Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on FBI Quarterly Uniform Crime Report

The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the release of the FBI Quarterly Uniform Crime Report:

“In May 2021, the Justice Department launched our violent crime reduction strategy aimed at addressing the spike in violent crime that occurred during the pandemic.

“Since then, our prosecutors, agents, and grantmaking experts have worked in close partnership with police departments and communities across the country to go after the recidivists and gangs that are responsible for the greatest violence; to seize illegal guns and deadly drugs; to make critical investments in hiring more law enforcement officers; and to fund evidence-based, community violence intervention initiatives.

“We know that hard fought progress can easily slip away, and we must remain focused and vigilant. But today, we are encouraged by this data indicating a decrease in violent crime in communities across the country in 2023 compared to the prior year, including an over 13% decline in homicides. This important indicator of declining violent crime comes in the wake of other encouraging data we have seen released within the last year. 

“The Justice Department will continue to remain laser-focused on working with our law enforcement and community partners to drive down violent crime. We will not rest until every community in our country is safe.”