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.
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Most memorable moments from the 2026 Golden Globes
From historic wins to powerful speeches, here are the highlights and most memorable moments from the 2026 Golden Globes.
Justice Dept. served subpoenas to the Fed, Powell says
The subpoenas threatened a criminal indictment related to Jerome Powell's testimony before the Senate Banking Committee in June 2025, according to the Fed chair.
U.S. officials to meet with Danish officials Wednesday about Greenland, sources say
Trump administration officials are set to meet with Danish officials about Greenland on Wednesday, diplomatic sources tell CBS News.
Omar says it is "not acceptable" to make early judgments on Minneapolis shooting
"If they're saying we shouldn't believe our eyes, then let the investigation take place before you characterize this mother of three as a domestic terrorist," Rep. Ilhan Omar said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."
2 men killed, 2 others rescued after avalanche in Washington state
Kittitas County Sheriff said four men were on two snowmobiles in an area near Longs Pass trail on Friday afternoon when they were caught in the mass of snow.
MoneyWatch
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Trump urges credit card companies to slash interest rates to 10% for one year
President Trump called for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates late Friday, an idea that has drawn strong support from lawmakers in both parties but pushback from card issuers.
Looking for a job? Here are the best U.S. cities to find openings.
Midsize cities like Pittsburgh and Columbia, South Carolina, offer some of the best employment prospects, analysis finds.
Trump posted some U.S. jobs data the before its official release
The White House said it will review its protocols for releasing economic data after President Trump's "inadvertent public disclosure."
Some Americans say they'll go without health insurance as ACA rates spike
After the ACA tax credit lapsed in December, enrollees are opting for less robust health plans or dropping coverage altogether.
Meta signs 3 deals for nuclear energy to power AI data centers
Facebook parent Meta has reached nuclear power deals with three companies as it continues to look for electricity sources for its artificial intelligence data centers.
Politics
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Justice Dept. served subpoenas to the Fed, Powell says
The subpoenas threatened a criminal indictment related to Jerome Powell's testimony before the Senate Banking Committee in June 2025, according to the Fed chair.
U.S. officials to meet with Danish officials Wednesday about Greenland, sources say
Trump administration officials are set to meet with Danish officials about Greenland on Wednesday, diplomatic sources tell CBS News.
Justice Department has scrapped its "Peacemakers" office
In the civil rights era, the agency formed its Community Relations Service, a group of dozens of federal specialists who were informally referred to as "America's peacemaker."
Omar says it is "not acceptable" to make early judgments on Minneapolis shooting
"If they're saying we shouldn't believe our eyes, then let the investigation take place before you characterize this mother of three as a domestic terrorist," Rep. Ilhan Omar said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."
Reference to Trump's impeachments removed from National Portrait Gallery
The wall text, which summarized Trump's first presidency and noted his 2024 comeback victory, was part of the museum's "American Presidents" exhibition.
HealthWatch
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HealthWatch
"Enough": Oprah Winfrey on her weight-loss lessons
Oprah Winfrey is one of the best-known, most-admired and successful people on the planet. But for years she seemed powerless to conquer her fluctuating weight problem … until new medications, and a new attitude about her weight, gave her a breakthrough, which she describes in "Enough," a new book she has co-written with Dr. Ania Jastreboff. They talk with Jane Pauley about an individual's genetically-influenced weight range, and how to reset it. Winfrey also relates the long road she traveled since she began her TV career in Nashville, facing sexism, racism, and comments about her weight.
State of denial: How insurance companies impact health care today
As millions of Americans struggle with paying for health care, doctors and health experts discuss how medical care is being eroded by insurers denying necessary tests and treatment, making it "more difficult to be healthy in the United States."
State of denial: Insurers' impact on health care
Millions of Americans are struggling with medical care – either unable to pay high premiums, burdened with high deductibles, or denied coverage for necessary tests and treatment by health insurance companies. Erin Moriarty of "48 Hours" talks with doctors and health experts about how medical care is being eroded by insurers motivated by profit. As one doctor says, insurance companies have "made it more difficult to be healthy in the United States."
Doctors thought he had cancer. An offhand suggestion led to a rare diagnosis.
Andy Provencher spent a year searching for the cause of his exhausting symptoms before a physician's assistant suggested a rare illness.
Some Americans say they'll go without health insurance as ACA rates spike
After the ACA tax credit lapsed in December, enrollees are opting for less robust health plans or dropping coverage altogether.
World
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U.S. officials to meet with Danish officials Wednesday about Greenland, sources say
Trump administration officials are set to meet with Danish officials about Greenland on Wednesday, diplomatic sources tell CBS News.
Human heads displayed at Ecuador tourist beach in warning to gangs
Images on social media showed five heads tied with ropes on two wooden posts at a popular whale watching destination in Ecuador's southwest.
Greenland conquest "would be disastrous," Sen. Tim Kaine says
"I think Congress will stop [President Trump', both Democrats and Republicans," Sen. Tim Kaine about any plans to take Greenland by military force.
Trump briefed on new options for military strikes in Iran, source says
President Trump appeared to lay out his red line of action on Friday when he warned that if the Iranian government began "killing people like they have in the past, we would get involved."
Transcript: Sen. Tim Kaine on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Jan. 11, 2026
The following is the transcript of the interview with Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Jan. 11, 2026.
Entertainment
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Most memorable moments from the 2026 Golden Globes
From historic wins to powerful speeches, here are the highlights and most memorable moments from the 2026 Golden Globes.
Who won Golden Globes for 2026? See the full winners list here
The 2026 Golden Globes honored the standouts in both film and television from last year. See the full list of winners and nominees.
Remembering the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir
Andres Gutierrez looks back at the life and career of Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir, who has died at 78.
Extended interview: Carrie Coon
In this web exclusive, actress Carrie Coon, star of the TV series "The Gilded Age" and "The White Lotus," talks with Jim Axelrod about her return to Broadway in the play "Bug," written by her husband, Tracy Letts. She also talks about the state of Broadway today.
Extended interview: Tracy Letts and Carrie Coon
In this web exclusive, actor and playwright Tracy Letts, and actress Carrie Coon, star of the TV series "The Gilded Age" and "The White Lotus," talk with Jim Axelrod about their marriage, and their collaboration in the new Broadway production of "Bug."
Technology
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Technology
How to outsmart cybercriminals and protect your data
In his new book "Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime," former FBI Counterintelligence Operative Eric O'Neill describes the art of outsmarting cybercriminals and protecting your data and wallet. O'Neill spoke with CBS News' Major Garrett about steps people can take to stay safe online.
Meta signs 3 deals for nuclear energy to power AI data centers
Facebook parent Meta has reached nuclear power deals with three companies as it continues to look for electricity sources for its artificial intelligence data centers.
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.
U.K. could ban X if platform can't "get a grip" on AI sexualized images
Britain's leader says all options on the table if Musk's X platform doesn't stop Grok AI tool being used to generate non-consensual sexualized images.
Privacy impact of Gmail tools driven by AI
Millions of Americans who use Gmail are getting a new package of tools, driven by artificial intelligence. Google says it's trying to make Gmail more like a personal assistant as it brings more of its Gemini AI to your inbox with three updates. The changes come with some privacy concerns. Jo Ling Kent explains.
Science
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Fossils found in cave shed light on where our species emerged
Fossilized bones and teeth dating to 773,000 years ago are providing a deeper understanding of the emergence of Homo sapiens.
The history and mystery of kissing
If you rang in the new year with a kiss, you took part in a tradition millions of years in the making. Scientists now say the origins of kissing go back much farther than most think. CBS News' Tina Kraus has more.
2025 was so hot it pushed Earth past critical climate change mark
2025 was the third hottest year on record and pushed Earth past a critical climate change mark, scientists say.
Major climate research center on Trump administration chopping block
The Trump administration intends to dismantle one of the world's leading climate research institutions, in Boulder, Colorado, over what it said were concerns about "climate alarmism."
Researchers capture video of rare polar bear adoption
The footage of a bear caring for an adopted cub was captured during the annual polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba.
Crime
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Crime
Arrest made in Ohio dentist murder mystery
Michael McKee, 39, is accused of shooting and killing his ex-wife, Monique, and her husband, Spencer Tepe. The couple was found dead in their Columbus, Ohio, home last month. Ali Bauman reports.
A young mom was near death from lead poisoning. Who was trying to kill her?
Hannah Pettey, 22, a married mother of two from Alabama, suffered debilitating pain and lost more than 45 pounds as her health rapidly declined. Doctors suspected either her mother or her husband were trying to poison her.
Cold case murder victim was a bridesmaid in killer's wedding
The investigation into the 1995 murder of Texas teacher Mary Catherine Edwards went cold for years. Advances in forensic science and tireless work by investigators would reveal the startling connection between the victim and her killer.
Chicago man arrested in murders of Ohio dentist and his wife, police say
Michael McKee is the ex-husband of Monique Tepe, according to court records obtained by CBS News. Tepe and her husband, Spencer, were shot and killed in Columbus on Dec. 30.
Mangione's lawyers fight to block death penalty
Luigi Mangione was back in court on Friday, where his lawyers worked to block the Justice Department from seeking the death penalty in his federal trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione pleaded not guilty in April 2025.
Space
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Astronaut says early return to Earth is "right call," but "bittersweet"
Mike Fincke thanked NASA for making crew health the agency's top priority.
NASA hopes to return Crew 11 to Earth next week over medical issue
NASA officials reported Thursday that an unidentified member of Crew 11 was dealing with "a medical situation" that would require the crew to return to Earth sooner than anticipated.
NASA cutting ISS mission short
Four crew members aboard the International Space Station will be brought home more than a month early in the coming days as NASA cuts its mission short due to health concerns. NASA says the ailing astronaut is stable and while it is not an emergency, weeks more in space are not in the best interest of their health.
ISS crew returning early due to medical issue
The crew at the International Space Station will return home early because of what NASA is calling a medical concern with a crew member. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood has more details.
NASA postpones spacewalk for medical concerns
NASA on Thursday postponed a scheduled spacewalk on the International Space Station due to a "medical concern." CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood has more.
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Notable Deaths in 2025
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
Remembering the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir
Andres Gutierrez looks back at the life and career of Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir, who has died at 78.
Reporter remembers L.A. wildfire animal rescue
One year after the devastating L.A. wildfires, CBS Los Angeles' Jasmine Viel remembers when she and her photographer rushed in to help a woman desperate to save her pet chickens and ducks as flames closed in on her home.
Suspect in custody in Mississippi synagogue attack
A suspect is in custody after the oldest synagogue in Mississippi, and the only synagogue in the city of Jackson, was set on fire in a suspected arson attack. Shanelle Kaul has more.
Noem: More federal agents coming to Minnesota
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says hundreds more federal agents are being sent to Minnesota as protests continue there and across the country, demanding justice after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good. Nicole Sganga has more.
Sources: Trump briefed on Iran military options
President Trump has been briefed on new military options for a strike against Iran amid widespread protests and a government crackdown on communications for Iranians, a senior U.S. official tells CBS News. Willie James Inman has more.