Violent crime falls to historic lows as coordinated policing and civic action drive crime rate drop
New Orleans ended 2025 with 122 murders, the second fewest since 1970. Excluding the 14 victims of the 1/1/25 terror attack, that number would be 108, the lowest in over 50 years. Furthermore, New Orleans recorded only 290 shootings in 2025, the fewest on record.
While there is still much more work to do, as even one murder or shooting is too many, this progress marks a remarkable improvement from 2022, when New Orleans was tragically named the “Murder Capital of the United States,” with 265 homicides.
While many other cities across the United States have enjoyed improvement in safety, New Orleans’ nearly 60% decrease in murder from 2022 to 2025 is far better than the national average of 17% (FBI/CDC).
The NOLA Coalition expresses its gratitude towards the many who have helped us save lives: the NOPD, Troop NOLA, all of the Local, State, and Federal partners, and the many civic, business, and nonprofit organizations that have come together for the good of our citizens, especially our young people.
“The historic drop in violent crime we’ve seen across New Orleans is no accident—it is the result of intentional, strategic policing and the tireless work of the men and women of the NOPD,” said Anne Kirkpatrick, Superintendent, New Orleans Police Department. “This progress also reflects the strength of our partnerships—from local, state and federal agencies, to community coalitions like the NOLA Coalition—each playing a role in a broader public safety strategy. When we’re all aligned, the results speak for themselves. But let me be clear: crime didn’t go down by chance, and it certainly didn’t go down overnight. It’s the product of focus, coordination, and a deep commitment to the people of this city.”
The NOLA Coalition was formed in the summer of 2022, in the depths of the City’s violence crisis. Since that time, the NOLA Coalition has grown to over 600 member organizations and represents the largest, most diverse civic partnership in New Orleans’ history. The NOLA Coalition has helped advocate for public safety improvements, such as $50 million for IT and safety infrastructure upgrades, while raising over $11 million for investment in the youth of New Orleans.
“Violent crime in New Orleans has not been solved, but as a community, we have made excellent progress,” said Kim Boyle, of Phelps. “It is critical that all citizens in our community work together to support and strengthen activities and programs for our youth to ensure positive outcomes for our community.”
In 2026, the NOLA Coalition will prioritize a set of key issues to continue these positive safety trends:
- Supporting recruiting and retention at NOPD, which is of paramount importance
- Getting guns out of the French Quarter
- Implementing constitutional facial recognition and other preventative technologies
- Continued coordination with state and federal resources for ongoing safety
- Ensuring the judicial system functions as a whole, holding violent offenders accountable
- Continued commitment to investment in our youth, from NORD reform to neighborhood nonprofit support
“We can even further improve public safety through smart common-sense policy choices, said Greg Rusovich, Chairman of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. “More officers and law enforcement presence; broader use of technology, including facial recognition; removing illegal guns and drugs from our streets; ensuring a clean and safe French Quarter; and holding violent criminals accountable – can all save additional lives.”
The nonprofit, civic, and business community has an acute interest in helping to address crime and quality of life, for reasons of both life and livelihood. In 2022, this imperative inspired the creation of the largest and most diverse civic action group in New Orleans’ history. The hundreds of organizations in The NOLA Coalition are small and large, with diverse membership, from across the city and region, and represent tens of thousands of employees from New Orleans and the region.
“The NOLA Coalition represents the best of New Orleans, coming together to create a better New Orleans,” said Michael Hecht, President & CEO of GNO, Inc. “The specific improvement in safety is so important, but perhaps even more vital is the proof that, working together, anything is possible.”