Crime Falls Across America as New York’s Criminal Justice Debate Persists

Crime is continuing to fall nationally and across much of New York, but Long Island Republicans say the progress could be even greater if Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democrat-controlled Legislature reversed cashless bail and other policies they say make policing and prosecution more difficult.

A new Council on Criminal Justice analysis found homicides fell 18% during the first half of 2026 across 30 major cities, while carjackings dropped 47%, motor vehicle thefts 20% and robberies 17%.

The Trump administration credited the sharp decline in violent crime to the President’s law-and-order agenda, including stronger support for law enforcement, tougher immigration enforcement and an aggressive crackdown on violent offenders.

In a White House statement, President Trump said his administration had “restored law and order” and declared that “America is safer, stronger, and winning again.” He added that “the era of Democrat-inspired lawlessness is over.”

New York’s figures also show a sharp decline in gun violence. State Division of Criminal Justice Services data covering jurisdictions in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative found shooting incidents fell 19% through June, shooting victims declined 20% and firearm deaths dropped 48% compared with the same period last year.

Through the first six months of 2026, Suffolk County Police reported 12 shooting incidents, down from 17 during the same period last year. Shooting victims declined from 20 to 15, while firearm deaths fell from seven to two. Nassau Police reported four shooting incidents and four shooting victims through June, both up from two a year earlier, while firearm deaths increased from one to two.

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano has repeatedly called for repeal of cashless bail. “This dangerous and misguided legislation has made our communities less safe, despite the efforts of the brave men and when who serve in law enforcement,” he said, adding that judges and prosecutors need stronger tools to protect the public. “The criminal justice agenda of the Democrats continues to embolden criminals at the expense of law abiding citizens.”

Sen. Dean Murray said Albany has focused too heavily on offenders. “The victim’s are forgotten, their families, their loved ones, they’re forgotten,” Murray said. “It’s all about the criminal now.”

Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney and other Long Island Republicans have also opposed expanded parole and sentencing reductions, as well as the Clean Slate Act, which hides criminal records, raising the age for criminal responsibility to 18, and requiring prosecutors to turn over evidence to the defense much earlier and more comprehensively, a law they say leads to more dismissed cases.

They argue the crime rate decline should be reinforced by supporting police, not allowing cashless bail for repeat offenders and violent defendants, and rejecting the anti-police rhetoric promoted by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists.