Black Mayors in Baltimore and Birmingham Drive Historic Drops in Crime

July 2, 2025

Mayors Brandon Scott of Baltimore and Randall Woodfin of Birmingham have achieved significant reductions in violent crime in their respective cities through evidence-based public safety strategies. Baltimore has seen a 22% drop in homicides, 19% reduction in nonfatal shootings, and 71% decrease in juvenile homicide victims compared to the same period last year. Similarly, Birmingham's homicide rate has fallen 52% while achieving a remarkable 79% clearance rate for homicides.

Who is affected

Baltimore and Birmingham residents
Families of crime victims
Potential criminal offenders receiving service offerings
Birmingham and Baltimore Police Departments
Juveniles in Baltimore (experiencing 71% reduction in homicide victimization)
Community members working with police in both cities

What action is being taken

Baltimore is implementing a Group Violence Reduction Strategy offering services like job training and education to potential offenders
Birmingham is utilizing a Real-Time Crime Center with new technology for crime fighting
Birmingham's street outreach teams are preventing retaliatory shootings
Police in both cities are combining targeted enforcement with community engagement
Both cities are maintaining aggressive, community-driven approaches to public safety

Why it matters

Baltimore has recorded the fewest homicides ever at this point in a single year
Birmingham's homicide clearance rate of 79% exceeds typical rates for major cities
More cases are being solved, with Baltimore's homicide clearance rate at 64%
Fewer families are experiencing the loss of loved ones to violence
The success contradicts national media narratives about urban dysfunction
The progress demonstrates that Black leadership is driving "real, life-saving change"

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer