2020 brought largest spike in homicides since 1968 in U.S., FBI data shows

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — New data released by the F.B.I. shows 2020 had the largest rise in homicides in the United States in at least 60 years.

The data, which was first reported by the New York Times, shows a 29% spike in homicides in 2020. That's the largest single-year increase since that data started being tracked in 1960.

Previously, the largest single-year increase was in 1968 when there was a 12%+ increase in homicides compared the previous year.

While the increase in 2020 was stark, the nationwide homicide rate still remains below the record-breaking rates that were since in the early 1990s.

"We saw a sharp increase in homicides," said Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist with the University of Missouri - St. Louis. "Once violence increases, it takes time for it to begin to decline."

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Experts say what's behind the rise in 2020 remains complicated but there are indications that the pandemic, as well as declining trust in law enforcement, may have played a role.

"It's been suggested people are less likely to contact the police if they know about a crime and even if they've been a victim of a non-fatal crime," Rosenfeld said. "They're less likely to cooperate with the police in investigations and more likely to take matters into their own hands when disputes arise."

It's those disputes that leaders in Baltimore have recently said they believe are driving the current rate of violence.

In 2020, Baltimore defied the national trend after it saw 13 fewer homicides than it did in 2019. However, this year the city's homicide rate has rebounded and remains above where it was this same time last year.

"Baltimore has, in effect, joined the pack of cities where homicide rates have been rising this year," Rosenfeld said.

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While homicides are up in Baltimore, statistics show overall crime is down right now. It's a trend the FBI says is also being seen in other major cities across the country.

Right now gun arrests are also up drastically compared to last year.