Crime Is Falling In Michigan, Across the U.S. Despite Public Perception

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/15/2025) Contrary to widespread public belief, crime in both Michigan and the United States is on the decline – and has been for years - according to the latest law enforcement and victimization data.

The Michigan State Police Crime Dashboard reports a significant drop in crime: from January to June 2025, the state recorded 73,713 crimes — a 16.7% decrease from the same period in 2023, when 97,911 incidents were reported.

Over the past five years, Michigan has seen a steady decline in crime, with 2023 data showing a 1.4% overall reduction, totaling 199,650 crimes statewide. The FBI’s 2024 national data supports the trend: violent crime dropped 4.5%, while property crime declined by 8.1%.

The National Crime Victimization Survey also shows long-term decreases. Violent crime in 2023 returned to pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019 after brief spikes in 2020 and 2021. Property crime victimization has steadily declined over the past decade, with minor fluctuations in recent years.

Criminal justice expert David Carter, of Michigan State University, cautions that crime statistics are based on reported incidents, which don’t account for unreported offenses — sometimes called “the dark figure of crime.”

"Much of that unreported crime is minor property theft," Carter said, estimating it could raise true crime levels by 6 to 7 percent.

Still, Carter said the overall downward trend is clear — and consistent with historical patterns.

“Crime is cyclical,” said Carter, adding that it ebbs and flows over time no matter what law enforcement does, but police can blunt the peaks and stretch the valleys to keep crime lower.

Despite data showing declining crime, many Americans believe crime is rising. Carter said this disconnect is nothing new — and largely driven by perception.

“Fear of crime is always disproportionate to actual crime. It is all based on perception. It is sometimes aggravated by social media and what people read,” Carter said.

A horrendous or particularly heinous story in the news can impact perceptions of whether crime is increasing, he said. Also, if people are exposed to more information about crimes occurring, they have a false sense that crime itself is increasing.

Current events can play a role, as well. During the COVID-19 pandemic, police and prosecutors were focused more on calls for service, which spurred a temporary uptick in crime.

Carter also said crime rates also track closely with economic conditions. Tim Nash, an economist and vice president emeritus of Northwood University, said the immediate economy was growing, but at the moment, tax cuts and tariffs were pulling at opposite ends of the economy.

“This is the damnedest economy I’ve seen in a long time,” Nash said.