Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland reported a continued decline in violent crime across the state in 2025, attributing the trend to collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Statewide homicides have dropped by 50 percent since 2021. In Baltimore City, there were 133 murders in 2025—the lowest number recorded since 1977. This marks a 31 percent decrease from 2024 and a 61 percent reduction compared to 2021. It is also only the fifth time since 1970 that Baltimore has recorded fewer than 200 murders, and the first instance of back-to-back years with under 200 homicides since 1978. Non-fatal shootings fell by 28 percent statewide and by 25 percent in Baltimore City during the same period. In Prince George’s County, homicides declined by 41 percent as of December 31, 2025.
Officials attribute these reductions to joint efforts that use federal resources to support local initiatives. One example is the deployment of Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs), who are funded by state grants and work alongside federal prosecutors to address violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborates with offices such as the Maryland State Prosecutor and local State’s Attorneys for Prince George’s County and Baltimore City to assign SAUSAs in both Baltimore and Greenbelt offices; nine SAUSAs were active full-time in these locations during 2025.
“The recent decline in violent crime across Maryland reflects what is possible when we work together with focus and purpose,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes. “By strategically leveraging Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys — and strengthening our partnerships with Federal, State, and local law enforcement — we are multiplying our impact and ensuring that the most serious offenders are held accountable. Public safety remains our top priority, and we will continue to use every tool available to keep Maryland’s communities safe.”
In Baltimore City, SAUSAs prosecute violations of federal firearm laws and assist agencies like the Baltimore Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with investigations into armed robbery, carjacking, homicide, and non-fatal shootings. They also help investigate cases involving firearms offenses, narcotics trafficking, robberies, and carjackings connected to Prince George’s County.
Through expanded collaboration with various law enforcement partners—including those involved in Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)—the office has investigated crimes such as firearms trafficking, drug distribution networks, carjackings, bank robberies, gang-related killings (including MS-13 RICO Act conspiracy cases), as well as other acts of violence.
The office is also working through the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), created by Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF coordinates multiple government agencies against criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational organizations involved in human smuggling or trafficking—both domestically and internationally—and targets crimes including murder by foreign nationals or illegal fentanyl sales within Maryland.
Further information about ongoing initiatives can be found at justice.gov/usao-md or justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.