Denver leads 29 U.S. cities in homicide decline, report finds
Why it matters: It's another datapoint suggesting Denver is getting safer — especially when it comes to violent crime. The city's homicide rate has dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade.
By the numbers: Homicides in Denver fell 45% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, per CCJ, a nonpartisan think tank.
Since January 2019, killings are down 31%.
Other major crimes also fell year-over-year:
Carjackings: -27%.
Car theft: -46%.
Robbery: -20%.
Residential burglary: -19%.
Non-residential burglary: -36%.
Yes, but: Not every trend is positive. Drug offenses rose 5%, and shoplifting ticked up 12%.
The big picture: CCJ's report analyzed monthly crime data from 42 cities going back to 2019. It found that most criminal activity has fallen below pre-pandemic levels — a major narrative reversal from the COVID-era crime spikes.
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14 hours ago
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Students crowd the front gate of Redondo Union High School, trying to leave campus after the administration ended the lockdown in December 2023. (Photo courtesy of Ethan Lerner) All three districts have since orchestrated new safety protocols or wellness programs to help address community concerns. For instance, MBUSD is refining strategies to address student behavior, by updating the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports framework. It is critical that these efforts are not in vain, because schools do not just help students grow academically but help them learn how to interact with others and build relationships, Howard said. This was impossible while students stared at a computer screen for hours on end, he added. 'Some students missed some of that crucial time to learn about how to develop social skills, how to deal with problem solving, and how to address conflicts with peers,' Howard said. 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The student, his family, his teachers, the students on campus, and the community…it impacts everyone.' Elizabeth Laffoon speaks out during a school board meeting on March 26, 2025. She addresses the school board with dozens of community members in attendance in the MBUSD board room. Related
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