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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National Guard soldier leaves rifle in New Orleans bathroom
A National Guard spokesperson said the weapon was returned to the Louisiana National Guard "and the soldier and incident are being handled internally," CBS affiliate WWL reported.
FBI releases surveillance photos of subject in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance
Savannah Guthrie has asked people across the country for help with the search for her mom, Nancy Guthrie.
Ketanji Brown Jackson says Supreme Court justices "get along well"
Ketanji Brown Jackson told "CBS Mornings" that the justices "have learned how to adapt to being in an environment with people who have very strongly held but different views."
Vatican Bank debuts two Catholic-themed equity indexes
The Vatican Bank said the new indexes are "designed to serve as a reference for Catholic investments worldwide."
Jury selection begins for grief book author accused of poisoning husband
Kouri Richins allegedly poisoned her husband Eric by putting a fatal dose of fentanyl in his drink, leading to his sudden death in 2022.
MoneyWatch
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Vatican Bank debuts two Catholic-themed equity indexes
The Vatican Bank said the new indexes are "designed to serve as a reference for Catholic investments worldwide."
Social media giants accused of "addicting the brains of children" as trial begins
Instagram's parent company Meta and Google's YouTube dispute claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children.
OpenAI starts testing ads in free version of ChatGPT
ChatGPT will clearly distinguish between ads and answers to user prompts on the AI platform, according to OpenAI.
Why importing more beef from Argentina won't ease costs for U.S. consumers
Taming runaway U.S. beef prices will require more than stepping up imports, economists said. Here's the key to cutting costs.
Starbucks adds menu items as it looks to energize growth
New items, such as a strawberry matcha loaf, represent the chain's latest effort to boost sales as part of its "Back to Starbucks" campaign.
Politics
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Tom Malinowski concedes in special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill's seat in Congress
Former Rep. Tom Malinowski has conceded the New Jersey special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill's congressional seat.
Ketanji Brown Jackson says Supreme Court justices "get along well"
Ketanji Brown Jackson told "CBS Mornings" that the justices "have learned how to adapt to being in an environment with people who have very strongly held but different views."
Court unseals more records in Fulton County suit over FBI search
A federal court in Georgia unsealed key records related to the FBI's seizure of 2020 election materials from Fulton County last month.
Judge rejects Trump administration's effort to obtain Michigan voter data
The Trump administration has filed lawsuits against 24 states in an effort to obtain their voter rolls.
Airlines adjust as Trump's policies dry up Cuba's jet fuel supplies
A Canadian airline suspends flights to Cuba as U.S sanctions and Trump's tariff threats force Havana to warn carriers there's no way to refuel on the island.
HealthWatch
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What to know about a new study on coffee, tea and dementia risk
CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder said the results of the study on coffee drinkers having lower risk of dementia should be taken "with a massive grain of salt."
Thousands of mothers were flagged to police over flawed drug tests at childbirth
The Marshall Project found more than 70,000 cases referred to law enforcement over allegations of substance use during pregnancy — and that's a significant undercount.
Obamacare sign-ups drop, but the extent won't be clear for months
Experts say Affordable Care Act sign-up data won't be clear until people who were enrolled have paid — or not — their new, often much higher, premiums.
Hospital flooded by Hurricane Helene to be rebuilt in another flood plain
Ballad Health, the nation's largest state-sanctioned hospital monopoly, plans to rebuild Unicoi County Hospital in Tennessee on land that two climate modeling companies say is at risk of flooding.
Her deadly diagnosis only had 1 warning sign. Here's how she survived.
Becca Valle, then 37, enrolled in a cutting-edge clinical trial after surgery removed an aggressive tumor from her brain.
World
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Irish man held by ICE says he had U.S. work permit, fears for his life
Seamus Culleton says he's been held for 5 months in a "filthy" ICE detention camp despite a U.S. work permit and green card application.
Airlines adjust as Trump's policies dry up Cuba's jet fuel supplies
A Canadian airline suspends flights to Cuba as U.S sanctions and Trump's tariff threats force Havana to warn carriers there's no way to refuel on the island.
Ben Ogden becomes 1st U.S. man in 50 years to medal in cross-country
Ben Ogden of Team USA won the silver medal in the cross-country sprint Tuesday at the Winter Olympics in Italy.
King Charles says royals will help if police probe Andrew's Epstein ties
King Charles II says the royal family will support U.K. police as they look into a report that the monarch's brother Andrew shared secret info with Epstein.
Ukrainian Olympian says he'll defy IOC ban on helmet honoring war victims
The International Olympic Committee has barred a Ukrainian skeleton racer from wearing a helmet with images of fellow athletes killed in Russia's invasion.
Entertainment
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Chappell Roan leaves Wasserman talent agency after his mentions in Epstein files
Chappell Roan says she's left her talent agency after its CEO, Casey Wasserman, was named in files related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Analyzing best and worst Super Bowl LX ads
Just 30 seconds of highly coveted commercial airtime during the Super Bowl costs as much as $10 million, according to CBS News MoneyWatch. Bill Pearce, marketing faculty member at The University of California, Berkeley, joins to discuss some of the ads from Super Bowl LX.
Could Trump's Bad Bunny attacks alienate Latinos?
Bad Bunny's historic Super Bowl halftime show included superstar surprise guests and a message of unity and cultural celebration. While many praised the performance, President Trump took to social media to criticize the show. CBS News political director Fin Gómez joins with analysis.
Bad Bunny and the politics of the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is a football game, an entertainment spectacle, a global billboard and a crucible of American political discord. CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett explains.
Catherine O'Hara's cause of death was a pulmonary embolism
Catherine O'Hara, known for her roles in "Home Alone," "Schitt's Creek" and "Beetlejuice," died on Jan. 30 at the age of 71.
Technology
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Technology
AI tech boom causes shortages
The demands of the artificial intelligence boom may be causing shortages in other sectors that help boost the U.S. economy. Shira Ovide, a technology reporter for The Washington Post, joins CBS News with more.
Social media companies face massive trial
Opening statements began in a landmark trial against Google and Meta on the apparent harms of social media platforms. CBS News' Jo Ling Kent reports.
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.
Social media giants accused of "addicting the brains of children" as trial begins
Instagram's parent company Meta and Google's YouTube dispute claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children.
Trial over social media addiction in kids begins
Opening statements began Monday in Los Angeles in a landmark trial over alleged social media addiction in children. CBS News correspondent Carter Evans has the details.
Science
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Scientists "quite surprised" to find one polar bear population thriving
After decades monitoring polar bears in Norway's far north, researchers say the animals have proven incredibly adaptable, but there are no guarantees for the future.
Mysterious dark matter seen in new map of distant galaxies
Dark matter doesn't absorb or give off light so scientists can't study it directly. But they can observe how its gravity warps and bends the star stuff around it.
Cow develops technique to scratch herself
"CBS Saturday Morning" learns more about Veronika, the clever cow who figured out multiple ways to scratch herself with a broom. It was the first time a cow was seen using a tool.
Almanac: January 18
"Sunday Morning" looks back at historical events on this date.
Fossils found at Dinosaur National Monument, first excavation in 100 years
The Dinosaur National Monument, which is located on the border between Colorado and Utah, was last excavated in 1924.
Crime
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Crime
Photos of subject in Nancy Guthrie search
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media photos of a subject in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie's mother. Tony Dokoupil anchored CBS News' special report.
FBI releases surveillance photos of subject in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance
Savannah Guthrie has asked people across the country for help with the search for her mom, Nancy Guthrie.
Jury selection begins for grief book author accused of poisoning husband
Kouri Richins allegedly poisoned her husband Eric by putting a fatal dose of fentanyl in his drink, leading to his sudden death in 2022.
FBI offers $50,000 in Nancy Guthrie case
The FBI is now offering a $50,000 reward in the search for Nancy Guthrie, who was reported missing on Feb. 1. CBS News' Andres Gutierrez and Anna Schecter have the latest.
Latest news on Epstein files backlash
Ghislaine Maxwell invoked the Fifth Amendment during her congressional testimony on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. This comes as the world reacts to the latest batch of documents released by the Justice Department. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman and Holly Williams have more.
Space
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New space station crew eager for Wednesday launch
The new crew will replace four station fliers who returned to Earth ahead of schedule last month due to a medical issue.
What led NASA to delay Artemis II launch
NASA's first crewed moon mission in more than 50 years has been delayed until March at the earliest. During a routine dress rehearsal of the launch, persistent liquid hydrogen leaks were discovered in the Artemis II rocket. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood breaks it down.
NASA hopes to fix Artemis II moon rocket leak with on-pad repair
NASA plans to test the planned leak repair with a second dress rehearsal fueling test later this month.
NASA delays Artemis II launch
NASA delayed the Artemis II moon rocket launch after a hydrogen leak was found during a wet dress rehearsal, the agency announced Tuesday. CBS News senior space consultant Bill Harwood has the latest.
NASA begins mission to map the boundaries of our heliosphere
A NASA mission is underway to map the heliosphere, which is a huge protective bubble around the solar system that was created by the sun.
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.
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?
The life & near death of prizefighter Christy Salters-Martin
Christy Salters-Martin dominated in the boxing ring but faced her toughest challenger at home.
Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Who is Alix Tichelman?
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
Photos of subject in Nancy Guthrie search
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media photos of a subject in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie's mother. Tony Dokoupil anchored CBS News' special report.
Trump echos support for Kevin Warsh
President Trump said that he "made a mistake" by not nominating Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve chair during his first term. Kristin Myers, the ETF editor-in-chief for AssetTV, joins with more.
White House excludes Democratic governors
The White House said it was not inviting any Democrats to the National Governors Association's annual meeting next week with the president, a traditionally bipartisan event. CBS News' Natalie Brand has more.
Thompson press immigration heads at hearing
Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, questioned the leaders of three immigration agencies about body cameras and training time for officers, and asked whether they have been involved in planning for guarding voting precincts. His last question comes after President Trump called on Republicans to "nationalize" elections.
McCaul questions ICE chief about Minneapolis
GOP Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas questioned acting Director Todd Lyons about the situation in Minneapolis after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Lyons said he's "seen a deescalation" in the city after border czar Tom Homan was sent to manage the immigration operation.