Violent crime rates in Washington DChas hit a 30-year low, according to data from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said Friday that violent crime in the District has dropped 35 percent year over year. So far in 2024, there have been 3,388 incidents compared to 5,215 incidents in 2023.
Among the crimes that saw significant declines this year were homicides down 30 percent, sexual assaults down 22 percent, assaults with a dangerous weapon down 27 percent, robberies down 8 percent and thefts down 8 percent.
“From my perspective, without a doubt, the most impactful thing we do when it comes to violent crime is really targeting the drivers of gun violence.” Fox 5 DC. “More importantly, finding out in our community … who’s really doing the violence and holding them accountable for certain crimes, so you can get them off the street before they commit the next crime.”
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According to data from the US Attorney’s Office, the violent crime rate in Washington, D.C. is at a 30-year low. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The data shows the drivers, Graves said. Violent crime “Several hundred people across the city” are involved.
“Many of them, are associated with … what we call ‘crews’ in the district. Organizations of individuals usually living in the neighborhood or block where they grew up are involved in various crimes,” he said. .
“Their activities, in some ways, directly involve violence. In other cases, the activities they engage in, fueling open-air drug markets, are magnets for violence,” he added. ” “So, going after the individuals who are really responsible for the externalities of violent crime is an incredibly effective strategy for reducing the numbers.”
Graves said prosecution is not the only way to reduce crime.
Violent crime in the district has dropped 35 percent year over year. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“These are often deep-rooted issues with underlying drivers of poverty, lack of services, health issues, education issues,” he said. “We can influence those numbers. We can take violence off the streets. We can try to prevent other people from being drivers of gun violence. But if there are things that go unaddressed, mental health If there are problems, if there is a lack of economic opportunities, then there will be more drivers.”
Graves attributes the decrease in violent crime to work with his office. Metropolitan Police Department Targeting the small number of people who commit violent crimes in the district.
“It’s a relatively small number of people who are fueling the violence in our community,” he told WTOP. “And what we’ve been doing for the last couple of years is really targeting those individuals — that cadre of individuals — who are driving the violence.”
So far in 2024, there have been 3,388 violent crime incidents, compared to 5,215 in 2023. (WTTG)
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Local leaders also cite the Secure DC Omnibus Act and other factors, such as greater officer visibility, technology upgrades and ensuring student attendance in class.
Graves says there is still more work to be done to tackle the number of illegal firearms in the district.
“There are more illegal firearms in our community now than there were 15 years ago,” he said. “You have to think of it like a virus. The more viruses there are in the community, the more people will get sick.”