Baltimore, January 12, 2026
Baltimore has achieved a significant reduction in violent crime, recording the lowest number of homicides in almost fifty years while grappling with rising tensions between city leaders. State’s Attorney Ivan Bates suspended coordination with the Mayor’s Office over transparency and funding concerns, creating friction amidst this positive trend. While homicides decreased by 31% and non-fatal shootings reduced significantly, concerns over the sustainability of this progress loom due to ongoing disagreements in law enforcement strategies.
Baltimore Records Historical Drop in Violent Crime Amid Leadership Friction
Baltimore, Maryland – In a pivotal moment for the city, Baltimore achieved a remarkable decline in violent crime rates in 2025, witnessing the lowest number of homicides in nearly five decades. However, this positive milestone has been accompanied by escalating tensions between key city leaders, notably State’s Attorney Ivan Bates and Mayor Brandon Scott.
Historic Crime Reduction
Official reports indicate that Baltimore recorded just 133 homicides in 2025, which reflects a significant 31% decrease from the previous year, marking an unprecedented low for the city in nearly 50 years. Additionally, non-fatal shootings saw a decrease of 24.5%, with 311 incidents recorded compared to 423 in 2024. This trend of reducing violence is notable, with both homicides and non-fatal shootings declining by almost 60% since 2021. Further emphasizing this decline, the number of juvenile homicide victims dropped by an astounding 78% compared to 2024. Moreover, the Baltimore Police Department undertook substantial law enforcement efforts, seizing over 2,480 firearms and 264 ghost guns during this time.
Leadership Tensions and Disagreements
Despite these encouraging statistics, a rift has developed between State’s Attorney Ivan Bates and Mayor Brandon Scott. In December 2025, Bates declared the suspension of direct coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) and its Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), citing transparency and funding issues as key concerns. These tensions are part of an ongoing narrative, as Bates and Scott have previously disagreed on various topics, including juvenile justice reforms and the management of quality-of-life crimes. Bates has openly criticized MONSE’s strategies and their tangible impact on the city’s crime reduction efforts.
Contextual Background
When Ivan Bates took office as Baltimore’s State’s Attorney in January 2023, he shifted the approach of the previous administration, which had been characterized by a non-prosecution policy for low-level offenses. Under Bates’ leadership, the State’s Attorney’s Office has prioritized accountability for repeat offenders, contributing significantly to the decrease in violent crime. By 2024, the office successfully secured convictions for 2,129 individuals involved in serious crimes, effectively removing an average of 1,064 violent offenders from the streets each year.
Meanwhile, Mayor Brandon Scott has proposed a comprehensive violence prevention strategy that treats violence as a public health issue. This strategy has engaged community resources and interventions and is frequently credited with fostering the declines in both homicides and non-fatal shootings. Nevertheless, the friction between Bates and Scott raises concerns about the consistency and sustainability of these gains in public safety.
As Baltimore persistently strives to confront these leadership challenges, the ongoing commitment to reducing violent crime and enhancing the safety of its residents remains evident.
FAQ
What was the homicide rate in Baltimore in 2025?
Baltimore recorded 133 homicides in 2025, marking a 31% decrease from the previous year and the fewest in nearly five decades.
What are the main reasons for the decline in violent crime in Baltimore?
The decline in violent crime is attributed to a combination of factors, including increased law enforcement efforts, community-based interventions, and a comprehensive violence prevention strategy implemented by city officials.
Why is there tension between State’s Attorney Ivan Bates and Mayor Brandon Scott?
The tension stems from disagreements over the effectiveness and coordination of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy. Bates has expressed concerns about transparency and funding, leading to a decision to terminate direct coordination with MONSE.
How has the State’s Attorney’s Office contributed to crime reduction in Baltimore?
Under Ivan Bates’ leadership, the State’s Attorney’s Office has focused on prosecuting repeat offenders, leading to a significant decrease in violent crime. In 2024, the office secured convictions for 2,129 individuals involved in serious crimes, resulting in an average of 1,064 violent offenders being removed from Baltimore’s streets annually.
What is the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement’s role in crime reduction?
The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement implements the Group Violence Reduction Strategy, focusing on community-based interventions and treating violence as a public health issue. This approach has been credited with contributing to the decline in homicides and non-fatal shootings.
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Historic Crime Reduction | Baltimore recorded 133 homicides in 2025, a 31% decrease from the previous year and the fewest in nearly five decades. |
| Leadership Tensions | State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced plans to terminate direct coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement over concerns about transparency and funding. |
| State’s Attorney’s Office Contribution | Under Bates’ leadership, the office secured convictions for 2,129 individuals involved in serious crimes in 2024, removing an average of 1,064 violent offenders from Baltimore’s streets annually. |
| Mayor’s Office Strategy | The Mayor’s Office implemented the Group Violence Reduction Strategy, focusing on community-based interventions and treating violence as a public health issue. |
Now Happening on X
- @baltimoresun (January 6, 2026, 3:00 AM) Mayor Brandon Scott celebrates the reduction in homicides this year and announces plans for lowering it even more, stating “one life is one too many.” View on X
- @baltimoresun (January 6, 2026, 11:00 AM) Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates is seeking reelection amid the city’s lowest levels of violent crime in decades, with disagreements over sustaining progress becoming public. View on X
- @washingtonpost (January 6, 2026, 12:00 PM) In 2025, Baltimore’s homicides plummeted to a nearly 50-year low of 133 deaths, marking the third straight year of steep declines and a nearly 60 percent decrease since 2021. View on X
- @AlecMacGillis (January 5, 2026, 3:07 PM) Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott held an event to mark the city’s 60 percent drop in homicides over recent years, calling it “truly generational change” amid a historical chart of rates. View on X
- @FOXBaltimore (January 5, 2026, 6:34 PM) As Baltimore ends 2025 with historic low homicide numbers, State’s Attorney Ivan Bates plans to cut formal communications with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, affecting violence-curbing programs. View on X
- @postlocal (January 6, 2026, 12:00 PM) Baltimore’s 2025 homicides dropped to a nearly 50-year low of 133, with Mayor Brandon Scott noting steep declines and a 60 percent decrease since 2021. View on X
- @ScottWykoffWBAL (January 6, 2026, 5:41 AM) Reporting from Baltimore City Hall, Mayor Brandon Scott announces the next 5-Year Violence Reduction plan will double down on strategies that achieved historic crime reductions. View on X
- @DJQUICKSILVA (January 5, 2026, 12:14 PM) Mayor Brandon Scott discusses the historic drop in murders on a radio show, highlighting Baltimore’s lowest homicide rate in nearly 50 years. View on X
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