Detroit is on track to record its lowest number of homicides since 1966, a decline that city, county, and state officials attribute to a concerted effort to clear Wayne County’s backlogged court docket. Data released as of November 30, 2023, shows a decrease of 18% in criminal homicides in Detroit since January 1, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. If this trend continues, Detroit could end 2023 with the fewest homicides since 1966, when there were 214 killings.
This decrease in homicides is notable against the backdrop of Detroit’s changing demographics. The city’s population was 1.67 million in 1960, more than double the 639,111 recorded in 2020. In 1966, the homicide rate was 12.8 per 100,000 people based on the 1960 population, while 214 homicides with the current population would result in a rate of 33.4.
County Executive Warren Evans took the lead in coordinating efforts among the county agencies and the courts. “Leadership, teamwork, and a commitment to the community were key components of this initiative,” Evans said. “Our data shows that 50 fewer Detroiters will lose their lives to gun violence in 2023 and 100 fewer will suffer gunshot injuries,” he stated. “This success resulted from every single agency working together and working hard.”
The reduction in crime is linked to a city, county, and state initiative started in late 2021 to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the criminal justice system. This initiative led by County Executive Warren Evans and Mayor Mike Duggan involved key officials such as Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Chief James White, Sheriff Raphael Washington, and judges from the Wayne County Circuit Court and the 36th District Court. Their efforts focused on reducing the backlog of felony gun cases and improving the overall efficiency of the criminal justice system.
The results of these efforts have been significant: an 18% decrease in homicides, a 13% reduction in non-fatal shootings, and a 36% drop in carjackings compared to the same period in 2022. Key strategies included reducing the backlog in felony gun cases in the courts, increasing staffing for law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office, enhancing coordination in shooting and homicide cases, and improving accountability for defendants on tether and for those on probation and parole.
“This collaboration is unique in that issues are identified, solutions discussed, and these solutions are implemented. It is not just talk, talk, talk. The people at the table are the decision makers and significant work is done at each meeting. “We have and continue to tackle serious issues – gun violence, lack of resources, backlogs, training, recruitment and retention, police officer no shows, and other system failures that needed fixing. Many of these are long standing problems that we have been successfully tackling in a very meaningful way,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
The FAST unit, a joint initiative between the Detroit Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriff, apprehended nearly 1,000 individuals with outstanding felony warrants in 2023, focusing on those wanted for gun crimes. State funding played a crucial role in supporting these strategies, with allocations of $2.5 million in 2021 and $12.5 million in 2023.
While acknowledging that even a single violent crime represents a genuine loss and cannot be understated, it is important to highlight the notable decrease in the number of gun violence incidents. This decline, though set against the backdrop of the tragedy each incident embodies, is a significant fact that merits attention. The reduction in gun violence, while not diminishing the gravity of each individual case, indicates a trend that could be a positive step towards improved public safety and community well-being.
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