Crime in the 1990s
The decade started with crime at historic peaks and ended with the beginning of the Great Crime Decline — one of the most significant social changes in modern history.
Key Insights
- →Violent crime rate: 729.6 (1990) → 523.0 (1999) — -28.3%
- →Homicide rate: 9.4 → 5.7 per 100K — -39.5%
- →Property crime rate: 5073.1 → 3743.6 — -26.2%
- →Violent crime peaks in 1991-1993
Start vs End of Decade
Violent Crime Rate
1990
729.6
↓ 28.3%
1999
523.0
Homicide Rate
1990
9.4
↓ 39.5%
1999
5.7
Property Crime Rate
1990
5073.1
↓ 26.2%
1999
3743.6
Year-by-Year Crime Rates
| Year | Violent Rate | Homicide Rate | Property Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 729.6 | 9.4 | 5073.1 | 249,464,396 |
| 1991 | 758.2 | 9.8 | 5140.2 | 252,153,092 |
| 1992 | 757.7 | 9.3 | 4903.7 | 255,029,699 |
| 1993 | 747.1 | 9.5 | 4740.0 | 257,782,608 |
| 1994 | 713.6 | 9.0 | 4660.2 | 260,327,021 |
| 1995 | 684.5 | 8.2 | 4590.5 | 262,803,276 |
| 1996 | 636.6 | 7.4 | 4451.0 | 265,228,572 |
| 1997 | 611.0 | 6.8 | 4316.5 | 267,783,607 |
| 1998 | 567.6 | 6.3 | 4052.5 | 270,248,003 |
| 1999 | 523.0 | 5.7 | 3743.6 | 272,690,813 |
What Defined This Era
The 1990s witnessed the most dramatic crime decline in American history. After peaking around 1991, violent crime began a sustained drop that would continue for two decades. Theories abound: better policing (CompStat), mass incarceration, the fading crack epidemic, economic boom, demographic shifts, and the controversial lead-crime hypothesis.
Key Events
- •Violent crime peaks in 1991-1993
- •The Great Crime Decline begins (~1993)
- •CompStat policing revolution in NYC
- •Community policing movement grows
- •Columbine school shooting (1999)
Policy Changes
- ⚖Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (1994)
- ⚖100,000 new police officers funded (COPS program)
- ⚖Federal Assault Weapons Ban (1994-2004)
- ⚖Brady Bill — background checks for gun purchases (1993)
- ⚖Three-strikes laws spread nationally
- ⚖Megan's Law — sex offender registries (1996)
Notable Cases & Events
- ▸O.J. Simpson trial (1995)
- ▸Oklahoma City bombing (1995)
- ▸Columbine school shooting (1999)
- ▸Unabomber captured (1996)
- ▸World Trade Center bombing (1993)