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Crime in New York State 2019 Final Data

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Crime in New York State 2019 Final Data December 2020 New York State Crime Report Andrew M. Cuomo Michael C. Green Governor Executive Deputy Commissioner December 2020 Crime in New York State 2019 Final Data New York State and the FBI use seven Index crime categories as indicators of overall crime trends: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, which are classified as violent crimes; and the property crimes of burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. The FBI created these categories to allow for uniform crime reporting across all 50 states. This report details 2019 Index crime in New York State, its 62 counties and two regions: New York City and the 57 counties outside of the five boroughs (Rest of State). Police departments and sheriffs’ offices report Index crime to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) through the Uniform Crime Reporting and Incident-Based Reporting programs. This report also details Index crime rates per 100,000 population statewide and by county and region. DCJS uses county population data from the FBI, which is based on U.S. Census estimates, to calculate those crime rates. New York State implemented the FBI’s expanded Reported Index crime in New York State declined for the definition of rape in 2015; this resulted in an uptick seventh consecutive year in 2019, with 335,736 Index in violent crime and reported rapes in that year crimes reported. This is the fewest number of crimes when compared to prior years. As a result, caution reported since statewide reporting began in 1975. should be used when citing or interpreting any percentage changes between rapes reported in The historic low in reported Index crime has resulted in 2015 and any subsequent year, to those reported New York’s Index crime rate declining by 25.8 percent in 2014 and earlier. between 2010 and 2019. The FBI made the change to more accurately During that 10-year period, the violent crime rate reflect the scope and volume of sexual assaults decreased 8 percent and the property crime rate nationwide. Before the implementation, those declined 29 percent. Appendix 1 has additional details. offenses would have been classified by the FBI and state as Part II sex offenses. Percentage Change in Crime Rates 2010 vs. 2019 This report compares Index and violent crime over New York State the 10-year period from 2010 through 2019, but it 10% 1.2% does not include percentage change comparisons 0% between rape statistics reported in 2010 vs. 2019 NA because of the expanded definition. -10% -8.4% -20% -22.3% -30% -25.8% Index crimes reported by police departments and -29.3% -40% -35.8% -36.7% sheriffs’ offices to DCJS annually from 2015 to -38.3% 2019 are online: www.criminaljustice.ny.gov -50% (click the link to Statistics). -60% -57.7% -70% Office of Justice Research & Performance 1 New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services December 2020 Change in Crime Volume: 2010 vs. 2019 Between 2010 and 2019, Index crime declined, with 114,696 fewer crimes New York State Index Crime Counts reported statewide. 500,000 450,432 This represents a 25.5 percent reduction 400,000 in the volume of reported crime over that -25.5% 10-year period. 300,000 335,736 Reported Index crime has declined annually since 2012. 200,000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Regional Trends in Crime: 2010 to 2019 Index crimes in the state’s two regions — Regional Trends in Index Crime New York City (five counties, also referred 300,000 262,328 to as boroughs) and Rest of State (57 -36.9% 250,000 counties) — declined when comparing 2010 to 2019. The decline in the Rest of State 188,104 significantly outpaced the decrease in New 200,000 170,120 York City. Between 2010 and 2019, -9.6% 150,000 reported Index crime declined 36.9 percent 165,616 in the Rest of State as compared to 9.6 100,000 percent in New York City. 50,000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Index crime has decreased annually in the New York City Rest of State 57 counties outside of the five boroughs since 2010 and in 2019, crime volume in the Rest of State was lower than New York City for the first time since 1997. Regional Trends in Violent Crime The decrease in violent crime in the Rest of State also was significantly greater than in 48,489 50,000 New York City: 19.9 percent vs. 1.4 percent. -1.4% New York City has seen a significant 47,821 decrease in homicides during this 10-year period: 40.5 percent. See Appendix 2 for 30,000 more details. 27,348 -19.9% 21,917 As noted, the state’s implementation of the 10,000 FBI’s expanded definition of rape resulted in 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 an uptick in violent crime in both regions New York City Rest of State from 2014 to 2015. This change resulted in 3,817 additional crimes being classified as rape in 2019; prior to the change, those offenses would have been classified by the FBI and state as Part II sex offenses. Office of Justice Research & Performance 2 New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services December 2020 Statewide Crime Trends: 2018 vs. 2019 The number of Index crimes reported in New York State decreased 3.8 percent in 2019 as Percentage Change in Crime Volume compared to the previous year. 2018 vs. 2019 New York State Six of the seven Index crimes declined, with 10% the most significant reduction occurring in burglary (-11.5%). 5% 3.3% 1.7% 0% Violent crime increased by 1.7 percent, -0.8% driven by the increase in aggravated assaults -1.6% -1.6% -5% -3.8% -4.4% -3.5% (+3.3%). There were fewer murders, robberies -5.2% and rapes statewide and the total number of -10% -11.5% murders reported in 2019 (558) was the -15% second lowest number since reporting began in 1975. The previous all-time low was 550, -20% reported in 2017. Property crime decreased by 5.2 percent; all three property crime categories declined. Regional Crime Trends: 2018 vs. 2019 New York City New York City 10% Index crimes decreased (-2.3%) in 2019, 8.1% largely due to the decline in reported property 3.7% 4.3% 5% 3.3% crimes (-4.5%). 0% Violent crime increased (+3.7%), with -0.2% -2.3% -1.6% increases in murder (+8.1%), aggravated -5% -4.5% -4.3% assault (+4.3%) and robbery (+3.3%). There -10% -9.1% were fewer rapes (-1.6%) reported. -15% Burglary (-9.1%), larceny (-4.3%) and motor vehicle theft (-0.2%) all decreased. -20% Rest of State Rest of State Crime in the Rest of State declined 5.3 percent 10% when compared to 2018, driven by reductions in six of the seven Index crimes. Notably, 5% murders decreased 12.1 percent, burglaries 1.1% decreased 12.8 percent and robberies 0% decreased 11.1 percent. -1.6% -2.4% -5% -4.6% -5.3% -5.7% -5.9% Declines in motor vehicle theft (-5.9%), larceny -10% (-4.6%), rape (-1.6%) also were reported. -11.1% Aggravated assault increased (+1.1%). -15% -12.1% -12.8% -20% Appendix 3 lists crime rates by county for 2019 and Appendix 6 details crime counts by county for 2018 as compared to 2019. Office of Justice Research & Performance 3 New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services December 2020 Trends in Violent Crime by Firearm: 2015 vs. 2019 Police departments and sheriffs’ offices in New York State report to DCJS the number of violent crimes that involved the use of a firearm. In New York City, violent crime involving firearms increased slightly (+1.4%) between 2018 and 2019, but has decreased dramatically in the past five years: 34.5 percent when comparing 2015 to 2019. Violent crimes involving a firearm in the Rest of the State declined 2.1 percent from 2018 to 2019, and decreased by 19.3 percent when comparing 2015 to 2019. See Appendix 4 for more details. New York City Violent Crime by Firearm Rest of State Violent Crime by Firearm 8,000 6,000 6,577 4,638 4,437 6,000 5,393 4,066 4,000 4,747 3,658 3,582 4,245 4,305 4,000 2,000 2,000 0 0 New York City Rest of State 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Regional Trends in Homicide: 2018 vs. 2019 In 2019, there were 558 reported homicides in New York State, the second fewest since statewide reporting began in 1975. There were nine fewer homicides reported in 2019 than 2018, a decrease of 1.6 percent. Homicides in the Rest of State decreased 12.1 percent (239 vs. 272), while homicides in New York City increased 8.1 percent (319 vs. 295). Homicides statewide have decreased 35.6 percent since 2010. Homicides involving a firearm showed a similar trend, declining 42.5 percent when comparing 2010 to 2019. The number of non-firearm related homicides also decreased (-25%) when comparing 2010 to 2019. New York State Homicides 2010 - 2019 % Change 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2018-19 2010-19 New York State Total Homicide 866 770 688 645 616 620 631 550 567 558 -1.6% -35.6% Non-Firearm Related 344 322 277 279 267 234 262 255 240 258 7.5% -25.0% Firearm Related 522 448 411 366 349 386 369 295 327 300 -8.3% -42.5% New York City Total Homicide 536 515 419 335 333 352 335 292 295 319 8.1% -40.5% Non-Firearm Related 213 200 178 141 145 117 132 139 134 156 16.4% -26.8% Firearm Related 323 315 241 194 188 235 203 153 161 163 1.2% -49.5% Rest of State Total Homicide 330 255 269 310 283 268 296 258 272 239 -12.1% -27.6% Non-Firearm Related 131 122 99 138 122 117 130 116 106 102 -3.8% -22.1% Firearm Related 199 133 170 172 161 151 166 142 166 137 -17.5% -31.2% Source: DCJS, Uniform Crime Reporting File.
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