Chicago Sees 32% Drop in Homicides Through July 2025

Chicago, Illinois – The city has recorded a significant reduction in violent crime rates during the first half of 2025, with homicides decreasing by 32% through July compared to the same period in 2024. This notable decline positions Chicago to potentially record fewer than 500 homicides for the full year, a figure not seen since 2019, according to data from the City of Chicago and the Council on Criminal Justice. The positive trend marks a substantial shift in the city's public safety landscape.

Overall shooting incidents also saw a considerable drop, down 37% through July 2025 compared to the previous year, with 865 incidents recorded. Other violent crime categories have experienced similar reductions. The Council on Criminal Justice reported that Chicago's aggravated assault rate was 16% lower, its robbery rate decreased by 35%, and carjackings saw a dramatic 51% reduction in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024.

Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration has attributed these improvements to a holistic approach to community safety. This includes restructuring the Chicago Police Department's detective bureau, leading to a citywide homicide clearance rate of 77.4%, the highest in over a decade. Additionally, the city has expanded youth summer employment and enhanced partnerships with community violence intervention groups.

Despite these encouraging figures, the University of Chicago Crime Lab has noted a 44.9% increase in shooting lethality since 2010, indicating that while fewer shooting incidents are occurring, those that do happen have become more deadly. This nuance highlights ongoing challenges even as overall violent crime rates decline. The progress in 2025 reflects sustained efforts to address public safety concerns, building on a trend of decreasing crime rates in the post-pandemic years.