Crime in Baltimore

{{Short description|None}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} {{main|Crime in Maryland|Crime in the United States}}{{Infobox UCR |city_name=Baltimore |year=2025 |homicide={{#expr:134/585708*100000 round 1}} |forcible_rape={{#expr:269/585708*100000 round 1}}** |robbery= |aggravated_assault={{#expr:4897/585708*100000 round 1}} |violent_crime={{#expr:8397/585708*100000 round 1}} |burglary={{#expr:3350/585708*100000 round 1}} |larceny_theft= |motor_vehicle_theft= |property_crime={{#expr:17919/585708*100000 round 1}} |source_url=https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjcyZDY5NWYtNTBlZS00OTg0LTgyNDQtOWYwMDEyOGI5Y2M1IiwidCI6IjMxMmNiMTI2LWM2YWUtNGZjMi04MDBkLTMxOGU2NzljZTZjNyJ9&pageName=ReportSectionb1fa0cb3c370416927ba |source_name=Baltimore City |arson = {{#expr:96/585708*100000 round 1}} |notes=** Legacy definition<ref name=UCR2015>{{cite web|title=FBI|url=https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/rape-addendum/rape_addendum_final}}</ref> }} The American city of Baltimore, Maryland, has struggled with crime rates above national averages. Violent crime spiked after the death of Freddie Gray on April 19, 2015, which sparked riots and an increase in murders.<ref name="NYT 2015">{{cite web |title=West Baltimore’s Police Presence Drops, and Murders Soar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/13/us/after-freddie-gray-death-west-baltimores-police-presence-drops-and-murders-soar.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="NYT 2019">{{cite web |title=The Tragedy of Baltimore |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/magazine/baltimore-tragedy-crime.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> The city recorded 348 killings in 2019, a number second only to the number recorded in 1993 when the population was nearly 125,000 higher.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-2019-homicide-final-count-20200101-jnauuumukbdh3edsyypspsm3he-story.html |title=2019 closes with 348 homicides in Baltimore, second-deadliest year on record |date=January 1, 2020|work=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref> In recent years the city has seen a sharp decrease in homicides, recording 201 in 2024, the lowest number since 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-01 |title=Baltimore records historic reduction in homicides in 2024, but still ‘too many’ killings |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/01/01/baltimore-homicide-reduction-2024/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Crime statistics == Historically, Baltimore's level of violent crime has been much higher than the national average. Homicides initially peaked in early 1970s when the city, like many others in the nation, saw an influx in cheap heroin from Mexico and elsewhere.<ref name="WAPO 1992"/> These numbers declined slowly in the next seven years before increasing again with the advent of crack cocaine.<ref name="WAPO 1992"/> In 2009, a total of 1,318,398 violent crimes were reported nationwide across the United States, equivalent to a rate of 0.4 incidents per 100 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucrdatatool.gov/Search/Crime/State/RunCrimeOneYearofData.cfm|title=Estimated crime in 2009|publisher=FBI Uniform Crime Reporting|access-date=March 20, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2011, the Baltimore Police Department reported 196 killings, marking the first time the city had fewer than 200 killings since 1978.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/01/01/baltimore-sees-lowest-homicide-count-since-1978 |title=Baltimore Sees Lowest Homicide Count Since 1978 |date=January 1, 2012|publisher=WJZ-TV |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2012/01/01/baltimore-has-fewer-than-200-killings-for-first-time-in-decades/ |title=Baltimore has fewer than 200 killings for first time in decades |date=January 1, 2012 |work=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref> That number is far lower than the peak homicide count of 353 in 1993.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/11/11/46-slayings-in-41-days-push-homicide-rate-up/ |title=46 slayings in 41 days push homicide rate up |date=November 11, 1994 |work=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref> The drop in 2011 was significant, when measured by the number of homicides, but the homicide rate was in the same range as the late 1980s, when Baltimore's population was 130,000 higher. City leaders credited their sustained focus on repeat violent offenders and an increased community engagement for the continued drop, reflecting a nationwide decline in crime.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/01/01/baltimore-sees-lowest-homicide-count-since-1978 |title=Baltimore Sees Lowest Homicide Count Since 1978 |date=January 1, 2012 |publisher=WJZ-TV |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref>

Baltimore's decline in the murder rate was short-lived, with 219 and 235 homicides in 2012 and 2013, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citiesjournal.com/baltimore-passes-curfew-for-youth |title=Baltimore Passes Curfew For Youth |publisher=CitiesJournal.com |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/07/baltimore-homicides_n_4233569.html |title=Baltimore Marks 200th Homicide Of 2013 |date=November 7, 2013 |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref> Baltimore's jump in homicides in 2013 defied regional and national trends.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2014/01/02/baltimores-jump-in-homicides-in-2013-defies-national-trends |title=Baltimore's jump in homicides in 2013 defies national trends |date=January 2, 2014 |publisher=Baltimore Brew |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/blog/bal-new-fbi-statistics-baltimore-no-5-in-murder-rate-20141110-story.html |title=New FBI statistics: Baltimore No. 5 in murder rate |date=November 10, 2014 |work=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref>

Following the death of Freddie Gray on April 19, 2015, the city experienced civil unrest for 17 days with widespread violence, arson, and looting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore Enlists National Guard and a Curfew to Fight Riots and Looting |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/us/baltimore-freddie-gray.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> On July 10, 2015, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake fired Police Commissioner Anthony Batts, saying his presence had become a distraction in a city that needs to focus on ending a dramatic spike in homicides.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake fires Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts|date=July 10, 2015 |work=The Baltimore Sun|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-batts-fired-20150708-story.html}}</ref> The city took steps to quell the increased violence by seeking assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal agencies, including embedding FBI agents in the city's police homicide unit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Federal agents to embed with Baltimore homicide cops to quell unprecedented violence|date=August 2, 2015|work=The Baltimore Sun|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-ci-violence-20150802-story.html}}</ref> Baltimore had seen 211 murders as of August 19, 2015, which equaled the total number of murders that occurred in Baltimore in all of 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baltimore records 211th homicide, equaling the total for 2014|date=August 19, 2015|work=The Baltimore Sun|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/blog/bs-md-ci-211-homicides-20150819-story.html}}</ref> On November 13, 2015, the number of murders for the year reached, and the next day surpassed, 300 for the first time since 1999.<ref>{{cite news|title=Per capita, Baltimore reaches its highest-ever homicide rate|date=November 17, 2015|work=The Baltimore Sun|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-homicide-per-capita-20151117-story.html|access-date=November 23, 2015|archive-date=October 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011085419/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-homicide-per-capita-20151117-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In total Baltimore recorded 344 homicides in 2015, at that time a number second only to the 353 homicides recorded in 1993 when the population was 100,000 higher.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore City Records 344 Homicides In 2015 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/baltimore-city-records-344-homicides-in-2015/ |website=CBS News |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> At the time this was the highest murder rate on a per capita basis ever recorded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-deadliest-year-20160101-story.html|title=Deadliest year in Baltimore history ends with 344 homicides|first=Kevin|last=Rector}}</ref> In the years that followed Baltimore continued to see an increase in murders and violent crime.<ref name="NYT 2019"/>

In an interview in ''The Guardian'', on November 2, 2017,<ref>Gately, Gary (November 2, 2017). [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/02/baltimore-murder-rate-homicides-ceasefire "Baltimore is more murderous than Chicago. Can anyone save the city from itself?"] ''The Guardian''.</ref> David Simon, himself a former ''The Baltimore Sun'' police reporter, ascribed the most recent surge in murders to the high-profile decision by Baltimore state's attorney, Marilyn Mosby, to charge six city police officers following the death of Freddie Gray, after he fell into a coma while in police custody in April 2015. "What Mosby basically did was send a message to the Baltimore police department: 'I'm going to put you in jail for making a bad arrest.' So officers figured it out: 'I can go to jail for making the wrong arrest, so I'm not getting out of my car to clear a corner,' and that's exactly what happened post-Freddie Gray." In Baltimore, arrest numbers have plummeted from more than 40,000 in 2014, the year before Freddie Gray's death and the subsequent charges against the officers, to about 18,000 as of November 1, 2017. This happened even as homicides soared from 211 in 2014, to 344 in 2015 – an increase of 63%.<ref>Gately, Gary (November 2, 2017). [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/02/baltimore-murder-rate-homicides-ceasefire " Baltimore is more murderous than Chicago. Can anyone save the city from itself?"] ''The Guardian''.</ref> Since 2021 homicide numbers have down trended, reaching a 13-year low of 201 in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore Police Department releases 2024 Year-End Crime Report and Key Highlights |url=https://www.baltimorepolice.org/news/baltimore-police-department-releases-2024-year-end-crime-report-and-key-highlights |website=Baltimore Police |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> Between 2021 and November 2025 there was a 61% reduction in homicides.<ref name="WaPo 2025">{{cite web |title=These five cities help explain why homicide rates are down across the U.S. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2025/homicide-rates-us-cities/?itid=hp_more-top-stories_p002_f010_2&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social |website=The Washington Post |access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref> In 2025 Baltimore recorded 133 homicides, its lowest in nearly 50 years.<ref name="2025 numbers">{{cite web |title=Joint Statement on Historic Public Safety Progress in 2025 |url=https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/news/press-releases/2026-01-01-joint-statement-historic-public-safety-progress-2025 |website=City of Baltimore |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right" |- ! colspan=5 | Homicides in Baltimore 1950s – present |- ! Year ! Total homicides ! Homicides, rate per 100,000 ! U.S. homicides, rate per 100,000 ! Ref. |- |1950 | | |4.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1951 |78 |{{#expr:78/949708*100000 round 1}} |4.4 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024">{{cite web |title=Parish honors victims, prays for suspects as Baltimore marks 200 homicides in 2024 |url=https://www.wbaltv.com/article/baltimore-200-homicides-2024-decline/63306292 |website=WBAL TV |access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1952 |85 |{{#expr:85/949708*100000 round 1}} |4.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1953 |style="background:#dfd;" |63 |style="background:#dfd;" |{{#expr:63/949708*100000 round 1}} |4.5 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1954 |82 |{{#expr:82/949708*100000 round 1}} |4.2 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1955 |76 |{{#expr:76/949708*100000 round 1}} |4.1 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1956 |67 |{{#expr:67/939024*100000 round 1}} |4.1 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1957 |84 |{{#expr:84/939024*100000 round 1}} |style="background:#dfd;" |4.0 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1958 |100 |{{#expr:100/939024*100000 round 1}} |4.8 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1959 |84 |{{#expr:84/939024*100000 round 1}} |4.9 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1960 |107 |{{#expr:107/939024*100000 round 1}} |5.1 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1961 |89 |{{#expr:89/939024*100000 round 1}} |4.8 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1962 |105 |{{#expr:105/939024*100000 round 1}} |4.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1963 |142 |{{#expr:142/939024*100000 round 1}} |4.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1964 |144 |{{#expr:144/939024*100000 round 1}} |4.9 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1965 |131 |{{#expr:131/939024*100000 round 1}} |5.1 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1966 |175 |{{#expr:175/905787*100000 round 1}} |5.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1967 |200 |{{#expr:200/905787*100000 round 1}} |6.2 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1968 |239 |{{#expr:239/905787*100000 round 1}} |6.9 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1969 |237 |{{#expr:237/905787*100000 round 1}} |7.3 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1970 |231 |{{#expr:231/905787*100000 round 1}} |7.9 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1971 |323 |{{#expr:323/905787*100000 round 1}} |8.6 |<ref name="WAPO 1992"/><ref name="US homicide trends">{{cite web |title=Homicide Trends in the U.S. |url=https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/htius.pdf |website=Bureau of Justice Statistics Homicide Trends in the United States |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1972 |330 |{{#expr:330/905787*100000 round 1}} |9.0 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="WAPO 1992"/><ref name="WAPO 1990"/> |- |1973 |280 |{{#expr:280/905787*100000 round 1}} |9.4 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Homicide trend 1950-2024"/> |- |1974 |293 |{{#expr:293/905787*100000 round 1}} |9.8 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="BPD 1977">{{cite web |title=Index Crime Drops 4.1% |url=http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/newsletters/1977-Newsletter-Vol-11-Issue-1-to-26-January-5-1977-to-December-21-1977.pdf |website=Baltimore Police Museum |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1975 |259 |{{#expr:259/905787*100000 round 1}} |9.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="BPD 1977"/> |- |1976 |200 |{{#expr:200/786741*100000 round 1}} |8.8 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="BPD 1977"/> |- |1977 |171 |20.7 |8.8 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1978 |199 |25.5 |9.0 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1979 |245 |31.0 |9.7 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1980 |216 |27.5 |style="background:#ffb6b6;" |10.2 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1981 |228 |28.6 |9.8 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1982 |227 |28.4 |9.1 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1983 |201 |25.0 |8.3 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1984 |215 |{{#expr:215/786741*100000 round 1}} |7.9 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Growing Number of Senseless Slayings by Teens Instills Concern |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1985/10/14/growing-number-of-senseless-slayings-by-teens-instills-concern/631398f9-6293-48b3-accc-8f418be3dd57/ |website=The Washington Post |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1985 |213 |27.6 |7.9 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1986 |240 |30.6 |8.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1987 |226 |29.5 |8.3 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/> |- |1988 |234 |31.0 |8.4 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="WAPO 1990"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Violent Crimes Increase by 5.5% For 1988, Establishing a Record |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/13/us/violent-crimes-increase-by-5.5-for-1988-establishing-a-record.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore Police Department Newsletter |url=http://www.baltimorepolicemuseum.org/newsletters/1989-Newsletter-Vol-23-Issue-1-to-26-January-4-1989-to-December-19-1989.pdf |website=Baltimore Police Museum |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1989 |262 |{{#expr:262/747200*100000 round 1}} |8.7 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="WAPO 1990">{{cite web |title=D.C., BALTIMORE WORLDS APART IN HOMICIDE RATES |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1990/04/16/dc-baltimore-worlds-apart-in-homicide-rates/5f993ad4-69ec-4f7e-bf45-7cc4634bb59a/ |website=The Washington Post |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bereft parents seek-solace-culprit in 89 killing of son |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1990/10/07/bereft-parents-seek-solace-culprit-in-89-killing-of-son/ |website=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1990 |305 |{{#expr:305/736014*100000 round 1}} |9.4 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="WAPO 1992"/> |- |1991 |304 |40.6 |9.8 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="WAPO 1992"/> |- |1992 |335 |44.3 |9.3 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="WAPO 1992">{{cite web |title=BALTIMORE KILLINGS BREAK '72 RECORD |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1992/12/30/baltimore-killings-break-72-record/3adc525c-9a52-4043-a225-0b76d857ba60/ |website=The Washington Post |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1993 |style="background:#ffb6b6;" | 353 |48.2 |9.5 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="2021 crime"/> |- |1994 |321 |43.4 |9.0 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="Real News Network 2023">{{cite web |title=Baltimore’s Crime Numbers Game |url=https://therealnews.com/baltimore-police-spending-violent-crime-statistics |website=The Real News Network |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1995 |325 |{{#expr:325/712209*100000 round 1}} |8.2 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 1995">{{cite web |title=SECTION II Crime Index Offenses Reported |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/1995/95sec2.pdf |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1996 |328 |{{#expr:328/716446*100000 round 1}} |7.4 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 1996">{{cite web |title=SECTION II Crime Index Offenses Reported |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/1996/96sec2.pdf |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1997 |312 |{{#expr:312/719587*100000 round 1}} |6.8 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 1997">{{cite web |title=SECTION II Crime Index Offenses Reported |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/1997/97sec2.pdf |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1998 |312 |{{#expr:312/662253*100000 round 1}} |6.3 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 1998">{{cite web |title=SECTION II Crime Index Offenses Reported |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/1998/98sec2.pdf |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |1999 |305 |46.9 |5.7 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 1999">{{cite web |title=SECTION II Crime Index Offenses Reported |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/1999/99sec2.pdf |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2000 |261 |{{#expr:261/647955*100000 round 1}} |5.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 2000">{{cite web |title=Section II |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2000/00sec2.pdf |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2001 |256 |{{#expr:256/660826*100000 round 1}} |5.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 2001">{{cite web |title=Section II |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2001/01sec2.pdf |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2002 |253 |{{#expr:253/671028*100000 round 1}} |5.6 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 2002">{{cite web |title=Section II |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2002/02sec2.pdf |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2003 |270 |{{#expr:270/644554*100000 round 1}} |5.7 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 2003">{{cite web |title=SECTION II |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2003/03sec2.pdf |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2004 |276 |{{#expr:276/634279*100000 round 1}} |5.5 |<ref name="FBI 2004">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2004 |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2005 |269 |{{#expr:269/641097*100000 round 1}} |5.7 |<ref name="US homicide trends"/><ref name="FBI 2005">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2005 |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2006 |276 |{{#expr:276/637556*100000 round 1}} |5.8 |<ref name="FBI 2006">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2006 |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2007 |282 |{{#expr:282/624237*100000 round 1}} |5.7 |<ref name="FBI 2007">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2007 |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2008 |234 |{{#expr:234/634549*100000 round 1}} |5.4 |<ref name="FBI 2008">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2008 |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2009 |238 |{{#expr:238/638755*100000 round 1}} |5.0 |<ref name="2009 FBI">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2009 |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2010 |223 |{{#expr:223/639929*100000 round 1}} |4.8 |<ref name="FBI 2010">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/table-8/10tbl08md.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2011 |196 |{{#expr:196/626848*100000 round 1}} |4.7 |<ref name="FBI 2011">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table8statecuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_maryland_by_city_2011.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2012 |218 |{{#expr:218/625474*100000 round 1}} |4.7 |<ref name="FBI 2012">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/8tabledatadecpdf/table-8-state-cuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_by_maryland_by_city_2012.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2013 |233 |{{#expr:233/622671*100000 round 1}} |4.5 |<ref name="FBI 2013">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_maryland_by_city_2013.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2014 |211 |{{#expr:211/623513*100000 round 1}} |4.9 |<ref name="FBI 2014">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-8/table-8-by-state/Table_8_Offenses_Known_to_Law_Enforcement_by_Maryland_by_City_2014.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2015 |344 |{{#expr:344/621252*100000 round 1}} |5.1 |<ref name="FBI 2015">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2015/crime-in-the-u.s.-2015/tables/table-8/table-8-state-pieces/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_maryland_by_city_2015.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2016 |318 |{{#expr:318/618385*100000 round 1}} |5.3 |<ref name="FBI 2016">{{cite web |title=Table 6 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2016/crime-in-the-u.s.-2016/tables/table-6/table-6-state-cuts/maryland.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2017 |343 |{{#expr:343/613217*100000 round 1}} |5.7 |<ref name="FBI 2017">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2017/crime-in-the-u.s.-2017/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/maryland.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2018 |309 |{{#expr:309/605436*100000 round 1}} |5.7 |<ref name="FBI 2018">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/maryland.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2019 |348 |{{#expr:348/597239*100000 round 1}} |6.0 |<ref name="FBI 2019">{{cite web |title=Table 8 |url=https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/maryland.xls |website=FBI |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2020 |335 |57.1 |7.8 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Grim Pandemic Side Effect? More Women Murdered in Baltimore |url=https://foxbaltimore.com/news/city-in-crisis/grim-pandemic-side-effect-more-women-murdered-in-baltimore |website=Fox Baltimore |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gramlich|first=John|title=What we know about the increase in U.S. murders in 2020|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/10/27/what-we-know-about-the-increase-in-u-s-murders-in-2020/|access-date=November 11, 2021|website=Pew Research Center|language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2021 |337 |58.3 |6.9 |<ref name="2021 crime">{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Tim |date=2022-07-05 |title=Crime data shows Baltimore is on pace for its deadliest year in more than a decade |url=https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/crime-data-shows-baltimore-is-on-pace-for-its-deadliest-year-in-more-than-a-decade |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=WBFF |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore Records More Homicides And Shootings In 2021 Than In 2020 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/baltimore-records-more-homicides-and-shootings-in-2021-than-in-2020/ |website=CBS News |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2022-10-05 |title=Homicides Continued to Increase in 2021, According to the FBI's Flawed Crime Report |url=https://time.com/6216504/fbi-crime-report-2021/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref> |- |2022 |333 |style="background:#ffb6b6;" |58.4 |6.3 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore City year-to-date homicide count for 2022 |url=https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/baltimore-city-year-to-date-homicide-count-for-2022 |website=WMAR 2 News |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2023 |261 |46.0 |5.5 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore City saw major drops in gun violence, homicides, BPD says |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/baltimore-city-gun-violence-reduction-maryland/ |website=CBS News |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref> |- |2024 |201 |34.3 |5.0 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor Scott, City of Baltimore Mark Historic Violence Reductions |url=https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/news/press-releases/2025-01-08-mayor-scott-city-baltimore-mark-historic-violence-reductions |website=Mayor Brandon M. Scott |access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore mayor, police credit multiagency approach, unique strategies for drop in homicides in 2024 |url=https://www.wbaltv.com/article/baltimore-homicide-rate-2024/63316846 |website=WBAL TV |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=50-State Crime Data |url=https://projects.csgjusticecenter.org/tools-for-states-to-address-crime/50-state-crime-data/ |website=Justice Center |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref> |- |2025 |133 |{{#expr:133/585708*100000 round 1}} |style="background:#dfd;" |4.0 |<ref name="2025 numbers"/><ref name="2026 NYT">{{cite web |title=What’s Behind the Staggering Drop in the Murder Rate? No One Knows for Sure. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/us/murder-rate-drop-report.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> |} '''Additional Sources:'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://homicides.news.baltimoresun.com|title=Baltimore Homicides|access-date=January 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=A Tale of Two Cities: Persistently High Homicide Rates in Baltimore City Compared With Significant Declines in New York City |journal=The American Journal of Medicine |date=January 2019 |volume=132 |issue=I |url=https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(18)30797-6/pdf |access-date=15 March 2025}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2 | Key |- | style="background:#dfd;" |   || Record low |- | style="background:#ffb6b6;" |   || Record high |- |}

== Location == Homicides in Baltimore are heavily concentrated within a small number of high-poverty neighborhoods. According to a 2016 ''Baltimore Sun'' investigation, around 80% of the city's gun homicides are committed in 25% of the city's neighborhoods. For the past few years, the rate of lethal shootings has been increasing in Baltimore and at least 10 other cities, such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Milwaukee. {{as of|2016|alt=In 2016}}, the Coldstream Homestead Montebello neighborhood in Northeast Baltimore was Baltimore's most lethal neighborhood, with an average of one out of every two shootings being fatal. The citywide average is one in three.<ref name=George>{{cite news|last1=George|first1=Justin|title=Some Baltimore neighborhoods condemned to endure a shocking degree of violence|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/investigations/bal-shoot-to-kill-part-two-story.html|access-date=January 22, 2017|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=October 6, 2016|archive-date=January 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117231112/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/investigations/bal-shoot-to-kill-part-two-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Gang-related crimes are usually clustered in drug territories and mostly affect people involved in drug dealing, particularly narcotics and rival gangs.

Sandtown-Winchester, Baltimore, is one of West Baltimore's most blighted and problematic communities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Outrage mingled with fear: Community responds after children, 2 and 3, are shot|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2008/06/11/outrage-mingled-with-fear/|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=June 11, 2008|author=Nick Madigan|access-date=November 13, 2012|archive-date=November 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116210937/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2008-06-11/news/0806100292_1_brave-warwick-apartments-bealefeld|url-status=live}}</ref> In the second half of the 20th century, Sandtown experienced economic depression, housing abandonment, crime, and the effects of the Baltimore riot of 1968.<ref name="Live in Baltimore">{{cite web|url=http://www.livebaltimore.com/neighborhoods/list/sandtownwinchester/|title=Sandtown-Winchester|work=Live in Baltimore|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref> Sandtown-Winchester was the home of Freddie Gray and the scene of his arrest. Following his death, the area was hard hit by riots, including the looting and burning of a CVS drug store off the north-east corner of Sandtown-Winchester at the intersection of Pennsylvania and W. North Avenue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/05/04/freddie-gray-neighborhood-wickham-column/26834967/ |title=Wickham: Focus on Freddie Gray's neighborhood|website=USA Today|access-date=November 23, 2015}}</ref>

The area was once considered middle-class. Its residents are largely lower-income African Americans. The neighborhood served as a filming location for the Baltimore-based HBO television drama, ''The Wire''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Poniewozik |first=James |date=2022-06-02 |title=‘The Wire’ Stands Alone |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/02/arts/television/the-wire-20th-anniversary.html |access-date=2024-06-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Policing == {{Main|Baltimore Police Department}}

The Baltimore Police Department is staffed by nearly 4,000 civilian and sworn personnel. These include dispatchers, crime lab technicians, chaplains and unarmed auxiliary police officers. During Martin O'Malley's administration as mayor, the department had become 43% African American.<ref>{{cite news | title=Black police officers claim discrimination within Baltimore department | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002111604_webbaltimore07}} {{Dead link|date=August 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}, The Seattle Times (December 7, 2006)</ref>

In 2003, the FBI identified irregularities in the number of rapes reported, which was confirmed by then-Mayor Martin O'Malley. The number of homicides in 2005 appeared to exhibit discrepancies as well.<ref>{{cite web | title=Homicide Rate, Police Procedures Questioned | url=http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/7056945/detail.html | access-date=November 13, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060323083654/http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/7056945/detail.html | archive-date=March 23, 2006 | url-status=dead }}, WBAL-TV (February 14, 2006)</ref> Former police commissioner Kevin P. Clark said in an interview that the administration suppressed corrections to its crime reports;<ref>{{cite web | title=Ex-Commish Raised Questions During Tenure | url=http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/7341879/detail.html | access-date=November 13, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614184012/http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/7341879/detail.html | archive-date=June 14, 2006 | url-status=dead }}, WBAL-TV (February 22, 2006)</ref> however, many of the charges made by the police commissioner now appear to have been politically motivated.<ref>John Wagner and Tim Craig, {{Cite news | title=Duncan Rebukes O'Malley Over Crime | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021301857.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first1=John | last1=Wagner | first2=Tim | last2=Craig | date=February 14, 2006 | access-date=April 26, 2010}}, Washington Post (February 14, 2006)</ref> The veracity of crime statistics reported by the Baltimore Police Department once again came under scrutiny in 2006, this time from Maryland legislators.<ref>{{cite web | title=State Lawmaker Calls For Investigation Into Police | url=http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/7057074/detail.html | access-date=November 13, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225001127/http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/7057074/detail.html | archive-date=February 25, 2006 | url-status=dead }}, WBAL-TV (February 14, 2006)</ref>

== Works == * ''The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood'' * ''Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District'' * ''Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets'', 1991 book by David Simon * ''Homicide: Life on the Street'', 1990s police drama TV series based on Simon's book. * ''The Wire'', 2002–2008 HBO crime drama television series created by David Simon and set in Baltimore. * ''Serial (podcast)'', 2014–present podcast based on murders in Baltimore.

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == * [http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Baltimore-Maryland.html City-data.com - Crime in Baltimore, Maryland (MD): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers] * [http://crimebaltimore.com/ Crimebaltimore.com - Baltimore crime mapping resource & crime records] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20121107121742/http://www.baltimorepolice.org/your-community/crime-map Baltimore Police crime mapping tool] * [http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/md/baltimore/crime/ Crime rates for Baltimore, MD]

Category:Crime in Baltimore Baltimore