Recent law enforcement data confirms a significant and sustained decline in homicides within Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood and throughout Miami-Dade County. In a remarkable turnaround for the Liberty City area (specifically ZIP code 33147), reported murders plummeted from 31 in 2020 to just five in 2024, marking the lowest level in the neighborhood’s recorded history. This achievement is largely attributed to the Scaling Safety initiative, which emphasizes community-led violence intervention.
Across the broader Miami-Dade region, the transition to the new Sheriff’s Office structure has coincided with a 39% reduction in homicides during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. According to Axios Miami, these figures reflect a broader trend where violent crime in the county has reached its lowest point in over a decade.
Within the City of Miami proper, data from the Miami Police Department shows that murder and non-negligent manslaughter cases have remained steady at record lows. The city recorded 27 incidents in 2024, a stark contrast to the 51 cases seen in 2019. Early reports from January 2026 indicate that this downward trend is continuing, with several historically high-crime zones reporting zero homicides in the first weeks of the year.
Crime Trends and National Context
While national data from mid-2025 showed a 14% decline in homicides across major U.S. cities compared to 2019, Miami has outperformed the national average with a near 43% drop in specific homicide offenses. Law enforcement officials note that while gang-related conflicts tied to narcotics still exist, the surge in community policing and programs like the Circle of Brotherhood has significantly weakened the cycle of retaliatory violence.
Safety Overview by the Numbers
| Region | 2020/2021 Data | 2024/2025 Data | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty City (Homicides) | 31 | 5 | -83% |
| Miami-Dade County (Q1) | 18 (2024) | 11 (2025) | -39% |
| City of Miami (Annual) | 51 (2019) | 27 (2024) | -47% |
Currently, while some peripheral areas like Riviera Beach (located north in Palm Beach County) continue to struggle with high violent crime rates—reported at approximately 62.2 incidents per 1,000 residents—Miami-Dade is increasingly viewed as a national model for urban safety and crime prevention.
