San Antonio Violent Crime Fell Between 2021 and 2025
While overall violent crime declined in San Antonio, the city saw a significant rise in reported rape cases.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Sex Crimes
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The violent crime rate in San Antonio fell by nearly 24% between 2021 and 2025. During that same period, however, the rate of reported rape offenses climbed to its highest level since 2021.
Why it matters
The city implemented a three-phase crime reduction plan in January 2023 to address safety, leading to a drop in several categories of violent crime. Despite these successes, the rising incidence of sexual assault highlights a persistent and complex challenge for local authorities.
Official data indicates the rape rate rose 37% from 74 per 100,000 residents in 2023 to 102 in 2025. This 2025 figure represents the highest recorded rate within the 2021-2025 reporting period.
The players
San Antonio Police Department
This local law enforcement agency is responsible for public safety and the implementation of crime reduction strategies across San Antonio.
The details
The San Antonio Police Department launched a three-phase crime reduction plan in January 2023 that emphasized increased patrols in crime hot spots and targeted deterrence. While this strategy coincided with a 13% drop in the overall crime rate, reports of rape increased significantly over the final two years of the study.
Timeline
Violent crime data was tracked over the period from 2021 to 2025.
Murder, assault, and robbery rates reached their peak in 2022.
The San Antonio Police Department initiated a three-phase crime reduction plan in January 2023.
The year 2023 served as the baseline for the subsequent increase in rape rates.
Legal Context
The San Antonio Police Department three-phase crime reduction plan serves as the primary strategic framework used to evaluate shifts in the city's public safety outcomes. This report evaluates the efficacy of the department's plan by contrasting its success in reducing broad violent crime against the divergent trend in sexual assault reports.
The shift in crime trends may lead to adjustments in how the San Antonio Police Department deploys patrols and allocates resources across different neighborhoods. Residents are encouraged to stay informed regarding official safety advisories as the department continues its deterrence efforts.
The takeaway
While targeted interventions have successfully lowered rates for murder, robbery, and aggravated assault, the climbing rate of rape indicates that some violent crime categories remain resistant to current methods. Addressing these trends will require a continued evaluation of public safety policies.
Further reading
For additional context on local safety reports, visit the Sex Crimes section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dallas Morning News.
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