U.S. Survey Finds Sharp Drop in Violent-Crime Victimization
The Justice Department says the decrease was the biggest recorded since 1973.
A preliminary federal survey found that violent-crime victimization in the U.S. was about 25% lower in 2025 than in 2024. The Justice Department described the year-to-year change as the largest decline since 1973. The results give Spokane households a national comparison for changes in violent-crime exposure.
The National Crime Victimization Survey estimated 669,000 fewer violent crimes in 2025, excluding simple assaults. Aggravated-assault victimization fell an estimated 31%, or roughly 390,000 incidents. Robbery declined 27%. Property-crime victimization dropped 19%, while burglary and trespassing fell 25% and motor-vehicle theft decreased 29%.
The Census Bureau conducted interviews with people age 12 and older in U.S. households, asking about how often victimization occurred, its characteristics and its consequences. The 2025 survey included 101,980 household interviews, with 53% of eligible households completing them. The preliminary findings also align with an earlier FBI Uniform Crime Report, which recorded a 20-year low in the country's murder rate and additional declines in aggravated assault, rape and robbery.
- Violent-crime victimization fell about 25% in 2025.
- Aggravated-assault victimization dropped an estimated 31%.
- The survey included 101,980 household interviews.
- People age 12 and older were interviewed.
Source: CBS News U.S. ↗
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