Baltimore Homicides Drop 34% With New Crime Strategy

Baltimore is celebrating a milestone that seemed impossible just three years ago: the city recorded only 134 homicides in 2025, its lowest count in nearly half a century.

The dramatic turnaround marks a 60% drop since 2022, when Baltimore saw 334 murders. State's Attorney Ivan Bates, who took office in January 2023, credits a straightforward strategy: holding repeat violent offenders accountable.

"When we were sworn in, we said, 'If you're a repeat violent offender, bring a toothbrush,'" Bates told reporters. "That was the message we sent. We're going to send you to jail."

The numbers back up the approach. In 2022, only 31% of convicted repeat violent offenders actually received sentences. By 2024, that number jumped to 69%. This year, Bates' office sent 443 repeat offenders to prison out of 682 convicted, a 65% sentencing rate.

Maryland law allows prosecutors to seek five-year mandatory sentences without parole for repeat offenders caught with illegal firearms. Bates says enforcing this existing law has been key to removing dangerous individuals from neighborhoods.

The strategy appears to be working beyond just the courtroom. Police arrests of repeat gun offenders have actually decreased from 1,294 in 2023 to 1,160 in 2025. Bates says that's good news because it means fewer repeat offenders remain on the streets.

The Ripple Effect

Baltimore's progress mirrors a national trend. Cities across America saw homicides drop 21% in 2025, according to the Council on Criminal Justice. But Baltimore's decline has outpaced the national average, offering hope to other cities struggling with violence.

The turnaround required more than tough prosecution. Bates rebuilt his understaffed office from 140 to 200 prosecutors and partnered with federal agencies like the FBI and DEA to dismantle drug organizations fueling street violence.

Federal Hill and other entertainment districts still experience occasional shootings, reminding residents that progress isn't uniform. But the overall trajectory gives Baltimore residents something they haven't felt in years: hope that their neighborhoods are getting safer.

Bates acknowledges the gains could slip without continued investment in programs helping former offenders reenter society. "If we do not do the hard work of giving individuals an exit lane to get out of the criminal life, we can see that behavior rearing its head," he said.

For now, Baltimore is proof that smart enforcement combined with community partnerships can turn the tide on violence.