Topline:
Long Beach had a 37% drop in homicides in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to an analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice. The homicide rate is also 11% below what it was before COVID in 2019.
Why it matters: Adam Gelb, president and CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice, said the numbers in Long Beach and other cities are moving in the right direction, but that there’s more research that needs to be done. ”History has shown that violence can rise again without warning. So we can’t be complacent. We need to keep figuring out what works and keep doing that,” he said.
Why the drop: Gelb said there are some theories — especially that the pandemic is over and access to support services and prevention programs are more available.
Positive trends elsewhere: The report found other U.S. cities’ homicide rates are getting back to pre-pandemic levels, too. And the city of Los Angeles recently reported a 21% decline in homicides in 2025, compared to the same time period last year.
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