U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in Arkansas to discuss progress in tackling violent crime

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland was in Little Rock on Thursday as part of the Justice Department’s plan to tackle violent crime across the country.

Garland visited the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas and met with U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross and law enforcement officials at the local, state and federal levels.

Before the meeting, Garland spoke to the media about an FBI report on national statistics that came out this week. Garland said the DOJ has seen results from their work across the country over the past three years.

“Earlier this month, the Department of Justice Violent Crime Steering Committee received data from 88 cities indicating that violent crime has continued to decline significantly through 2024,” the AG told attendees in Little Rock. “That included a further 16.9% decrease in homicide rates.”

Garland added that the FBI’s report shows an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years.

Although 2023 numbers are not yet available, the 2023 report shows that crime in Arkansas declined in 2022, following the national trend. However, violent crime in the state had yet to fall to pre-pandemic levels seen elsewhere in the country.

“This office and the Department of Justice are working with the agencies around this table to arrest violent criminals, seize and track weapons used in crimes, disrupt violent drug traffickers, and prosecute the individuals and gangs most responsible for driving violent crimes. Garland said.

This week, the DOJ also awarded more than $4 million to Arkansas under the National Criminal History Improvement Program, which provides funding to states and localities to improve the quality, timeliness and immediate accessibility of criminal history data and related information.

These grants are part of more than $26 million the department is awarding this month to Arkansas organizations and government agencies to support law enforcement activities and community initiatives.

“These funds will, among other things, help Arkansas law enforcement agencies hire more officers, help prevent and combat violent crimes and drug trafficking, and improve services to survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and other crimes.” Garland said.