RTCI is a large national database that compiles reported crime data from hundreds of law enforcement agencies and is updated regularly, long before official federal numbers are released.

RTCI data currently available through October show murders down nearly 20% compared with the same period in 2024.

The index's glossary notes that its murder category excludes cases such as accidental deaths and deaths caused by negligence, meaning the index aims to track "willful (nonnegligent) killings," aligning closely with standard FBI definitions.

Asher earlier this fall cautioned that national crime estimates are often revised and that final "official" numbers can take years to settle.