The year 2022 was notable for crime trends in Delaware, with various changes observed compared to the national averages. Here's an analysis of the current crime statistics.
Delaware had 3,906 incidents of violent crime in 2022, translating to 383.5 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the national rate stood at 380.3 per 100,000, indicating Delaware's higher than average violent crime rate.
From 2021 to 2022, violent crime in Delaware fell by 7.3%, which is higher than the national 1.2% drop.
In 2022, Delaware recorded 49 murders, equating to a rate of 4.8 per 100,000 inhabitants. The nationwide murder rate was 6.3 per 100,000, showing that Delaware has a lower murder rate compared to the country overall.
Delaware had 20,002 property crimes in 2022, which amounts to a rate of 1964.1 per 100,000 residents. The national property crime rate was 1952.8 per 100,000, indicating that Delaware has a higher property crime rate compared to the national average.
The period from 2021 to 2022 saw Delaware's property crime rate rise by 5.8%, compared to the national change of 7.1% increase.
In 2022, Delaware had 1,730 car thefts, marking a 3.8% increase from the previous year. Across the nation, car thefts rose by 10.9%, showing that Delaware's auto theft trend is lower than the national change.
The data includes a "Crime Score" for Delaware, which was 61 in 2022, down from 65 in 2021. While we don't have a national comparison for this score, the decrease suggests an overall improvement in the state's crime situation.
Delaware presents a mixed picture when compared to national crime trends. The state has higher rates of violent crime and higher rates of property crime than the national average. However, it faces challenges with a violent crime rate, property crime rate compared to national trends.
Note that various factors such as changes in reporting, law enforcement tactics, and socioeconomic shifts can impact crime statistics. Hence, these figures should be interpreted within a wider context when evaluating the crime scenario in Delaware.