In 2005, Jamaica had 1,674 murders for a murder rate of 58 per 100,000 people.
That year, Jamaica had the highest murder rate in the world.
In November 2008, the Jamaican Parliament voted to retain the death penalty, which is performed by hanging.
There were 1,682 reported murders in 2009 and 1,428 in 2010.
Since 2011 the murder rate has continued to fall following the downward trend started in 2010, with increases in police patrols, curfews and more effective anti-gang activities
