By Jana Winter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Violent crime fell 4.5% in the United States last year, marking the second consecutive annual decline, while hate crimes decreased by 1.5%, the FBI said in its annual national crime report released on Tuesday.

Violent crime fell across Washington in 2024, with fewer murders, assaults and robberies, according to new statewide data from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Why it matters: It's the second year in a row crime has declined across the state — a trend mirroring falling violence rates nationally after pandemic-era spikes.