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By Jasmine Laws
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released new data on 2024 crime rates across U.S. states and Washington D.C., highlighting how the capital compares for various offenses.
The data, released on August 5, shows that over 14 million criminal offenses occurred across the country in 2024, but that various crimes nationwide decreased compared to previous years.
There has been recent concern raised by the Trump administration over safety in Washington D.C., prompting swift action to enhance security and law enforcement in the capital.
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The FBI data showed the total number of assaults, homicides, kidnappings, abductions and sex offenses fell in the capital from 23,914 in 2023 to 22,320 in 2024.
Separate data from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) also indicates a fall in overall crime between 2023 and 2024, but shows the past five years have seen the highest number of homicides in the capital since 2008.
Compared to the most populated states like California, New York and Texas, D.C. also appears to have a higher rate of crime against persons, according to the FBI data.
Newsweek has contacted the FBI and MPD outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The new data comes as President Donald Trump has voiced concern over the growing prevalence of crime in the capital, with the White House announcing on Thursday that it will be increasing federal law enforcement in the district.
The administration's announcement came after an assault on a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer and another individual during an attempted car jacking over the weekend.
It also builds on a previously signed executive order on "Making The District of Columbia Safe And Beautiful" - an order that seeks to reduce crime in D.C., among other measures.
What To Know
Per the FBI's report, the number of nationwide murders and non-negligent manslaughter recorded in 2024 represented a 14.9 percent decrease compared to 2023, the FBI reported, while aggravated assault figures decreased by around 3 percent and robbery decreased by around 8.9 percent.
In Washington D.C., the total number of crimes against persons was 22,320 in 2024, with the majority of those crimes (21,437) made up of assault offenses, according to the FBI report.
Sex offenses (655) were the second most common crime against persons in the district, followed by homicide offenses (179), and then kidnapping offenses (49).
The MPD's own preliminary data also showed that a number of these crimes decreased in 2024 compared to 2023 - with a 32 percent decrease in homicide crimes and a 25 percent decrease in sex abuse. The total violent crime in the capital also decreased by 35 percent, according to the figures. The MPD's provisional Year to Date figures for 2025 also showed violent crime down by 26% compared to 2024.
But viewed over a longer period, from 2020 to 2024, D.C. experienced its highest number of homicides (2020: 198, 2021: 226, 2022: 203, 2023: 274, 2024: 187) since 2008 when there were 186.
The FBI data, also showed there were 49,033 offenses in the district in 2024 that fell under crimes against property - with vandalism (15,200) and theft (18,942) the largest contributors. This was a fall from 2023 when there were 56,798 such offenses recorded.
This was the same for many other states, with property crimes outweighing any other offenses for the vast proportion.
Compared to other states, Washington D.C. had a lower number of crimes against persons - with Texas having the highest number at 479,367, followed by California at 346,568 and New York at 293,674. However, when population is considered, given that these states are among the most populated in the country, the rate of crime in Washington D.C. appears to outweigh that of these more populated states.
Washington D.C. had a population of 702,250, per the FBI reports, while Texas had a population of 31,098,882, California had a population of 30,004,853, and New York had a population of 14,182,101.
Improving safety in Washington D.C. has been on the Trump administration's radar for some time, as Trump signed the executive order aiming to improve safety in D.C. in March this year. However, the recent assault on a former DOGE staffer has likely also prompted further action on the issue.
What People Are Saying
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, as reported by Politico: "Washington D.C. is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long. President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens. Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C."
The White House said in the terms of the order, "Making The District of Columbia Safe And Beautiful": "As the Federal capital city, Washington, D.C., is the only city that belongs to all Americans and that all Americans can claim as theirs. As the capital city of the greatest Nation in the history of the world, it should showcase beautiful, clean, and safe public spaces. America's capital must be a place in which residents, commuters, and tourists feel safe at all hours, including on public transit. Its highways, boulevards, and parks should be clean, well-kept, and pleasant. Its monuments, museums, and buildings should reflect and inspire awe and appreciation for our Nation's strength, greatness, and heritage. Our citizens deserve nothing less.
The White House added: "It is the policy of the United States to make the District of Columbia safe, beautiful, and prosperous by preventing crime, punishing criminals, preserving order, protecting our revered American monuments, and promoting beautification and the preservation of our history and heritage."
What Happens Next
The Trump administration has said that it will be conducting a seven-day operation to increase law enforcement in the district, with the potential to extend it.
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