As U.S. police departments release preliminary or finalized 2024 crime numbers, many are reporting historic declines in homicides and drops in other violent crimes compared to 2023. But in many parts of the country, those decreases don’t match the public perception of safety. Experts say most cities have seen a drop in crime levels that spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. But they say misleading campaign rhetoric in the runup to the November elections and changes in how people absorb news about crime have led to a perception gap. They also say not every community is experiencing the progress in the same way.
