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Baltimore County Homicides Decrease by More than 20% in 2012

Updated: Friday, January 4 2013, 03:40 PM EST
Baltimore County Police investigated 23 criminal homicides in 2012, a decrease of 20.7% from the previous five-year average of 29 homicides.

Twelve of the victims were killed in domestic-related incidents.  While three were killed by acquaintances, and three more were killed in non-random drug-related incidents. In five of the homicide cases, there was no relationship between the victim and the suspect, or the relationship is not known because the case is still under investigation. 

Of the 23 criminal homicides reported in 2012, only three cases remain open. This is a clearance rate of 86.9 percent for 2012 criminal homicides - significantly higher than the national clearance rate for murder and non-negligent manslaughter, Baltimore County’s clearance rates for homicide consistently exceed the national average; they also exceed the averages for comparable jurisdictions.

From 2007 through 2011, Baltimore County’s average homicide clearance rate was 89.8 percent, as reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting system.

"While homicide numbers do vary from year to year, this drop in the County's homicide rate is a tribute to the hard work of Chief Johnson and the men and women of the Baltimore County Police Department," said Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. "We will continue to make it clear to those who want to break the law that criminals are not welcome in Baltimore County and that criminal behavior will not be tolerated. If you commit a crime in Baltimore County, you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and you will go to jail."

The County recorded 30 criminal homicides in 2011; 20 in 2010; 31 in 2009; 30 in 2008; and 36 in 2007. The most recent five-year period, 2008 through 2012, has seen the lowest average total number of criminal homicides since 1981. Baltimore County Homicides Decrease by More than 20% in 2012