Phoenix homicides are down more than 30% in first half of 2024

Phoenix homicides are at their lowest level in more than five years, per new data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association .

Why it matters: Phoenix's 2022 homicide rate was the highest it had been since 2008's Great Recession, but violent deaths have trended down since.

• There were 66 homicides in the first six months of this year, compared with 97 and 113 in the same time periods in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The intrigue: Claims of rampant violent crime have been a key talking point for Republicans this election cycle even though homicides and other crimes are down in many major cities.

The big picture: Phoenix is contributing to a downward trend in homicide nationally .

• An Axios analysis of data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association — a group of police executives representing the largest cities in the U.S. and Canada — found an overall 13% decline in homicides among 66 cities during the first six months of 2024, compared with the same period last year.
• Homicides are at their lowest point across those major cities since 2019.

The fine print: Homicides are more straightforward to compare year to year from pre-2021 to the present because the criteria for classifying them has remained the same while police have changed their methods of recording other violent crimes.

Zoom in: Phoenix saw a 32% decrease in homicides, 6% decrease in rapes, 2% decrease in aggravated assault and a 10% increase in robberies, compared with the first six months of last year.

• The overall violent crime rate decreased by less than half of a percent.

What we're watching: The Phoenix Police Department released its Crime Prevention Plan earlier this summer with hopes of building upon the violent and property crime decreases the department saw last year. Its four strategic priorities are:

• Early identification and apprehension of the "most violent people" who are most likely to commit more crimes.
• Ramp up patrol in areas where a disproportionate number of crimes are committed.
• Ensure people prohibited from owning firearms are unable to procure them and perpetrate other crimes.
• Focus on apprehending violent offenders with outstanding warrants.