Crime Without Punishment | CBS Reports
In this CBS Reports documentary, Jim Axelrod peels back the curtain on a sobering reality of a justice system in crisis: For roughly half of the people murdered in America, no one is arrested for the crime.
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A look at unsolved murders in America
In a collaboration with CBS News, we examine a crime often going without punishment in our country. CBS2's Ali Bauman takes a closer look at racial disparities in homicide closure rates at the NYPD.
Barely half of murder cases in the United States get solved. The national homicide clearance rate is at an all-time low, according to FBI data. Oakland and San Francisco are seeing a large difference on solved cases, as Wilson Walker reports.
Barely half of murder cases in the U.S. get solved. The national homicide clearance rate is at an all-time low, according to FBI data. In the mid-1960s, more than 90% of murders were solved, generally resulting in the arrests. By 1990, that percentage fell into the 60s. Then, by 2020, as homicides surged, the national clearance rate dropped to about 50% for the first time ever.
Murders are going unsolved at a historic pace, and police are far less likely to solve cases when the victim is Black or Hispanic, a CBS News investigation has found.
The investigative team at CBS News wanted to understand how police were addressing this nearly unprecedented spike in murders – and why many were going unsolved.
Officials from more than 20 agencies are working together in a nondescript warehouse, investigating Baltimore's most brazen drug syndicates.
Mothers being asked to investigate the murders of their sons has become a reality in Jackson.
CBS News analyzed decades of unsolved murders across the country, and found stark racial disparities in the clearance rates — the share of cases each year that are solved.
Renee Hall, former chief of the Dallas Police Department, is the daughter of a police officer killed in the line of duty.
According to data analyzed by CBS News, the national homicide clearance rate has been improving for cases involving white victims, but falling for Black and Hispanic victims.
According to the FBI and the Detroit Police Department, homicide clearance rates in the city have risen as the national average has fallen.
An analysis of FBI crime data by CBS 2 has found that LAPD's homicide clearance rate has ebbed over the years in a way that is concerning.
Chicago Police have low arrest rates, but higher rates for cleared or closed cases. We dig into what's behind those numbers.
New research by the CBS News Innovation Lab shows the likelihood of a murder being solved in the US is significantly lower when the victims are Black or Hispanic.
In a collaboration with CBS News, CBS Sacramento is examining why crime is often going without punishment in our country. The national homicide clearance rate is at an all-time low, according to FBI data. Barely half of the murder cases in the United States get solved.
In Miami-Dade, the clearance rate for homicides in 2020 was 43%
Unsolved murders are a growing concern nationwide.
The murder rate in Philadelphia was 499 in 2020. That's a 40% increase from 2019.
A CBS News analysis of FBI homicide data shows Baltimore City's average clearance rate from 2015 to 2019 was just 38.7%, hitting a low of 29.7% in 2015, the tumultuous year when Freddie Gray was killed in police custody and arrests plummeted.
Murder, according to the FBI, is the most likely crime to be solved in the US, but nationally the rate of success has been in decline for years.
In a collaboration with CBS News, KDKA Investigates examines crime often going without punishment in our country.
The day after Terrell Mayes, Jr. celebrated Christmas with his family, the 3-year-old and his siblings heard gunshots. A stray bullet struck Terrell as he ran up the stairs inside his north Minneapolis home. For more than a decade, WCCO has followed his grieving mother's push to find her son's killer.
Denver police has made many changes in the decades since the shocking murder of Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, including building a $28 million state-of-the-art crime lab.
In a collaboration with CBS News, KPIX 5 is examining a crime often going without punishment in our country. Barely half of murder cases in the United States get solved.
The zipper head on the recalled HALO Magic Sleepsuits poses a danger to babies, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
All six service members died during an unmanned aircraft system attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
Italian Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, 68, is currently the Holy See's ambassador to the United Nations in New York.
In July, Prasad was briefly forced from his job, but was reinstated less than two weeks later.
Rep. Darrell Issa's abrupt reversal injects more uncertainty in the race for the newly redrawn Southern California congressional district.
Venezuela's new administration is cutting deals, but there's a big reward available for a key figure.
Although home prices remain elevated, conditions are shaping up to be more favorable for buyers this year, experts said.
Jet fuel costs have shot up more than 50% since the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran sparked a jump in global prices.
The maker of the Claude chatbot says its research could help identify economic disruptions by measuring how AI is currently reshaping work.
Stocks fell after new government data showed U.S. employers shed 92,000 jobs in February and as investors fret over oil prices.
President Trump on Saturday told reporters, without citing evidence, that he believes a deadly strike on a girls' primary school in southern Iran last weekend was "done by Iran."
Workers installed a plaque honoring police officers in the early morning hours, three years after it was required by law to be erected.
The White House called the gathering of Latin American leaders the "Shield of the Americas" summit.
In July, Prasad was briefly forced from his job, but was reinstated less than two weeks later.
Rep. Darrell Issa's abrupt reversal injects more uncertainty in the race for the newly redrawn Southern California congressional district.
The zipper head on the recalled HALO Magic Sleepsuits poses a danger to babies, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Debi Weiss thought her fatigue and weakness was a seasonal illness, but her condition quickly worsened.
In July, Prasad was briefly forced from his job, but was reinstated less than two weeks later.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wants the popular coffee chains to prove their surgery drinks are safe for teens and suggested the Trump administration could place limits on your cup of coffee.
Tests of dozens of baby formulas by Consumer Reports found that nearly half contained potentially dangerous chemicals.
President Trump on Saturday told reporters, without citing evidence, that he believes a deadly strike on a girls' primary school in southern Iran last weekend was "done by Iran."
All six service members died during an unmanned aircraft system attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
Oksana Masters has competed at every Paralympics since 2012 and is the most decorated American Winter Paralympian.
At least five people are in serious condition, an official said. Three minors - a 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds - are among the wounded.
Ian Huntley, 52, had been on life support after being hit repeatedly over the head with a metal bar in a U.K. prison on Feb. 26.
"CBS Saturday Morning" sits down with Morgan Neville, the director of "Man on the Run," a documentary about the life of Paul McCartney after the Beatles broke up.
Grammy-nominated artist Cory Wong is known for his funky sounds and genre-defying collaborations. His latest album, "Lost in the Wonder," featuring star-studded performances, is out now. Here's Cory Wong performing "Roses Fade" with Devon Gilfillian.
Grammy-nominated artist Cory Wong is known for his funky sounds and genre-defying collaborations. His latest album, "Lost in the Wonder," featuring star-studded performances, is out now. Here's Cory Wong performing "All Night, Alright" with Taylor Hanson.
Grammy-nominated artist Cory Wong is known for his funky sounds and genre-defying collaborations. His latest album, "Lost in the Wonder," featuring star-studded performances, is out now. Here's Cory Wong performing "Blame It On the Moon" with Devon Gilfillian.
The Academy Award-winning actress and the bestselling writer team up for a courtroom thriller that touches on the lightning-rod issue of abortion.
Artificial intelligence promised to lighten the workload while increasing productivity. But as more people are using AI for work, a new study published in Harvard Business Review finds AI overuse could cause "brain fry." CBS News correspondent Lana Zak spoke with the study's lead author to unpack the findings.
The most recent government data shows nearly 28% of Americans live alone. The number has risen for decades, especially for older generations. Ash-har Quraishi shows simple tools that can provide extra security and protection for your aging loved ones.
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
The CEO of Anthropic is apologizing for a leaked internal memo amid a feud with the Pentagon over its AI model. The memo criticized the Trump administration and OpenAI. It comes after the Defense Department declared Anthropic a supply chain risk or a possible security risk.
The Pentagon formally designated artificial intelligence firm Anthropic as a supply chain risk on Thursday amid their feud over AI guardrails. Yahoo Finance senior reporter Brooke DiPalma joins CBS News with more.
A new study in the journal Nature says most sea level rise research may have underestimated coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced significant changes to the agency's Artemis program, which aims to land on the moon in 2028.
Documents might help scientists shed light on unexplained phenomena and government secrets, experts said.
A large shark was caught on camera for the first time in Antarctica's waters, surprising researchers. "There's a general rule of thumb that you don't get sharks in Antarctica," one said.
On the evening of Christmas 1776, Gen. George Washington surprised the King's forces by leading the Continental Army in a surprise crossing of a near-frozen Delaware River - a watershed military maneuver that dramatized a changing America, and a changing climate.
At least five people are in serious condition, an official said. Three minors - a 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds - are among the wounded.
Ian Huntley, 52, had been on life support after being hit repeatedly over the head with a metal bar in a U.K. prison on Feb. 26.
A manhunt for a triple murder suspect in Utah ended Thursday when Ivan Miller, 22, was arrested in Colorado. Here's what to know about the investigation.
The gunman who carried out the mass shooting last weekend in Austin, Texas, assaulted a woman three months earlier at a Tesla facility, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in Texas.
Becky Lloyd, a neighbor and friend of Kouri Richins, who is accused of fatally poisoning her husband in 2022, testified at her trial on Thursday about conversations they had about Richins' marriage. Lloyd said Richins' told her, "In many ways it would be better if he [Richins' husband], if he were dead" in a serious tone. Richins denies killing her husband and has pleaded not guilty to charges.
NASA has announced a major overhaul of its Artemis moon program amid ongoing safety concerns. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood has more details.
NASA announced an overhaul to its Artemis moon program as safety concerns persist. CBS News space contributor Christian Davenport breaks down the key takeaways.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced significant changes to the agency's Artemis program, which aims to land on the moon in 2028.
NASA's Artemis II mission continues to face concerns and delays. Scott E. Parazynski, a former astronaut, joins CBS News with more.
NASA is rolling back the Artemis II moon rocket from its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is expected to take up to 12 hours to move the 322-foot rocket, with the journey spanning four miles back to its hangar for repairs. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood has more.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Does the evidence show a cover-up, or was Todd Kendhammer wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife?
Christy Salters-Martin dominated in the boxing ring but faced her toughest challenger at home.
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
Retired Marine Corps Col. Mark Cancian joined CBS News to discuss the dignified transfer of six Army reservists who were killed in the conflict with Iran. CBS News' James LaPorta has more.
President Trump attended the dignified transfer of six U.S. service members killed in the opening days of the war in Iran. CBS News national security coordinating producer James LaPorta has more on the significance of the moment.
After nine years of reporting, 60 Minutes has uncovered new information about a device that may be linked to Havana Syndrome, mysterious brain injuries reported by U.S. government and military officials. 60 Minutes has new details about what sources say is a weapon built by a foreign adversary. Sunday.
Civil rights activist Bernard Lafayette, who helped organize the Selma Voting Rights Movement in the 1960s, died March 5, 2026, at age 85. In this 1980 "Sunday Morning" report by Ted Holmes, Lafayette, along with Bernice Reagon, E.D. Nixon and Ibisoto Ajamu, attended "Voices of the Civil Rights Movement," a reunion of civil rights organizers, song leaders and photographers held by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, where the remembrances and songs of the movement were celebrated.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian released a video apology to Iran's neighbors for the retaliatory strikes against Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East, saying they will stop striking other Persian Gulf states unless attacked first. CBS News' Imtiaz Tyab has more from Doha.