DETROIT – Detroit‘s violent crime rates have plummeted even further below the city’s historic 60-year lows set in 2024, with three categories showing 15-30% drops in 2025, city officials announced Monday.
So far this year, Detroit has seen 132 murders—that’s down 15 percent from the same time last year, when there were 155.
Non-fatal shootings and carjackings have also dropped by more than 20%.
Multi-agency partnerships drive success
Detroit police Chief Todd Bettison attributes much of the success to strengthened partnerships between local and federal law enforcement, particularly the embedding of federal prosecutors in Detroit Police Department precincts.
“Having prosecutors embedded in precincts helps them become much more familiar with the patterns and the individuals involved in criminal activity,” said Bettison.
The strategy has proven especially effective in improving case closure rates, with non-fatal shooting cases reaching a 70% closure rate in 2024.
Community violence intervention expansion
The city’s violence reduction strategy received additional support through the state’s newly approved Public Safety Trust Fund.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced plans to expand the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) program, which has shown remarkable success in reducing violent crime in targeted areas.
Recent additions to the CVI program include:
- Two new groups: Live In Peace and Team Pursuit, operating on the northeast side
- Ceasefire Detroit’s expansion to cover a 4.5-mile zone bounded by Puritan, Telegraph, Schoolcraft, and the Southfield Freeway
- Total CVI zones increased to seven, with coverage expanding by over 50% in just three months
Enhanced law enforcement coordination
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans highlighted the importance of cross-agency collaboration in achieving these results. The county has strengthened its law enforcement capabilities through:
- A 15% increase in Wayne County Prosecutors’ compensation
- A 24% raise for starting deputy sheriffs, enabling the filling of 200 vacancies
- Improved monitoring of tethered defendants, with 85% under movement restrictions
Federal and state support
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon’s office has intensified efforts against gang and gun-related crimes. A recent joint operation with DPD and DEA resulted in:
- Raids on 11 suspected gang locations
- Seizure of 44 illegal firearms
- Federal prosecutors are now embedded in seven Detroit precincts
The Michigan State Police has provided crucial support through:
- Air support for monitoring illegal street racing
- Enhanced tracking capabilities for fleeing vehicles
- Reduced need for high-speed pursuits
Court system improvements
The local court system has made significant strides in processing cases:
- Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court reduced felony gun case backlog by 3,000 cases
- 36th District Court cleared nearly 1,700 backlogged cases
- Court operations have returned to pre-COVID levels
FBI data
Despite the recent declines reported by the Detroit Police Department, the Motor City remains one of the nation’s most violent cities.
According to FBI data, Detroit ranked as the third-worst major city in the nation for total crime and for violent crime in 2024.
Looking ahead
“We still have three months left in this year; however, the partnerships and strategies we’ve implemented only are becoming more effective,” said Duggan. “I am confident that by the end of this year, we will have another historic reduction.”
The city has also implemented stricter measures for parental responsibility, including increased fines for curfew violations, which have contributed to a significant decline in juvenile crime since June 2025.
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