An Escalating Violent Crime ProblemBaltimore City Annual Incidences of Violent Crime

1972 - 1999

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

Schaefer (72 - 86) Schmoke (88 - 99)Burns (87)

Source: FBI UCR Figures

New Leadership PromptsRecord-Setting Improvement

Baltimore City Annual Incidences of Violent Crime1972 - 2004

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04

Schaefer (72 - 86) Schmoke (88 - 99)Burns (87)

Source: FBI UCR Figures

O'Malley (00 - 04)

Baltimore Has Become a Safer Place

Average Annual Incidences of Violent Crime

15,872

18,757

13,488 13,488

5,000

7,500

10,000

12,500

15,000

17,500

20,000

22,500

25,000

Schaefer/O'Malley Schmoke/O'Malley

15% Reduction

28% Reduction

Source: FBI UCR Figures

Since 1999, Baltimore Has Led the Nation in the Rate of Reduction of Violent Crime

• Since 1999, Baltimore City has led the nation in the rate of reduction of violent crime for 25 largest American cities.

• During that time, no other major city in the country has come farther faster than Baltimore.

Cities 1999 2004Percentage

ChangeBaltimore 18,630 11,667 -37.4%San Jose 5,088 3,379 -33.6%New York 78,984 55,688 -29.5%Detroit 21,976 15,913 -27.6%El Paso 4,280 3,242 -24.3%Milwaukee 6,061 4,637 -23.5%San Francisco 6,555 5,757 -12.2%Fort Worth 4,246 3,784 -10.9%Charlotte 8,138 7,275 -10.6%Jacksonville 7,265 6,533 -10.1%Philadelphia 23,031 20,902 -9.2%Seattle 4,166 3,798 -8.8%LA 46,840 42,786 -8.7%San Diego 7,411 6,774 -8.6%Indianapolis 7,714 7,067 -8.4%Phoenix 10,199 9,465 -7.2%Boston 7,263 6,917 -4.8%Columbus 5,755 5,925 3.0%Dallas 15,435 16,165 4.7%Houston 21,517 23,427 8.9%Memphis 8,602 10,115 17.6%Austin 2,965 3,589 21.0%San Antonio 6,340 7,846 23.8%Denver 2,909 4,490 54.3%Chicago NOT AVAILABLE

Source: FBI UCR FiguresSource: US Census

Setting Goals to Make Progress

• In 1999 mayoral candidate Martin J. O’Malley set a goal to reduce the annual number of homicides in Baltimore to 175 by 2002.

• During the current decade, under the leadership of Mayor O’Malley, Baltimore has led the nation in the rate of reduction of violent crime. The nearly 40 percent reduction achieved translates to almost 26,000 fewer incidences of violent crime in the city. Despite this success, the city’s annual number of homicides commands a disproportionate amount of public attention and a perception has taken hold that the Mayor has not or is no longer making progress on reducing Baltimore’s homicides.

• While Baltimore has not yet achieved its homicide goal, significant progress has been made and there are very encouraging signs regarding the city’s current and future outlook.

A Seemingly Intractable Problem…

During the 1990's the CityExperienced More Than 300 Homicides Every Year

305 304

335353

321 325 331

312 313305

175

225

275

325

375

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

…But Indisputable Improvement

Mayor O'Malley Ended the City's 10-Year Streak of 300+ Homicides and Recorded Baltimore's Lowest Homicide Level Since 1988

305 304

335353

321 325 331

312 313305

261 256 253270 276

269

175

225

275

325

375

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005O'Malley: Five Straight Years Below 3001990 - 1999: A decade of 300+ Homicides Per Year

Two Decades in Contrast• During the 1990’s, the City

averaged 320 homicides per year. During the 2000 – 2005 period under the leadership of Mayor Martin O’Malley, Baltimore has averaged 264 homicides per year.

• This represents an 18 percent reduction in average annual homicides and equates to more than 335 homicides having been prevented/lives saved.

Under Mayor O'Malley's LeadershipBaltimore's Average Annual Number of Homicides

Has Dropped 18 Percent

264

320

175

200

225

250

275

300

325

350

1990 - 1999 2000 - 2005

Ann

ual A

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Reasons for Optimism

• Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm has brought stability to the Department’s management, earned the public’s confidence, and dramatically improved officer morale.

• A comprehensive crime camera initiative has brought closed-circuit surveillance efforts to the neighborhoods that experience the highest incidences of violent crime.

A Need for Improvement

• Since 1999, while Baltimore has achieved nation-leading reductions in violent crime, other jurisdictions and the State as a whole have had their struggles. Between 1999 and 2004, the number of violent crime incidents in the State of Maryland has increased when Baltimore City’s reductions are excluded.

• Between 2002 and 2004, Statewide violent crime was reduced 7.3 percent, but more than half of that improvement is attributable to Baltimore City. During the 2003/2004 period, Statewide violent crime outside of Baltimore City was almost unchanged.

Minimal Change in Non-City Statewide Violent Crime Since

Governor Ehrlich Came into Office State of Maryland Incidences of Violent Crime

Are Almost Unchanged During the Governor's First Two Years When Baltimore City's Gains are Excluded

27,595 27,265

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

2003 2004Source: FBI UCR Reports

A Need for Improvement

• The most recent data available from the Maryland State Police shows that for the first nine months of 2005, Statewide violent crime has increased five percent when Baltimore City’s reduction is excluded. During that same time period, violent

crime is up in the majority of Maryland jurisdictions.

Maryland Can Do Better

Violent Crime is a Growing Concernin the State of Maryland

2004 2005 PercentageJan - Sept Jan - Sept Change

Murders 175 205 17.1%Forcible Rape 863 848 -1.7%Robbery 6,209 7,576 22.0%Aggravated Assaults 13,038 12,670 -2.8%Totals 20,285 21,299 5.0%Source: Maryland State Police

State of Maryland Violent CrimeExcluding Baltimore City