According to multiple sources, the percentage of murders that go unsolved in the United States is around 50% . This means that only half of the cases are solved, either by making an arrest or closing the case due to other reasons. The clearance rate has been declining for decades, and it hit an all-time low in 2020. The sudden drop in 2020 can partly be attributed to the fact that homicides saw a nearly 30 percent increase that year, which meant police and sheriffs departments were overwhelmed with cases. However, the longer downward trend is likely the result of a number of reasons, including a decline in police trust and willingness to work with law enforcement, and a rise in gun violence, which tends to be more difficult to solve. The problem is exacerbated when broken down by demographics, as murders of white victims are more likely to be solved than cases with Hispanic or Black victims. Some states have struggled with consistently low clearance rates, and families of murder victims often go years without answers.