A retired NYPD homicide detective, Teresa Leto, has highlighted the effects of various cultural and policy changes since 2020 on the U.S. homicide clearance rate, which dropped to an all-time low of 52.3% in 2022. The Murder Accountability Project data, which is cited by Leto, reveals that this represents a significant decline from previous years when clearance rates were above 60%.
Leto explained that the first major factor impacting law enforcement was the pandemic. She noted that the move to virtual court proceedings significantly slowed the judicial process, leading to a backlog of cases. Additionally, the pandemic caused a reduction in the number of officers and support personnel available for investigations due to illness and safety-related measures.
The aftermath of the George Floyd protests in 2020, she argued, further strained law enforcement resources. Many detective units were redirected to deal with the unrest, leading to a decrease in the number of investigators available for serious crimes such as homicide. This shift, combined with a decline in police recruitment due to public backlash, created a manpower shortage, forcing existing officers to work overtime and some to retire due to unsustainable workloads.
Bail reform, introduced in the wake of the Floyd protests, also had an impact. Leto pointed out that the reclassification of some violent crimes as nonviolent allowed more offenders to be released without posting bail. This, she argued, led to an increase in repeat offenses and the release of more dangerous criminals. Meanwhile, the increasing use of digital evidence and video footage required more in-depth investigations, further complicating the clearance process.
In summary, Leto emphasized that the combination of these factors has created a systemic challenge for law enforcement, with police departments struggling to maintain the same investigative capacity as before 2020. The result is a significant drop in the number of homicides being solved, raising concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of current policing strategies.