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Is the fact that most violent crimes in the US go unsolved a new phenomenon?

By Tom Kertscher
NO

For decades, most violent crimes reported to law enforcement in the U.S. have not been solved.

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance falsely suggested it was a recent phenomenon.

Alluding to Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, he said Aug. 20, 2024, in Kenosha, Wisconsin:

"Do you know that the gross majority now of violent crimes in this country go unsolved? ... That is because of the leadership of our vice president."

An April Pew Research Center analysis shows that in every year since 1993, the majority of reported violent crimes were not closed because of an arrest or other reason. The FBI defines violent crime as murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

The highest clearance rate was 50% in 1999.

The latest data show recent declines:

2017: 45.6%

2018: 45.5%

2019: 45.5%

2020: 41.7%

2021: Data unavailable

2022: 36.7% (lowest rate in past 30 years)

2023 data isn't available until October.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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