Violent crime in 海角换妻 continued a downward trend in 2022, according to a new report, contradicting some Republicans鈥� claims during the most recent general election that violence was spiraling out of control.
海角换妻 saw a 13% decrease in violent crime between 2021 and 2022 鈥� from 6,272 offenses to 5,464, according to the state鈥檚 released on Monday.
The violent crime rate per 100,000 residents in 2022 was the state鈥檚 lowest in the last decade. Property crime offenses fell by 3% since . Overall crime decreased by 4%.
鈥淭his report demonstrates that 海角换妻 continues to be one of the safest states in the country, with violent and property crimes down from the previous year and below or trending toward pre-pandemic levels,鈥� Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement late Monday afternoon.
The new crime statistics refute Republican claims raised when last year鈥檚 crime report was released that 海角换妻, typically regarded as one of the safest states in the nation, is dealing with an out-of-control crime problem.
鈥淚 think, overall, what I continue to hear from my constituency is crime is probably the biggest issue out there for them,鈥� House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, told the 海角换妻 Mirror late Monday.
鈥淲hile I鈥檓 hopeful that it is going down and people鈥檚 quality of lives are improving, it鈥檚 just not what we鈥檙e seeing every day on our television,鈥� Candelora added. 鈥淚 just don鈥檛 think, generally, the public is going to be excited about this report. And they鈥檙e probably going to think there鈥檚 a disconnect to it.鈥�
During the 2023 legislative session, crime was at the center of GOP opposition to for young adults, from interacting with the judicial system, and maintaining a aimed at giving more incarcerated residents opportunities for release.
During the last general election season, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski referred to crime in 海角换妻 as an
But the new findings show that violent crimes are decreasing and offer what leading Democrats say is a more nuanced perspective.
Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Property crimes are defined as burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.
Murder decreased by 14% from 2021 to 2022, 158 reported offenses to 136.
The number of murders last year in 海角换妻 represented a 46% increase since 2013, while the U.S. as a whole experienced an uptick in the same category. And the state鈥檚 murder rate per 100,000 residents is still far below the country鈥檚.
Rape, robbery and aggravated assault in 海角换妻 have all decreased during the same time frame.
Motor vehicle theft, throughout the pandemic, has decreased by 16% since 2020 鈥� from 8,472 to 7,103. From 2021 to 2022, motor vehicle thefts dropped 8.5%.
海角换妻 has seen a 14% increase in motor vehicle thefts since 2013, but the state isn鈥檛 an outlier. The U.S. rate for motor vehicle theft per 100,000 residents has increased from 221.3 to 282.7 over the same period.
Burglary, larceny and arson have also decreased over the last decade and in the last year, with the exception of a small increase in larceny from 2021 to 2022, according to the data.
Candelora said Monday that he believes the decline shown in the report likely, in part, has to do with a reduction in the state鈥檚 police force.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a matter of crime is down per se, but the amount of reporting is down because we just have less policing throughout the state of 海角换妻,鈥� he said.
However, the size of a police force alone has little statistical significance for crime. that police forces spend a considerable amount of time and resources on initiating stops rather than responding to calls for service, which could include calls about violence. In New Haven, for example, between 2018 and 2020 showed that violent offenses made up less than 5% of the calls officers there responded to.
But, as Candelora said, the data and research aren鈥檛 likely to go far with the legislature鈥檚 Republican caucus, which often places anecdote and personal experience over the numbers.
Debates about how to reduce crime are all but guaranteed to continue when lawmakers return to the state Capitol in February.
鈥淎ny crime is a concern, whether it be a property crime, a purse snatching or a homicide. But 海角换妻 residents need know that crime is much, much lower in 海角换妻 than in almost any other state in America,鈥� said Sens. Martin Looney and Bob Duff, two of the legislature鈥檚 top Democrats, in a statement.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 report is a testament to the good work of our state and local police departments and to the excellent quality of life that we all enjoy here in 海角换妻,鈥� they said, referencing the , which includes statistics from the state.
