219.0
Crime trends, 1995–2018
3.5%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,790.7
Crime trends, 1995–2018
3.5%
2014
2014
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2014
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,244.4
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1.9%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
5,182.5
Crime trends, 1995–2018
8.2%
2015
2015
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2015
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,269.1
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2.1%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,676.2
Crime trends, 1995–2018
-9.6%
2016
2016
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2016
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,205.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
-5.3%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,802.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2.4%
2017
2017
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2017
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1,004.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
-16.5%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,283.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
-9.5%
2018
2018
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2018
Crime trends, 1995–2018
995.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
-0.7%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,373.8
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2.3%
1995
1995
Crime trends, 1995–2018
1995
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2,661.4
Crime trends, 1995–2018
-
Crime trends, 1995–2018
9,512.1
Crime trends, 1995–2018
-
2018
2018
Crime trends, 1995–2018
2018
Crime trends, 1995–2018
995.9
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−62.5%
Crime trends, 1995–2018
4,373.8
Crime trends, 1995–2018
−54.0%
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%
1985
1985
Year
1985
Homicides
147
1986
1986
Year
1986
Homicides
194
1987
1987
Year
1987
Homicides
225
1988
1988
Year
1988
Homicides
369
1989
1989
Year
1989
Homicides
434
1990
1990
Year
1990
Homicides
472
1991
1991
Year
1991
Homicides
482
1992
1992
Year
1992
Homicides
443
1993
1993
Year
1993
Homicides
454
1994
1994
Year
1994
Homicides
399
1995
1995
Year
1995
Homicides
360
1996
1996
Year
1996
Homicides
397
1997
1997
Year
1997
Homicides
301
1998
1998
Year
1998
Homicides
260
1999
1999
Year
1999
Homicides
241
2000
2000
Year
2000
Homicides
239
2001
2001
Year
2001
Homicides
241
2002
2002
Year
2002
Homicides
264
2003
2003
Year
2003
Homicides
249
2004
2004
Year
2004
Homicides
198
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
2005
2005
Year
2005
Homicides
196
2006
2006
Year
2006
Homicides
169
2007
2007
Year
2007
Homicides
181
2008
2008
Year
2008
Homicides
186
2009
2009
Year
2009
Homicides
144
2010
2010
Year
2010
Homicides
132
2011
2011
Year
2011
Homicides
108
2012
2012
Year
2012
Homicides
88
2013
2013
Year
2013
Homicides
104
2014
2014
Year
2014
Homicides
105
2015
2015
Year
2015
Homicides
162
2016
2016
Year
2016
Homicides
135
2017
2017
Year
2017
Homicides
116
2018
2018
Year
2018
Homicides
160
2019
2019
Year
2019
Homicides
166
2020
2020
Year
2020
Homicides
198
2021
2021
Year
2021
Homicides
226
2022
2022
Year
2022
Homicides
203
2023
2023
Year
2023
Homicides
274
2024
2024
Year
2024
Homicides
187
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

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