How does Birmingham compare to the cities its Crime Commission studied in hopes of bringing down the city’s record murder numbers?
The Birmingham Crime Commission, launched last year to address the city’s homicide crisis, released its initial report this month, calling for a multi-faceted crime-fighting strategy focusing on both immediate and long-term solutions.
The 19-member advisory commission, made up of business, criminal justice and community leaders, examined several U.S. cities in crafting the report – Boston, New Orleans, Newark, St. Louis and Memphis.
But the lessons drawn from each city were different.
Read the full report here.
Birmingham ended 2024 with 151 homicides, the highest number of killings in the city in more than nine decades.
Revenge, machine gun conversion devices and mass shootings drove the number of people killed to heights not seen since 1933, when there were 148 violent deaths.
According to the report, members of the commission looked specifically at gun violence reduction efforts in Boston, New Orleans, Newark and St. Louis.
Boston
Population: 653,833 (49% white, 23% black, 10% Asian)
Percentage in poverty: 18%.
2023 homicides: 38
2024 homicides: 24
Boston recorded 57 homicides in 2020, 72 in 2010 and 37 in 2000.
What happened: Boston has garnered national headlines for its drop in violent crime. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has touted coordination between Boston police and community groups, and a city program that provides 10,000 summer jobs.
New Orleans
Population: 364,136 (57% black, 32% white)
Percentage in poverty: 23%
2023 homicides: 198
2024 homicides: 134
The Crescent City tallied 195 homicides in 2020, 175 in 2010 and 204 in 2000.
What happened: New Orleans was the nation’s murder capital in 2022, and the dive in homicides since tracks with decreases in other major cities. Community action groups say advocating for police officer pay raises and raising money for local non-profits has accomplished some of the decrease.
Newark
Population: 304,960 (47% black, 20% white)
Percentage in poverty: 24%
2023 homicides: 53
2024 homicides: 37
Newark recorded 51 homicides in 2020, 91 in 2010, and 58 in 2000.
What happened: Murders this past year hit a historic low, as well as declines in non-fatal shootings and rapes, but authorities said violent crime was up. Newark has seen a 50% drop in homicides since the adoption of a Community Violence Intervention Action Plan, according to the crime commission’s report. In addition, Newark hosts weekly public safety meetings with city department heads, including police, public works, housing, and health. These meetings foster collaboration, accountability and strategic alignment, according to the report.
St. Louis
Population: 281,754 (46% white, 44% black)
Percentage in poverty: 20%
2023 homicides: 169
2024 homicides: 150
St. Louis had 263 homicides in 2020, 144 in 2010, and 124 in 2000.
What happened: St. Louis has seen a decrease in murders every year since 2020. Last year, it also recorded a decrease of 2.2% in violent crimes, a decrease of 12.6% in property crime, and a decrease of 6.3% in drug and weapons crimes.
All of these cities show decreases in homicides over the last year and have seen murders fall over the last 25 years, with fluctuations in between.
The Council on Criminal Justice reported that from 2019 through 2024, the percentage drop in homicides in St. Louis was 23%. From 2022 to 2023, New Orleans’ homicides dropped 25%, and 23% in St. Louis.
The Birmingham Crime Commission recommended some of the same techniques used in these cities, from increase police pay to after school and educational programs, and community action groups working with police.
The commission also looked at comparisons to Memphis police.
Memphis
Population: 613,110 (64% black, 26% white)
Percentage in poverty: 22.6%
2023 homicides: 341
2024 homicides: 296
By comparison with the other cities, Birmingham has a population of 196,644, with 69% black, 25% white, and 26% of the population living in poverty.