The Council on Criminal Justice reports that homicide rates in a sample of 30 U.S. cities fell sharply after 2022, with the first half of 2026 down 18 percent from the same period in 2025 and 51 percent from 2022. Projections based on this data indicate the 2026 national rate could reach a historic low. The sample covers cities from Rochester to New York City and aligns with FBI figures showing a 30 percent national increase in 2020.