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- calendar_today October 26, 2026
DOJ Survey Reports Major Drop in Violent Crime in 2025
The U.S. Department of Justice released a preliminary survey on Monday indicating that the rate of violent crime victimization in the country decreased by approximately 25% in 2025 compared to the previous year. According to the Justice Department, this represents the largest decline recorded since 1973.
Details of the National Crime Victimization Survey
The findings come from the National Crime Victimization Survey, which is conducted by the Census Bureau and released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The 2025 survey was based on responses from 101,980 household interviews across the nation, with 53% of eligible households participating. The survey includes interviews with people aged 12 or older and gathers data on the frequency, characteristics, and consequences of criminal victimization.
Significant Declines in Specific Crime Categories
The preliminary data reveals that an estimated 669,000 fewer violent crimes (excluding simple assaults) were committed in 2025 compared to 2024. Aggravated assault victimization experienced a substantial 31% decline, which translates to roughly 390,000 fewer incidents. Other notable findings include:
- Robbery decreased by 27% in 2025
- Property crime victimization dropped by 19%
- Burglaries and trespassing were down by 25%
- Motor vehicle theft incidents declined 29%
FBI Uniform Crime Report Corroborates Findings
The results from this crime survey support earlier data released through the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, which also showed violent crime rates plummeting in 2025. That report highlighted the country’s murder rate reaching a 20-year low, as well as notable decreases in other crime statistics:
- Aggravated assaults declined by 7.2%
- Rapes fell by 7.6%
- Robberies were down about 18.5%
Political Reactions and Unveiling of Crime Data
President Trump and his allies have cited the reduction in violent crime rates during their campaign efforts ahead of the midterm elections, aiming to aid Republicans in retaining control of Congress. In a move departing from previous traditions, the White House released findings from the FBI's Uniform Crime Report before a campaign event held in Long Island, New York. This event was attended by Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel.
Survey Methodology and Further Context
The crime survey’s methodology involves interviewing a nationally representative sample of households, questioning respondents about their experiences with crime victimization and its impacts. The Department of Justice and affiliated agencies emphasize these results as indicative of a significant improvement in public safety for 2025.
Source: cbsnews.com.
