The FBI has revised its 2022 crime data, initially reporting a 2.1% decrease in violent crime. The updated figures now reveal a 4.5% increase. The revision includes 80,000 more incidents of violent crime than previously reported, with an increase of 1,699 murders, 7,780 rapes, over 33,000 robberies and 37,000 aggravated assaults.
This new data was released without a formal announcement, with the FBI noting only on its website that the 2022 violent crime rate had been updated.
The discovery of these changes was first highlighted by John Lott, an American economist and political commentator. The revised data is publicly available.
These updates alter previous claims reflected in news headlines, indicating that the trend of consecutive years of crime decreased is no longer accurate due to the rise in crime in 2022. The new figures also adjust the narrative for a reported drop in crime for 2023, now reduced from a previously reported 3.5% decrease to just 1.6%.
The issue of violent crime in the United States is politically charged. Democrats have often cited the FBI’s crime data to show a decrease in crime under the Biden-Harris administration. In contrast, Republicans frequently criticize the FBI as a reliable source for crime data, often referring to the National Crime Victimization Survey, which indicates an increase in crime over the last four years.
The FBI has not commented on its revised figures.
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