{"id":208953,"date":"2026-03-17T23:20:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T23:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/208953\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T23:20:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T23:20:14","slug":"san-antonio-violent-street-crime-down-21-in-2025-report-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/208953\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio violent street crime down 21% in 2025, report shows"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Antonio\u2019s violent crime reduction plan<\/a> is producing its most significant drop in violent street crime yet, as officials say the strategy is starting to show stronger results in its third year.<\/p>\n

The update, presented Tuesday to the City Council\u2019s Public Safety Committee, marks the latest evaluation of the city\u2019s partnership with the University of Texas at San Antonio<\/a> to target violence in the city\u2019s highest-crime areas.<\/p>\n

Citywide, violent street crime declined 21.1%, while violent victimization fell 20.8% in 2025 compared to 2024.<\/p>\n

The plan defines violent street crime as murder, robbery, aggravated assault and deadly conduct \u2014 a subset of overall crime that excludes offenses such as property crime and family violence.<\/p>\n

The reductions were more pronounced in areas where police concentrated enforcement.<\/p>\n

In roughly 30 to 35 high-crime \u201chot spot\u201d areas treated every 60 days in 2025, violent street crime dropped 63.2% compared with the same periods the year before. Surrounding areas also saw a 23.8% decrease, which researchers said suggests crime was not displaced into nearby neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Sign up for the Bexar County Ballot, our weekly politics and election newsletter. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Citywide and in treated hot spots, violence-related arrests and calls for service also declined.<\/p>\n

UTSA criminologist Michael Smith, who partnered with the city to implement the plan, told committee members the results represent a \u201cvery substantial reduction,\u201d calling them \u201cfantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at UTSA Dr. Michael Smith called the results of the year three review \u201cfantastic.\u201d Credit: Brenda Bazan \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

The plan, which launched in 2023<\/a>, relies on three strategies: hot spot policing, problem-oriented place-based policing and a third phase known as focused deterrence, which has not yet been implemented.<\/p>\n

Hot spot policing \u2014 the first phase \u2014 rotates officers into the city\u2019s most violent areas based on recent crime patterns, while the second phase targets specific high-crime locations with coordinated enforcement and community interventions.<\/p>\n

At one such location, 4032 E. Southcross Blvd., violent crime and victimization both dropped 50% after the city began targeted efforts from June through December 2025, according to the report.<\/p>\n

Committee discussion<\/p>\n

Despite the declines, committee members quickly turned to what the results should mean for the city\u2019s broader public safety strategy, particularly as officials prepare for future budget decisions.<\/p>\n

District 10 councilmember Marc Whyte \u2014 a staunch supporter of increasing police hiring<\/a> \u2014 pointed to the hot spot findings as evidence that increasing police presence in high-crime locations is an effective way to reduce violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is government malpractice to look at a report like this and then not want to fund more officers to be patrolling the streets of San Antonio,\u201d Whyte said.<\/p>\n

\"\"District 10 Councilmember Marc Whyte said the findings reinforce the need to increase police presence to effectively deter crime. Credit: Diego Medel \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Whyte recently filed a council consideration request calling on the city to remain on track with independent police staffing recommendations<\/a> \u2014 a topic of debate<\/a> during the last budget cycle, when a push to add more officers failed<\/a> to make it into the final budget.<\/p>\n

He questioned Smith about the relationship between police presence in hot spot policing and broader crime reduction. While Smith said increased police presence in targeted areas does deter crime, he cautioned that the approach does not address underlying causes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn each of those individual hotspots that get treated, crime returns to its pre-treatment average after about 60 days,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIt\u2019s like a fever reducer \u2014 like an ibuprofen. When the ibuprofen wears off, your headache comes back, unless you treat what\u2019s causing your headache to begin with.\u201d<\/p>\n

District 2 councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez echoed that point, arguing that long-term reductions in crime require investment beyond policing.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless you create a police state in which a police is on every corner at all times, you\u2019re not going to achieve permanent results by adding more police officers,\u201d McKee- Rodriguez said. \u201dYou won\u2019t, so you need to make the long term investments.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez argued that long-term reductions in crime require investment beyond policing. Credit: Diego Medel \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

What comes next<\/p>\n

City officials say the next phase of the plan \u2014 known as focused deterrence \u2014 is expected to shift the strategy from targeting locations to targeting individuals.<\/p>\n

Maria Vargas-Yates, director of the city\u2019s Integrated Community Safety Office, said the focused deterrence approach will target individuals repeatedly involved in violent crime, combining enforcement with access to services aimed at helping them avoid further offenses.<\/p>\n

She described the strategy as a \u201ccarrot and stick\u201d approach \u2014 pairing the threat of enforcement with opportunities for support.<\/p>\n

The plan includes connecting individuals to resources such as trauma counseling, substance abuse treatment, housing, education and job support, while also increasing coordination with law enforcement to prioritize prosecution if new crimes are committed.<\/p>\n

The approach is intended to address the underlying causes of violence \u2014 an issue several council members said will be key to sustaining the reductions seen so far.<\/p>\n

Vargas-Yates said the city is currently reviewing nonprofit proposals to provide those services through its consolidated funding process.<\/p>\n

Recommendations are expected to go to City Council in late April, with contracts beginning in June. Officials said the focused deterrence program is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026.<\/p>\n

Are you doing your part?<\/p>\n

We\u2019re committed to providing free, fair journalism for all. But without reader support, our nonprofit newsroom can\u2019t do its job to keep our San Antonio community informed and empowered.<\/p>\n

This work is\u00a0critical \u2014 will you help us sustain it?<\/p>\n

\t