D.C. homicides at lowest level since 1963

The Washington Times ^ | 1/1/2011 | Matthew Cella

[CharlesWayneCT]

The District finished 2010 with 131 homicides — a 9 percent reduction from 2009 and the lowest number of killings in the nation's capital since 1963.
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Montgomery County saw an increase from 13 homicides in 2009 to 17 last year.
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Fairfax County also recorded a modest increase, from 14 killings in 2009 to 16 last year, while Arlington County recorded one killing last year compared with two in 2009.

For the District, the continued declines in homicides during this decade to nearly half-century lows are impressive. The city less than 20 years ago recorded 482 killings, when turf wars among gangs dealing drugs, particularly crack cocaine, fueled homicide rates more than three times their current levels.

Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier pointed to three reasons for the recent reductions.

First, she said the department has built trust with the community that is leading to more tips...
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Second, she said the department has invested heavily in technology...
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Third, she said gang intelligence has improved so police are able to intervene to stem incidents that in recent years had resulted in violent tit-for-tat shooting sprees.
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...a study of homicides from Sept. 1, 2009, through Aug. 31 revealed that one in five involved a juvenile in the custody of the city's troubled Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services as either a suspect or a victim. Among the highest profile crimes in the District this year were killings committed by wards of the city.

[CharlesWayneCT]

A lot of posters suggest that there hasn’t been enough change in gun ownership to have contributed to a lower crime rate.

But still, it is clear that the crime rate didn’t shoot up as proponents of the gun laws claimed would happen if they lost the court case.