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.
Crime Without Punishment
A look at unsolved murders in America
A closer look at disparities in NYPD's homicide clearance rates
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.
Oakland, San Francisco see disheartening difference in homicide clearance rates
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.
She lost two sons to gun violence; five years later, still no arrests
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.
A "coin flip": Nearly half of U.S. murders go unsolved as cases rise
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.
Behind the story: How CBS News analyzed homicide solve rates across U.S.
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.
Baltimore task force trying to solve the crisis of unsolved murder
Officials from more than 20 agencies are working together in a nondescript warehouse, investigating Baltimore's most brazen drug syndicates.
Unsolved murders and the mothers of Jackson, Mississippi
Mothers being asked to investigate the murders of their sons has become a reality in Jackson.
Philly police say "crushing volume" of killings outruns their ability to close cases
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.
Former Dallas police chief hopes police and communities can bridge gaps
Renee Hall, former chief of the Dallas Police Department, is the daughter of a police officer killed in the line of duty.
A closer look at disparities in NYPD's homicide clearance rates
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.
Detroit homicide clearance rates rise as national rates fall
According to the FBI and the Detroit Police Department, homicide clearance rates in the city have risen as the national average has fallen.
Unsolved murders on the rise, especially for Black, Hispanic victims
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.
Five years after her brother's murder, one Chicago woman learns justice will never come
Chicago Police have low arrest rates, but higher rates for cleared or closed cases. We dig into what's behind those numbers.
Black and Hispanic murders are less likely to be solved. The reasons why are complicated.
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.
How Sacramento County is bucking the national trend of murder cases going unsolved
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.
Miami police working to increase murder clearance rate
In Miami-Dade, the clearance rate for homicides in 2020 was 43%
The problem behind Boston's unsolved murders
Unsolved murders are a growing concern nationwide.
Homicide clearance rates are dropping in Philadelphia as murder rates skyrocket
The murder rate in Philadelphia was 499 in 2020. That's a 40% increase from 2019.
Homicide clearance rates are declining across the U.S. Baltimore's is down to 42%.
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.
More murders going unsolved nationally, but Dallas-Fort Worth may be getting less credit than they deserve
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.
Pittsburgh homicide clearance rates falling as national rate hits all-time low
In a collaboration with CBS News, KDKA Investigates examines crime often going without punishment in our country.
U.S. unsolved homicide rates soar, and Minneapolis is pacing worse than nat'l average
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's approach to solving homicides has caught national attention
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.
Oakland, SF see disheartening difference in homicide clearance rates
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.
U.S.
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Lack of parking for semi-trucks can have fatal consequences
There is only enough parking for one out of every 11 trucks on the nation's roads, according to the trucking industry, leading drivers to park in unsafe areas.
Just what the doctor ordered? $29 medical checkups now at Costco
Costco partners with online marketplace in selling health care services to the uninsured or those who prefer to pay cash.
Cuba denounces attack on its U.S. embassy as terrorism
A man allegedly threw two Molotov cocktails at Cuba's mission in the U.S. on Sunday night. No one was injured.
Government shutdown could jeopardize U.S credit rating, Moody's warns
A U.S. government shutdown would underscore the impact of "intensifying political polarization," the credit agency said in a new report.
House GOP prepares four spending bills as shutdown uncertainty grows
House Republicans' efforts to pass four spending bills would not avert a government shutdown.
MoneyWatch
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Just what the doctor ordered? $29 medical checkups now at Costco
Costco partners with online marketplace in selling health care services to the uninsured or those who prefer to pay cash.
Government shutdown could jeopardize U.S credit rating, Moody's warns
A U.S. government shutdown would underscore the impact of "intensifying political polarization," the credit agency said in a new report.
End to writers' strike means some TV shows could return within days
NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" could return to the air as soon as early October.
Tyson and Perdue face fed probe over possible child labor violations
Investigation of the two poultry giants follows NYT report of migrant children cleaning slaughterhouses overnight in Virginia.
Amazon invests $4 billion in AI startup known for ChatGPT rival Claude
Anthropic will use Amazon's cloud services and machine-learning chips to train and deploy its ChatGPT rival, Claude.
Politics
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Government shutdown could jeopardize U.S credit rating, Moody's warns
A U.S. government shutdown would underscore the impact of "intensifying political polarization," the credit agency said in a new report.
House GOP prepares four spending bills as shutdown uncertainty grows
House Republicans' efforts to pass four spending bills would not avert a government shutdown.
A history of government shutdowns: 14 times funding has lapsed since 1980
With just days until the deadline to keep the government open, here's a look at the 14 shutdowns that have occurred since 1980.
U.S. tanks arrive overseas as Ukraine claims to kill Russian commander
The first U.S.-made Abrams tanks are rolling out on Ukrainian soil as Ukraine's forces claimed to have dealt a significant blow to Russia.
Who's running for president in 2024? Meet the candidates
Twelve Republicans announced their candidacies for president. And President Biden announced in April that he'd run for reelection.
HealthWatch
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Tornado-damaged Pfizer plant restarts pharmaceutical production
The plant produces anesthesia and other drugs as well as nearly one-fourth of the sterile injectable medications Pfizer supplies to U.S. hospitals, the company said.
CDC to avoid "scare tactic" in new effort to reset flu shot expectations
The new CDC campaign to back the shots is called "Wild to Mild."
Flesh-eating bacteria infections are on the rise — how to protect yourself
Vibrio vulnificus, known as flesh-eating bacteria, can cause necrotizing fasciitis — and typically kills 1 in 5 Americans who get an infection.
CDC recommends Pfizer's RSV vaccine during pregnancy
RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants, according to the CDC.
Shimano recalls nearly 700,000 bike cranksets after reports of injuries
Shimano's recalled bonded crank parts can "separate and break," causing consumers to crash, according to CPSC.
World
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Cuba denounces attack on its U.S. embassy as terrorism
A man allegedly threw two Molotov cocktails at Cuba's mission in the U.S. on Sunday night. No one was injured.
U.S. tanks arrive overseas as Ukraine claims to kill Russian commander
The first U.S.-made Abrams tanks are rolling out on Ukrainian soil as Ukraine's forces claimed to have dealt a significant blow to Russia.
Russell Brand allegations prompt U.K. police to open sex crimes investigation
London police said that it had "received a number of allegations of sexual offences" regarding Russell Brand.
London police considers army backup as armed officers hand in gun licenses
Dozens of London police officers refuse to go out on armed patrols as a colleague faces a murder charge in the shooting of an unarmed Black man.
Sicilian mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro dies months after capture
When Matteo Messina Denaro died, "he took with him his secrets" about Cosa Nostra, state radio said.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Taylor Swift attends Chiefs game
Perhaps the biggest story from the NFL on Sunday wasn't any of the scores, but the fact that Taylor Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs game with the family of tight end Travis Kelce. Jo Ling Kent has more.
Writers and studios reach tentative agreement
The Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative agreement with the major Hollywood studios on a new contract. If the contract is ratified, it would end a four-and-a-half month long strike. Elise Preston reports.
End to writers' strike means some TV shows could return within days
NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" could return to the air as soon as early October.
Usher says Super Bowl performance is "going to be a celebration"
Super Bowl LVIII will be at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 11, 2024.
Usher to headline Super Bowl Halftime Show
Grammy winner Usher will headline the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas on Feb. 11.
Technology
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Amazon invests $4 billion in AI startup known for ChatGPT rival Claude
Anthropic will use Amazon's cloud services and machine-learning chips to train and deploy its ChatGPT rival, Claude.
Microsoft, Google integrate AI into products
Tech giants Microsoft and Google say they're moving toward building more generative artificial intelligence into their products. Microsoft has already been adding AI assistants to apps and now plans to unify all of them into a single source. And Google is launching new AI features to make video editing and publishing easier on YouTube. Emma Roth, news writer at The Verge, joined CBS News to discuss the increased use of AI.
Scientists recover RNA from extinct species
For the first time, scientists in Sweden have analyzed an extinct animal's RNA. They're studying the Tasmanian tiger which has been extinct since the 1930s. Marc Friedländer, associate professor in molecular biology at Stockholm University, joins CBS News to discuss what the breakthrough means for science.
iPhone 15 demand beats expectations, as fans worldwide line up to buy
Consumers are snatching up the iPhone 15 as they look to swap their old devices for something newer and more powerful, analysts said.
YouTube CEO defends decision to demonetize Russell Brand's channel
YouTube suspended Russell Brand's ability to earn money from his online videos earlier this week after multiple women accused Brand of rape, sexual assault and abuse — allegations he denies.
Science
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Science
Scientists recover RNA from extinct species
For the first time, scientists in Sweden have analyzed an extinct animal's RNA. They're studying the Tasmanian tiger which has been extinct since the 1930s. Marc Friedländer, associate professor in molecular biology at Stockholm University, joins CBS News to discuss what the breakthrough means for science.
Tropical storm warnings along East Coast
What could soon be Tropical Storm Ophelia is moving closer to the U.S. East Coast, the National Hurricane Center said, and a tropical storm warning is in effect from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to Fenwick Island, Delaware. CBS News Baltimore's Janay Reece has an update on how locals there are preparing for the storm. And Lynette Charles, meteorologist for The Weather Channel, has a forecast for where the storms could be most severe.
Wildfire smoke reversing U.S. air improvement
Since 2016, wildfire smoke in the U.S. has reversed roughly 25% of air quality improvements made from the 2000 Clean Air Act, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. That figure doubles to roughly 50% when looking specifically at the impact on many western states. For more on this, CBS News was joined by Marshall Burke, an associate professor at Stanford's Doerr School of Sustainability and a co-author of the study.
Some homeowners facing insurance crisis
Homeowners living in areas at risk for natural disasters are seeing higher home insurance premiums -- for some, coverage has been dropped completely. CBS News senior national and environmental correspondent Ben Tracy reports.
New "electrical" blue tarantula species discovered in Thailand
The tarantula's coloring resembles "electrical sparks," researchers said.
Crime
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Russell Brand allegations prompt U.K. police to open sex crimes investigation
London police said that it had "received a number of allegations of sexual offences" regarding Russell Brand.
6,000 prison sentences hinge on Supreme Court's interpretation of "and"
Nearly 6,000 people convicted of drug trafficking in the 2021 budget year alone are in the pool of those who might be eligible for reduced sentences, according to data.
Man imprisoned 22 years "cried like a baby" after murder charges dropped
Joey Watkins was 20 years old when he was convicted and sentenced to serve life plus five years in prison for the 2000 slaying of Isaac Dawkins.
Kidnapped teen rescued from California motel room after 4 days
According to prosecutors, the kidnappers threatened to cut off the teen's body parts if his mother did not pay the $500,000 ransom.
Toddler and 2 adults shot dead in Florida, authorities say
A 3-year-old child and two adults are dead after being shot at a Jacksonville apartment complex, officials said. Another adult was hurt.
Space
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Space
Why NASA retrieved samples from an asteroid
NASA is celebrating the successful end of a 7-year, $1 billion mission to collect and return a sample from the asteroid Bennu. CBS News' Mark Strassmann has more on the mission. And Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute, joined CBS News to discuss the significance of the samples.
NASA successfully retrieves asteroid material
A capsule containing rubble from an asteroid landed in the Utah desert Sunday. It may contain material leftover from the creation of the solar system, scientists say.
NASA spacecraft brings asteroid samples back to Earth
In a dramatic 13-minute plunge back to Earth, the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule safely landed in Utah after seven years in space.
NASA mission to asteroid returning to Earth
A small saucer-shape capsule carrying a half-pound of rocks and dust collected from an asteroid called Bennu is expected to slam into Earth's atmosphere at a blistering 27,650 mph on Sunday and then parachute down to the ground. NASA senior scientist Amy Simon joined CBS News to discuss the purpose and logistics of the mission.
NASA says asteroid samples will land on Earth Sunday after fiery descent
The OSIRIS-REx sample return in Utah will bring a seven-year, four-billion-mile journey to a close, providing insights into the birth of the solar system.
Latest Galleries
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The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh
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Crime scene photos: NYC sledgehammer attack
On Nov. 11, 2012, Jake Nolan accompanied his psychiatrist cousin to a NYC Home Depot where she purchased a sledgehammer; 24 hours later, it became a key piece of evidence in a crime that ended with Nolan and her ex-lover in the hospital.
Latest Videos
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Latest Videos
Taylor Swift attends Chiefs game
Perhaps the biggest story from the NFL on Sunday wasn't any of the scores, but the fact that Taylor Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs game with the family of tight end Travis Kelce. Jo Ling Kent has more.
Eye on America: Offshore wind energy jobs
In Louisiana, we see how offshore wind farms are generating opportunities for former oil and gas workers. Then in Florida, we hop aboard a unique fishing trip that’s taking kids off city streets and on to the sea. Watch these stories and more on "Eye on America " with host Michelle Miller.
Lack of truck parking creates dangerous situations
The trucking industry says there is only one parking spot for every 11 semi-trucks on the road, forcing drivers to park in unsafe areas. This can lead to dangerous and sometimes fatal situations. Kris Van Cleave has the story.
Biden warns of widespread impact from shutdown
President Biden warned of widespread impacts from a government shutdown that is looking more likely with each passing day. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy continues to face stiff opposition from within his own party. Weijia Jiang has the latest.
Lahaina residents return home after fires
Some Maui residents were able to return for the first time since the fires that leveled the historic town of Lahaina. Many found that there was little left. Jonathan Vigliotti reports.