Recent criminal justice trends in NYC
Explore key crime and enforcement indicators to understand why NYC is the safest big city in the nation.
The number of felony arrests in NYC fell by 12% between 2013 and 2019.
The number of homicides citywide has declined 83% in the last 25+ years and reached a record low in 2017.
Kings County has consistently had the highest number of homicides of any borough over the last seven years, and Bronx County has had the highest homicide rate per 1,000 residents in the same period.
Shooting incidents declined citywide by 30% from 2013 to 2019.
Between 2013 and 2019, Kings County had the highest number of shooting incidents, while Bronx County had the highest rate of shooting incidents per 1,000 residents.
Major crime dropped by 15% citywide from 2013 to 2019, and violent crime dropped by 12%.
Major crime is defined as murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny, and grand larceny auto. Violent crime is defined as murder, rape, robbery, and felony assault.
Misdemeanor arrests in NYC decreased by 52% since 2013.
Desk appearance tickets decreased 66% since 2014
When police officers make an arrest, they may take an individual into custody or issue a Desk Appearance Ticket for specified charges. Desk Appearance Tickets allow individuals to remain in the community until they must appear in court to be arraigned. The use of Desk Appearance Tickets decreased by 66% from 2014 to 2019.
Criminal summonses decreased 80% since 2013.
For some offenses, police issue a summons instead of making an arrest. Citywide, the number of summonses issued declined 80% between 2013 and 2019.
In 2019, the highest number of summonses were issued in New York County compared to other boroughs, and New York County had the highest summons rate per 1,000 residents.