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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Mamdani says he won't try to arrest Israel's Netanyahu
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani conceded late Tuesday that the city does not have the authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
House moves to punt government funding fight past midterms
The continuing resolution would fund the federal government until Dec. 4. It now heads to the Senate, where it could face obstacles.
Democratic lawmakers slam Trump "vanity projects" in shadow hearing
Lawmakers hammered the president for bulldozing norms in pursuit of his construction goals and imposing his likeness on buildings, coins and passports.
Mexican man killed by truck after ICE encounter was on vacation, officials say
Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán, 28, died July 14 after authorities said he darted across a busy road in St. Augustine, Florida, and into the path of a truck.
Ex-U.S. attorney in Seattle sues Trump over firing
Roger Rogoff was fired from his role as U.S. attorney in Seattle shortly after judges on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington appointed him to the job.
MoneyWatch
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More Americans report shoplifting as inflation climbs, survey finds
Thirty percent of respondents said they shoplifted this year, with most citing affordability concerns and financial hardship.
GLP-1s are linked to a 17% drop in worker sick leave, new study finds
Here's how weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could reduce worker illness and save companies money.
Here's how much wealth you need to thrive, based on your age
Three in four American households lack the wealth to weather financial setbacks and achieve major life milestones.
Novo Nordisk sues Eli Lilly, accusing it of false advertising
The lawsuit alleges that Eli Lilly misled consumers by using outdated clinical trial data to make its drugs appear more effective than Novo's.
Ford recalls nearly 388,000 vehicles over seat issue
The recall affects certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles.
Politics
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Mamdani says he won't try to arrest Israel's Netanyahu
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani conceded late Tuesday that the city does not have the authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mark Lamb wins Arizona House GOP primary after misconduct allegations
Former sheriff Mark Lamb was running against construction business owner Daniel Keenan in Arizona's 5th Congressional District Republican primary.
Trump ally Andy Biggs wins GOP nomination for Arizona governor, AP projects
Trump-endorsed Rep. Andy Biggs will take on Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs in November.
House moves to punt government funding fight past midterms
The continuing resolution would fund the federal government until Dec. 4. It now heads to the Senate, where it could face obstacles.
Judge temporarily blocks officials from deporting witness of deadly ICE shooting
A federal judge in Texas temporarily barred immigration authorities from deporting one of the witnesses in the fatal ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.
HealthWatch
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HealthWatch
RFK Jr. says cyclosporiasis is "under control"
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made his first public comment on the growing cyclosporiasis outbreak on Tuesday, declaring it under control and denying that cutbacks to monitoring activities have hurt U.S. food safety. Carter Evans reports.
GLP-1s are linked to a 17% drop in worker sick leave, new study finds
Here's how weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could reduce worker illness and save companies money.
Melinda French Gates on perimenopause: It took 3 doctors to diagnose me
Melinda French Gates talked about menopause and her philanthropic focus on women's health in the debut episode of Norah O'Donnell's "Healthful" podcast.
Melinda French Gates on perimenopause
Melinda French Gates recalled to Norah O'Donnell on "Healthful" that she started getting perimenopause symptoms in her early 40s. "I kind of couldn't believe it because I just finished having my last child in my late 30s," French Gates said. French Gates added it took three doctors to diagnose her symptoms and to get her the right treatments.
FDA says it's still investigating Taylor Farms
The FDA says Taylor Farms lettuce is still the focus of their ongoing cyclospora investigation, despite a false positive test announced Sunday. Carter Evans reports.
World
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Australian woman gives birth to rare identical quadruplet daughters
All four daughters share 100 percent of their DNA after a single fertilized egg split into four embryos, making the pregnancy a one-in-15-million occurrence.
Zelenskyy replaces Ukraine's top general after days of protests
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he will replace the commander-in-chief of the armed forces as a government shakeup continues.
Cocaine worth $285 million found hidden in banana shipment
Some 1,700 pounds of cocaine was concealed in a refrigerated container from Ecuador among dozens of pallets of bananas, police said.
Deadly attack on U.S. forces in Jordan part of evolving Iranian tactics
A retired Jordanian general tells CBS News Iran is "developing techniques and capacities" to target U.S. forces with increasing lethality.
U.S. soldier killed in Iraq identified as 30-year-old from North Carolina
Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of North Carolina, was "decommissioning ammunition and an accident happened," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Inside the cameras used for "The Odyssey"
Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has made history as the first feature-length film shot entirely on 70mm IMAX cameras. Jay Holben, technical editor for the American Cinematographer, joins CBS News to discuss.
Kaylee Hottle, actress in "Godzilla vs. Kong," dies at 18 in car crash
Kaylee Hottle, an Atlanta-born actress known for her role in the "Godzilla" film franchise, has died following a crash in Maryland.
Josh Duhamel talks "Ransom Canyon"
Josh Duhamel talks with "CBS Mornings" about starring in "Ransom Canyon," how much he knew about ranch life before the show and his growing family.
Oprah expanding her podcast
Oprah Winfrey announced she's expanding her podcast, "The Oprah Podcast." Starting on Tuesday, two new episodes will drop weekly. She spoke to "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King about her decision and revealed more about the guests she's had appear on the podcast.
Judge temporarily halts Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger
The ruling comes after a coalition of 12 states sued to block the deal, arguing it would harm consumers and the entertainment industry.
Technology
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Technology
Exclusive discounts from CBS Mornings Deals
On this edition of CBS Mornings Deals, we show you items that will help improve your everyday lifestyle. Visit cbsdeals.com to take advantage of these exclusive deals today. CBS earns commissions on purchases made through cbsdeals.com.
Can you spot an AI image? Quiz shows how difficult it has become.
An AI expert said the telltale signs people once relied on, such as distorted fingers, unnatural eyes, or other obvious visual flaws, have largely disappeared as technology has improved.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
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.
Erin Brockovich on data center regulation
New York is now the first state to temporarily ban data center construction, paving the way for others to follow suit. Environmental advocate Erin Brockovich joins "The Takeout" to discuss.
Mayor to homeowner losing sleep over data center plant: "Consider selling"
Noise from a Mississippi plant powering Elon Musk's xAI data centers in the area is causing migraines, ringing ears and sleepless nights, residents say.
Science
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Science
Wildfire smoke continues to shroud U.S.
Millions of people are enduring dangerous air quality as Canadian wildfire smoke shrouds the skies. Jonathan Overpeck, dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, explains how climate change is worsening wildfires.
How AI data centers impact the environment
New York has become the first state to impose a temporary moratorium on data center development while state lawmakers lay the groundwork to assess environmental and social impacts. Dr. Mike Weinstein, the director of sustainability at Southern New Hampshire University, explains what we know about the wider environmental impact data centers.
Russian Soyuz rocket launches fresh crew to space station
The new crew will replace three other Soyuz fliers wrapping up a 240-day stay aboard the International Space Station.
Astronomer's name deciphered from ancient Mayan ruins for first time
The name "White-chested Fox" was found in drawings dating from 400 BC to 900 AD at the San Bartolo-Xultun archaeological site.
Disclosure Foundation head on new UFO files
The Pentagon on Friday released a new batch of UFO files, spanning 19 videos and more. Jordan Flowers, executive director of the Disclosure Foundation, joins CBS News to discuss.
Crime
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Crime
Hearing begins for singer D4vd
A multi-day hearing began Tuesday in Los Angeles where the singer known as D4vd is facing murder and other felony charges in the death of a teenage girl. CBS News' Gwen Baumgardner and Jessica Levinson have the latest.
Timeline of NYC federal building explosion
A veteran was arrested for allegedly setting off fireworks and starting a fire in front of a Manhattan building that houses several federal offices, including ICE, the FBI says. CBS News' Anna Schecter shares more details.
Cocaine worth $285 million found hidden in banana shipment
Some 1,700 pounds of cocaine was concealed in a refrigerated container from Ecuador among dozens of pallets of bananas, police said.
Tourists stabbed near Acropolis in Athens
Two Greek American tourists were stabbed near the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, police said. CBS News' Anna Coren has more.
Details emerge on suspect in NYC fire
More details are emerging about the Army veteran accused of starting a fire outside a federal building in lower Manhattan on Monday. CBS News' Tom Hanson has more.
Space
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Meteorite that hit home contains "alien world chemistry," experts say
When scientists examined the preserved fragments of a meteorite that crashed in 2024, they found brine-like fluids and key molecules.
Russian Soyuz rocket launches fresh crew to space station
The new crew will replace three other Soyuz fliers wrapping up a 240-day stay aboard the International Space Station.
Astronomers discover sugar in space that's also found in raspberries
The sugar, called erythrulose, lurks in what's called the interstellar medium: thin clouds of gas and dust littered between stars.
Telescope spots most distant quasars ever discovered
Quasars — the brightest objects in the universe — are powered by supermassive black holes at the heart of early galaxies.
Mission launched to rescue a falling space telescope
Katalyst Space's LINK spacecraft is designed to capture and boost NASA's Swift observatory back to a safe altitude.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2026
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Photos show celebrations at Obama Presidential Center
The Obama Presidential Center, museum and library opens in Chicago with a star-studded grand opening ceremony and public watch party on Midway Plaisance.
Summer music highlights of 2026
Summer is the time to enjoy live music, indoors and out. Scroll through our gallery of some of 2026's leading musical acts, featuring images by CBS News photojournalist Jake Barlow and photographers Ed Spinelli and Kirstine Walton.
Evidence in the Barbara Kendhammer case
Does the evidence show a cover-up, or was Todd Kendhammer wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife?
Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
Behind the scenes of Apollo 11 (2009)
While the three astronauts of Apollo 11 received the bulk of the attention for landing on the moon in 1969, 400,000 people worked behind the scenes to make it happen. Randall Pinkston reported on one of those important people back in 2009.
Ex-FDA medical officer on cyclospora outbreak
The FDA is still hunting for the source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak after earlier test results proved to be a false positive. Dr. David Acheson, who has more than 40 years of medical and food safety experience, joins CBS News to discuss the issue.
U.S. launches strikes on Iran for 11th night
The U.S. launched an 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran on Tuesday. CBS News' Weijia Jiang reports on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's earlier testimony about the Pentagon's request for additional funding. Then, Washington Post national security reporter Noah Robertson joins with analysis.
"StormWall" to protect from solar storms
If a massive solar storm capable of wiping out power grids across the U.S. was headed toward Earth, could there be a way to stop it? A group of scientists are trying to find an answer to that question, proposing the creation of a satellite constellation called a StormWall to help shield the Earth from the impact of a solar storm. Brian Walsh, one of the co-designers of the StormWall, joined CBS News to discuss.
Primary day in Arizona
Voters went to the polls Tuesday in Arizona for several key primary races. CBS News' Taurean Small has more.