Baltimore bloodshed drops as law-and-order push targets repeat criminals Baltimore has seen a substantial decrease in homicides, falling to 134 in 2025 from 202 in 2024, attributed by State’s Attorney Ivan Bates to a strategy focused on incarcerating repeat violent offenders. His administration has increased the conviction and sentencing rates for these individuals, aiming to remove them from the community. This approach, coupled with enhanced federal cooperation and an expanded legal team, has contributed to a decline that Bates suggests outpaces national trends, though he warns against complacency without re-entry program investment.

• Homicides in Baltimore dropped to 134 in 2025, a decrease from 202 in 2024, continuing a multi-year decline.
• State’s Attorney Ivan Bates attributes the reduction to a focus on prosecuting repeat violent offenders.
• The percentage of repeat offenders sentenced has increased significantly under Bates’s administration, from 31% in 2022 to 65% in 2025.
• Enhanced cooperation with federal agencies and neighboring jurisdictions is cited as a contributing factor.
• The State’s Attorney’s Office has increased its number of prosecutors from 140 to 200.
• Bates cautioned that sustained progress requires investment in re-entry programs.
• Despite the overall decline, some entertainment districts still experience shootings.
• National crime rates, including homicides, have also seen a general decrease across U.S. cities.