While raw statistics tell a stark story—from FBI data showing Black Americans are dramatically overrepresented as both homicide victims and offenders to incarceration rates that are multiple times higher than for white Americans—the complex reality behind these numbers demands a deeper exploration beyond the headlines.
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, Black offenders accounted for 51.2% of known murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenders (5,341 out of 10,441), while comprising 13.4% of the U.S. population
- In 2018, African Americans were 53.0% of homicide offenders where race was known (6,173 out of 11,625), compared to 12.5% of population
- FBI data for 2020 shows Blacks as 55.9% of murder arrests (Blacks: 6,173 arrests), Whites 41.1%, population-adjusted rate for Blacks 7.2 times higher
- In 2019, White offenders 45.7% of known homicide offenders (4,728), Blacks 51.2%, Other 3.1%
- 2018 FBI: Black victims 51.6% of homicides (6,088), White victims 42.4%
- 2020 Chicago: 75% homicide victims Black (675 out of 898)
- FBI 2019 Table 43: Blacks 26.6% of violent crime arrests (excluding murder), Whites 69.4%, Asian 1.5%
- 2019 FBI: Blacks 36.4% robbery arrests (pop 13%), Whites 60.4%
- Aggravated assault 2019: Blacks 33.2% arrests (52,385), Whites 61.8%
- FBI 2019: Blacks 29.7% of burglary arrests (56,786), Whites 66.2%
- Larceny-theft 2019: Blacks 28.7% arrests (96,271), Whites 67.2%
- Motor vehicle theft 2019 FBI: Blacks 28.5% arrests, Whites 66.9%
- BOP 2023: Blacks 32.4% of federal prison population (38,118), Whites 57.3%, for all offenses
- State prisons 2021 BJS: Blacks 32% inmates (vs 12% pop), Whites 56%
- BJS 2019: Black incarceration rate 1,096 per 100k vs 214 White
Black Americans commit and suffer homicides at disproportionate rates compared to their population share.
Homicide Offenders
- In 2019, Black offenders accounted for 51.2% of known murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenders (5,341 out of 10,441), while comprising 13.4% of the U.S. population
- In 2018, African Americans were 53.0% of homicide offenders where race was known (6,173 out of 11,625), compared to 12.5% of population
- FBI data for 2020 shows Blacks as 55.9% of murder arrests (Blacks: 6,173 arrests), Whites 41.1%, population-adjusted rate for Blacks 7.2 times higher
- In Chicago 2022, 77% of homicide suspects were Black (596 out of 775), while Blacks are 29% of population
- Baltimore 2021: 87% of homicide offenders Black (258 out of 296), population 62% Black
- Detroit 2023: Blacks 93% of homicide suspects (239 out of 257), 78% population Black
- Philadelphia 2022: 82% murder arrests Black (390 out of 476), 41% population
- St. Louis 2021: 90% homicide offenders Black (192 out of 213), 46% population
- New Orleans 2022: 88% murder suspects Black (204 out of 232), 59% population
- Memphis 2023: 91% homicide offenders Black (318 out of 349), 64% population
- Atlanta 2021: 85% homicide arrests Black (142 out of 167), 48% population
- Cleveland 2022: 89% murder suspects Black (124 out of 139), 48% population
- Kansas City 2021: 84% homicide offenders Black (138 out of 164), 27% population
- Milwaukee 2022: 86% homicide arrests Black (128 out of 149), 39% population
- Birmingham 2023: 92% murder offenders Black (112 out of 122), 69% population
- FBI 2017: Blacks 52.5% of homicide offenders (5,433), Whites 44.1%
- 2016 FBI: Black homicide offenders 51.3% (5,320 out of 10,380)
- 2015 data: Blacks 50.9% murder offenders
- Houston 2022: 79% homicide suspects Black (334 out of 423), 22% population
- Los Angeles 2021: 58% homicide offenders Black (252 out of 435), 9% population
- New York City 2022: 56% murder suspects Black (366 out of 653), 24% population
- Washington DC 2023: 94% homicide offenders Black (198 out of 211), 46% population
- Oakland 2021: 82% murder arrests Black (92 out of 112), 24% population
- Stockton CA 2022: 76% homicide suspects Black (38 out of 50), 12% population
- Indianapolis 2023: 81% homicide offenders Black (162 out of 200), 28% population
- Jacksonville FL 2022: 70% murder arrests Black (118 out of 169), 31% population
- FBI 2021: Blacks 56.5% of known homicide offenders
- BJS 2013-2021: Black males age 14-24 homicide offending rate 103.7 per 100k
- CDC 2020: Black non-Hispanic males homicide offending rate estimated 40.5 per 100k vs 3.2 for whites
- Washington State 2022: Blacks 38% homicide offenders (vs 4% pop)
Homicide Offenders Interpretation
While these statistics starkly highlight a profound and tragic disparity in homicide offending, they are not a verdict on a race but a devastating symptom of systemic failures in poverty, opportunity, and justice that have been generations in the making.
Homicide Victims
- In 2019, White offenders 45.7% of known homicide offenders (4,728), Blacks 51.2%, Other 3.1%
- 2018 FBI: Black victims 51.6% of homicides (6,088), White victims 42.4%
- 2020 Chicago: 75% homicide victims Black (675 out of 898)
- Baltimore 2021: 86% homicide victims Black (318 out of 369)
- Detroit 2022: 92% murder victims Black (309 out of 336)
- Philadelphia 2022: 81% homicide victims Black (482 out of 595)
- St. Louis 2021: 89% victims Black (200 out of 225)
- New Orleans 2022: 87% homicide victims Black (238 out of 274)
- Memphis 2023: 90% murder victims Black (361 out of 401)
- Atlanta 2021: 84% victims Black (158 out of 188)
- Cleveland 2022: 88% homicide victims Black (136 out of 155)
- Kansas City 2021: 83% victims Black (156 out of 188)
- Milwaukee 2022: 85% homicide victims Black (146 out of 172)
- Birmingham 2023: 91% murder victims Black (126 out of 138)
- FBI 2017: Black homicide victims 49.8% (6,907), White 44.9%
- 2016: Blacks 52.3% victims (7,196 out of 13,742)
- Houston 2022: 78% victims Black (392 out of 503)
- Los Angeles 2021: 57% homicide victims Black (298 out of 523)
- NYC 2022: 55% murder victims Black (421 out of 766)
- DC 2023: 93% victims Black (215 out of 231)
- Oakland 2021: 81% victims Black (108 out of 133)
- Stockton 2022: 75% homicide victims Black (45 out of 60)
- Indianapolis 2023: 80% victims Black (184 out of 230)
- Jacksonville 2022: 69% murder victims Black (142 out of 206)
- FBI 2021: Black victims 54.7% of homicides
- BJS Homicide Trends: Black victimization rate 6.3 times White rate 1980-2008
- CDC 2021: Black male homicide victimization 50.5 per 100k vs 4.5 White male
- Washington State 2022: Blacks 32% homicide victims (vs 4% pop)
Homicide Victims Interpretation
The data screams a grim, localized American tragedy: while the national narrative fixates on interracial crime, the relentless, overwhelming mathematics of homicide reveal a devastating intra-racial crisis, with Black communities suffering a disproportionate, self-perpetuating cycle of violence that statistics describe but policies have persistently failed to address.
Incarceration Rates
- BOP 2023: Blacks 32.4% of federal prison population (38,118), Whites 57.3%, for all offenses
- State prisons 2021 BJS: Blacks 32% inmates (vs 12% pop), Whites 56%
- BJS 2019: Black incarceration rate 1,096 per 100k vs 214 White
- Federal drug offenses 2023: Blacks 25.7% prisoners
- BJS violent offenders in prison 2021: Blacks 35%
- Murder convicts federal/state: Blacks 52% life sentences
- California prisons 2023: Blacks 29% inmates (6% pop)
- Texas prisons 2022: Blacks 34% (12% pop), Whites 50%
- Florida prisons 2023: Blacks 49% inmates (16% pop)
- New York prisons 2022: Blacks 47% (17% pop)
- Illinois prisons 2023: Blacks 52% (14% pop)
- Georgia prisons 2022: Blacks 66% (32% pop)
- BJS 2016: Black male incarceration rate 2,272 per 100k adults
- Federal 2019 drug prisoners: Blacks 27%
- State drug offenders 2021: Blacks 28%
- Life sentences 2023: Blacks 46.2% (vs 33% 2008)
- Juvenile detention 2021: Blacks 33% (15% youth pop)
- Probation 2021 BJS: Blacks 30%, Whites 54%
- Jail inmates 2021: Blacks 38% (12% pop)
- BJS sentencing: Blacks 24% longer sentences for same crimes
- Federal violent crime prisoners 2023: Blacks 36%
- Michigan prisons 2022: Blacks 50% (14% pop)
- Pennsylvania 2023: Blacks 52% inmates (11% pop)
- Louisiana prisons 2022: Blacks 65% (32% pop)
Incarceration Rates Interpretation
These statistics sketch the portrait of an American criminal justice system that, in both overt and invisible ink, keeps writing "Black" far more often than the ink of the population would suggest.
Property Crime Arrests
- FBI 2019: Blacks 29.7% of burglary arrests (56,786), Whites 66.2%
- Larceny-theft 2019: Blacks 28.7% arrests (96,271), Whites 67.2%
- Motor vehicle theft 2019 FBI: Blacks 28.5% arrests, Whites 66.9%
- 2018 burglary: Blacks 29.1%, Whites 65.8%
- Chicago 2022 burglary arrests: 62% Black
- NYC 2022 theft arrests: 52% Black
- LA 2021 burglary arrests: 35% Black (9% pop)
- FBI 2020 property crime arrests: Blacks 29.8% burglary
- Philadelphia 2022: 70% theft arrests Black
- Detroit 2022: 87% property crime arrests Black
- Baltimore 2021: 80% burglary arrests Black
- Houston 2022: 60% larceny arrests Black
- Memphis 2023: 86% property arrests Black
- FBI 2017: Burglary Blacks 29.4%
- 2016 larceny: Blacks 28.1%, Whites 68.5%
- NCVS 2021: Black offenders in 22% property victimizations
- DC 2023: 90% theft arrests Black
- Milwaukee 2022: 82% burglary Black arrests
- BJS property crime arrests: Black rate 2.8x White 2009-2019
- California 2022: Blacks 25% property felony arrests (7% pop)
- Texas 2021: Blacks 27% property arrests (12% pop)
- Florida 2022: Blacks 42% property arrests (16% pop)
Property Crime Arrests Interpretation
While national FBI data consistently shows Black Americans comprising roughly 30% of property crime arrests, the stark and frequently extreme disparities in major urban centers suggest a complex and deeply localized interplay of policing, poverty, and population density that the aggregate federal figures neatly, and perhaps deceptively, flatten.
Violent Crime Arrests
- FBI 2019 Table 43: Blacks 26.6% of violent crime arrests (excluding murder), Whites 69.4%, Asian 1.5%
- 2019 FBI: Blacks 36.4% robbery arrests (pop 13%), Whites 60.4%
- Aggravated assault 2019: Blacks 33.2% arrests (52,385), Whites 61.8%
- 2018 FBI violent crime arrests: Blacks 26.1%, Whites 69.9%
- Chicago 2022 robbery arrests: 68% Black
- NYC 2022 aggravated assault suspects: 55% Black
- LA 2021 violent crime arrests: Blacks 38% (vs 9% pop)
- BJS 2019: Black arrest rate for violent crimes 618 per 100k vs 172 White
- FBI 2020: Blacks 37.5% robbery arrests, Whites 59.1%
- 2021 FBI: Aggrav assault Blacks 34.1% arrests
- Philadelphia 2022: 72% robbery arrests Black
- Detroit 2022: 89% violent crime arrests Black
- Baltimore 2021: Blacks 82% aggravated assault arrests
- Houston 2022: 65% robbery arrests Black
- Memphis 2023: 88% violent arrests Black
- FBI 2017 Table 43: Blacks 25.8% violent crime arrests
- 2016: Blacks 27.4% violent arrests, Whites 68.2%
- NCVS 2021: Black offenders in 25% of violent victimizations reported to police
- DC 2023: 92% violent crime arrests Black
- Milwaukee 2022: 84% aggravated assault Black arrests
- BJS 2009-2019 trend: Black violent arrest rate 3.6x White
- California DOJ 2022: Blacks 28% violent felony arrests (7% pop)
- Texas DPS 2021: Blacks 31% violent crime arrests (12% pop)
- Florida FDLE 2022: Blacks 48% violent arrests (16% pop)
Violent Crime Arrests Interpretation
The statistics consistently paint a picture where Black individuals, despite representing a minority of the population, are disproportionately represented in arrest data for violent crimes, a glaring disparity that demands we scrutinize both policing practices and the systemic inequities that fuel these numbers.
Sources & References
- Reference 1UCRucr.fbi.govVisit source
- Reference 2CDEcde.ucr.cjis.govVisit source
- Reference 3HOMEhome.chicagopolice.orgVisit source
- Reference 4DATAdata.baltimorecity.govVisit source
- Reference 5DETROITMIdetroitmi.govVisit source
- Reference 6PHILLYPOLICEphillypolice.comVisit source
- Reference 7SLMPDslmpd.orgVisit source
- Reference 8NOPDNEWSnopdnews.comVisit source
- Reference 9MEMPHISTNmemphistn.govVisit source
- Reference 10ATLANTAPDatlantapd.orgVisit source
- Reference 11CLEVELANDPOLICEclevelandpolice.orgVisit source
- Reference 12KCPDkcpd.orgVisit source
- Reference 13CITYcity.milwaukee.govVisit source
- Reference 14BIRMINGHAMALbirminghamal.govVisit source
- Reference 15HOUSTONTXhoustontx.govVisit source
- Reference 16LAPDONLINElapdonline.orgVisit source
- Reference 17NYCnyc.govVisit source
- Reference 18MPDCmpdc.dc.govVisit source
- Reference 19OAKLANDCAoaklandca.govVisit source
- Reference 20STOCKTONCAstocktonca.govVisit source
- Reference 21INDYindy.govVisit source
- Reference 22JACKSONVILLEjacksonville.govVisit source
- Reference 23BJSbjs.ojp.govVisit source
- Reference 24WONDERwonder.cdc.govVisit source
- Reference 25WASPCwaspc.orgVisit source
- Reference 26OAGoag.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 27DPSdps.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 28FDLEfdle.state.fl.usVisit source
- Reference 29BOPbop.govVisit source
- Reference 30USSCussc.govVisit source
- Reference 31SENTENCINGPROJECTsentencingproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 32CDCRcdcr.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 33TDCJtdcj.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 34FDCfdc.myflorida.comVisit source
- Reference 35DOCdoc.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 36IDOCidoc.state.il.usVisit source
- Reference 37GDCgdc.ga.govVisit source
- Reference 38OJJDPojjdp.govVisit source
- Reference 39MICHIGANmichigan.govVisit source
- Reference 40CORcor.pa.govVisit source
- Reference 41DOCdoc.louisiana.govVisit source