Violent crime continues falling beyond the 1990s crime drop

Researchers are still figuring out what caused the nationwide drop in violent crime in the mid- to late 90s. Among cities experiencing this decline, DC stands out as particularly successful at extending that crime decline over time. That success is largely the result of a renewed emphasis on community-oriented policing and evidence-based tactics, as well as changing demographics and economic growth.

Building on the work of former police chief Charles Ramsey, DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier has emphasized community engagement by increasing foot patrols, using social media and a tip line, encouraging more one-on-one interactions between police and residents, and valuing empathy in police recruitment and training.

Lanier has also rejected zero-tolerance and “hot spots” policing, aggressive strategies that combat violent crime by cracking down on minor offenses and flooding high-crime areas with police. The problem with these tactics, Lanier says, is that they alienate residents—who are also often victims and witnesses—and turn them against the police. And when you’re trying to focus on serious violent offenders, these strategies are not guaranteed to target the right people.

What’s more, DC’s police department has invested in new technologies, like gunfire detection sensors and body cameras for police, and has improved the quality of crime data, enabling better intelligence gathering and data sharing between agencies to improve strategic decisionmaking.

In this chapter, we focus on the violent crimes of homicide, aggravated assault, and robbery. We do not explore data on sexual assault because of measurement issues, as described in more detail in a related blog post.