Public Safety
What has happened to crime in Austin?
Homicides have fallen.
Homicides fell from 90 in 2021 to 55 in 2025. In 1995, the homicide rate per capita was 8.74. In 2024, it was 5.54.
Shoplifting rates have plummeted.
In 2019, the city recorded 3,201 shoplifting incidents. In 2024, that number fell to 2,047.
In the same period, burglaries dropped by 500.
What’s helping?
Austin’s Office of Violence Prevention has helped stop crime before it happens.
These programs include:
Funding for shelter services to help those experiencing domestic violence,
Funding for children who are victims of violent crimes
Trauma support programs, like the Harvest Trauma Recovery Center, which helps survivors heal
Community Violence Interrupters through ATX Peace
Youth programming in higher-crime communities
But these programs need funding to continue helping our city.
Many of these programs previously received funding from the federal government. Under the current administration, that funding has been significantly reduced.
Last year, the Administration cut over $800 million from violence prevention programs.
The State of Texas, with the 8th largest economy in the world, did not step in to restore funding to Texas programs harmed by federal disinvestment.
We therefore need our local officials to step in.
Safety Spending in Austin: Our Budget
36% of the General Fund goes to the police.
17.8% goes to the fire department, and 10% goes to the Emergency Medical Services.
That’s over 50% of the budget.
Austin is also policed by state troopers and the Texas Rangers.
Some want you to believe that you can’t walk down the street in Austin and feel safe, and that the city has defunded the police. But crime is at an all-time low, and we spend most of our budget on the police. Facts matter.