Crime fell in Washington state last year
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Crime dropped statewide last year with a few notable exceptions, including vehicle thefts and hate crimes, according to a new report.
Why it matters: Data from the FBI and police agencies shows that crime has been steadily declining from pandemic highs.
Driving the news: The annual report from the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC) is based on data sent to the association's Uniform Crime Reporting Program by more than 200 law enforcement agencies, including the Seattle Police Department and the King County Sheriff's Office.
By the numbers: In Washington, crimes against people fell 0.6%, from 111,003 in 2022 to 110,332 last year, per the report.
- Violent crimes decreased 5.5%, with 31,050 offenses reported last year compared to 32,853 reported in 2022.
- Property crimes decreased last year by 11.9%.
- Murders were down 5.8% from 399 in 2022 to 376 in 2023, but that's still up 87% from 2019.
Yes, but: Vehicle theft was up 5.4% from 2022 to 2023 and up 112% since 2019, per the report.
- So-called "vice" crimes — which include drug, prostitution and gambling offenses — went up 22.4%, with more than 80% involving drugs, per the report.
- And hate crimes increased by 5.5% to 576 last year, per the report.
- Juvenile arrests jumped nearly 24%, with people ages 13 to 15 making up half of the 7,700 arrests statewide, the report says.
What they're saying: Unlike some parts of the country, Washington's crime numbers are nowhere near 50-year lows, said WASPC executive director Steve Strachan at a press briefing, but they are heading in the right direction.
Stunning stat: For the 13th consecutive year, Washington state had "by far" the lowest number of law enforcement officers per capita with just 1.35 commissioned officers per thousand residents, said Strachan.
- The national per capita rate for law enforcement officers is 2.31, according to WASPC.