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Violent crime in Washington, D.C., has reached its lowest levels in over three decades, according to data released by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves. 

Total violent crime in the District dropped 35% in 2024 compared to the previous year, with significant reductions in homicides (down 32%), robberies (down 39%), armed carjackings (down 53%), and assaults with dangerous weapons (down 27%).

“These results reflect the strategy our office implemented to focus on the drivers of violence — gangs or crews involved in drug trafficking, carjackings, and armed robberies,” Graves said. “It takes time to develop these investigations and prosecutions, but this is the fruit of that labor — a reduction in violent crime that D.C. is now seeing.”

The strategy has centered on dismantling criminal crews that operate drug markets and contribute to violence in neighborhoods. After a drug crew operating near MLK Mellon was dismantled, violent crime in the area dropped 66% in the six months following the arrests and 56% in the two years after, compared to the preceding two years.

Officials stated that implementing Project Safe Neighborhoods in April 2022 has been a cornerstone of this effort. The program involves daily reviews of firearms arrests to determine if cases should be prosecuted in U.S. District Court or D.C. Superior Court. Since its inception, more than 150 gun offenders have been charged in federal court, and the program has contributed to higher conviction rates for gun-related crimes.

In 2024, more than 90% of arrests for violent crimes involving guns and nearly 70% of gun possession arrests were charged by prosecutors at the time of arrest. Convictions were secured in approximately 75% of these cases, reflecting a commitment to holding offenders accountable.

Graves noted the importance of targeting violent offenders rather than focusing on non-violent misdemeanors. 

“Targeting the relatively limited number of individuals responsible for driving gun violence is the most impactful thing that prosecutors can do,” he said, adding that proactive investigations are underway to further reduce violent crime in 2025.

In addition to the reduction in violent crime, property crime decreased by 11%, contributing to an overall crime reduction of 15% compared to 2023. 

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and MPD Chief Pamela Smith in December discussed the role of targeted policing strategies and new laws to hold repeat offenders accountable.

“Even if one resident feels unsafe in our community, there’s still more work for us to do,” Smith said. “We will continue to fight crime without stopping, without giving up, and without losing motivation.”

Meanwhile, Bowser dismissed suggestions that the falling crime rates might be attributed to national trends. 

“When crime goes up, blame the mayor. When crime goes down, the things we put in place couldn’t have anything to do with that,” Bowser said.

City officials said they remain optimistic that continued efforts will sustain and build upon the progress made in 2024. 

They added that proactive investigations and strengthened partnerships between law enforcement and prosecutors are expected to contribute to further declines in violent crime in the years ahead. 

“This is the beginning of what we can achieve when we focus on the core drivers of violence and work together as a community,” Graves concluded.