Violent crime dropped significantly in many major American cities during the first nine months of 2026, according to a new survey from the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).
The report, which compiled data from 66 U.S. law enforcement agencies, found that homicides fell 17.3% between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026, compared to the same period a year earlier. Robberies dropped 13.3%, aggravated assaults fell 4%, and rapes declined 3.8%, based on the four categories tracked in the survey.
The largest overall drops in violent crime came in Memphis, Tennessee, where it fell 29%, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it fell nearly 29%. Indianapolis, Indiana, recorded a 24% decline.
Tulsa posted the steepest drop in homicides specifically, down 71% from the prior year. Aurora, Colorado, saw homicides fall 65%, and Newark, New Jersey, saw a 59% decline.
Reported rapes fell by half in Buffalo, New York. Tulsa recorded a 37% drop and Memphis a 28% drop in that category.
What’s behind the numbers
In Indianapolis, the police department’s public affairs office told Fox News Digital that the decline has been spread across all districts of the city. Officials pointed to several initiatives, including a task force aimed at taking illegal guns away from people who use them to commit crimes.
“The entire city benefits when crime goes down. This isn’t something that benefits just one neighborhood or one group of people, it benefits everyone who lives, works, and visits Indianapolis.”
A recent assessment from the National Council on Criminal Justice looked at possible explanations for the broader national decline in homicides. Researchers pointed to proactive policing and deterrence strategies as contributing factors, along with a general return to pre-pandemic social and economic patterns after years of disruption.
Smaller counties see record lows too
The trend isn’t limited to big cities. In Polk County, Florida, Sheriff Grady Judd told Fox News Digital that crime rates have hit a 54-year low.
“Our index crime, rapes, robberies, murders, thefts, grand thefts, burglaries, auto thefts are at historic lows in this county.”
Judd credited the drop to the sheriff’s office’s enforcement approach and its partnership with the local state attorney’s office.
“We don’t hold this as a secret. I tell people up front, ‘Hey, if you do this, you’re going to jail. We’re going to arrest you. If you get online and solicit prostitution, we’re going to arrest you. If you get online and human traffic or try to human traffic children or adults, we’re going to arrest you. If you are a sexual predator going after our children online, we’re going to arrest you and we’re going to send you to prison for a very long time.'”
