The year 2022 was notable for crime trends in Texas, with various changes observed compared to the national averages. Here's an analysis of the current crime statistics.
Texas had 129,702 incidents of violent crime in 2022, translating to 431.9 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the national rate stood at 380.3 per 100,000, indicating Texas's higher than average violent crime rate.
From 2021 to 2022, violent crime in Texas fell by 3.1%, which is higher than the national 1.2% drop.
In 2022, Texas recorded 2,026 murders, equating to a rate of 6.7 per 100,000 inhabitants. The nationwide murder rate was 6.3 per 100,000, showing that Texas has a higher murder rate compared to the country overall.
Texas had 690,660 property crimes in 2022, which amounts to a rate of 2299.9 per 100,000 residents. The national property crime rate was 1952.8 per 100,000, indicating that Texas has a higher property crime rate compared to the national average.
The period from 2021 to 2022 saw Texas's property crime rate rise by 7.6%, compared to the national change of 7.1% increase.
In 2022, Texas had 99,450 car thefts, marking a 11.2% increase from the previous year. Across the nation, car thefts rose by 10.9%, showing that Texas's auto theft trend is higher than the national change.
The data includes a "Crime Score" for Texas, which was 79 in 2022, up from 79 in 2021. While we don't have a national comparison for this score, the increase suggests an overall worsening in the state's crime situation.
Texas 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, murder rate, a more significant change in car thefts 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 Texas.