Press Release
Effective Prosecution Strategy and Rebuilding the Office of the State’s Attorney Helped Drive Baltimore to Lowest Homicide Total in Nearly 50 Years
January 5, 2026
Baltimore, Md. (January 5, 2026) – Baltimore City has reached a milestone in public safety, recording its lowest number of homicides in nearly 50 years, as a result of a broad, collaborative public safety effort involving the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City (SAO), City leadership, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), state and federal law enforcement partners, and—most importantly—the residents of Baltimore. For its part, the SAO led a comprehensive effort to rebuild the office and implement a focused, effective prosecution strategy centered on accountability for violent crime. Since taking office, State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates has prioritized rebuilding the SAO from the ground up—strengthening staffing, training, and partnerships to ensure the office can meet the needs of Baltimore’s communities and victims of crime.
“This progress is not accidental. It is the result of deliberate, sustained work to rebuild this office, foster partnerships, invest in our people, and focus relentlessly on those who commit the most serious acts of violence in our city. From day one, we made it a priority to restore staffing, strengthen training, and rebuild trust and collaboration with the community and our law enforcement partners at the city, state, and federal levels,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “At the same time, we have been clear that accountability matters. When violent repeat offenders harm our communities, we will pursue justice decisively and responsibly. I must applaud the amazing work of our line prosecutors, support staff, victim-witness liaisons, and Division Chiefs, who have been critical in achieving this historic milestone. Reaching the lowest number of homicides in nearly 50 years shows what is possible when a prosecution strategy is thoughtful, data-driven, and centered on public safety and the victims.”
Over the past three years, the SAO has hired new prosecutors and critical support staff to stabilize and strengthen operations; invested in training and professional development to ensure prosecutors are well-prepared to handle complex and violent cases; and reestablished and strengthened partnerships with BPD, City leadership, and state and federal law enforcement agencies to improve coordination, information-sharing, and case outcomes. These efforts have restored morale within the office and improved its ability to move cases efficiently while centering on victims and public safety.
At the same time, the SAO implemented a data-driven prosecution strategy that prioritizes violent repeat offenders, accountability for those who use guns to harm others, and strong, ethical prosecutions that withstand scrutiny in court. By concentrating resources where they have the most significant impact, the SAO has helped reduce violence while ensuring fairness and integrity in the justice system.
While the nearly 50-year low in homicides represents historic progress, State’s Attorney Bates emphasized that the work is far from finished.
“The hardest part of my job is speaking to the family of a victim lost to violence, and while those conversations are fewer and further apart, every victim represents a family forever changed,” Bates said. “This milestone matters, but it does not mean our job is done. We owe it to victims, their families, and every Baltimore resident to keep pushing forward.”
The Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City will continue to invest in its workforce, strengthen partnerships, and pursue accountability for violent crime to build on this progress and deliver safer neighborhoods for all Baltimoreans.