The year 2022 was notable for crime trends in Virginia, with various changes observed compared to the national averages. Here's an analysis of the current crime statistics.
Virginia had 20,324 incidents of violent crime in 2022, translating to 234.0 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the national rate stood at 380.3 per 100,000, indicating Virginia's lower than average violent crime rate.
From 2021 to 2022, violent crime in Virginia rose by 4.1%, which is higher than the national 1.2% drop.
In 2022, Virginia recorded 638 murders, equating to a rate of 7.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. The nationwide murder rate was 6.3 per 100,000, showing that Virginia has a higher murder rate compared to the country overall.
Virginia had 147,249 property crimes in 2022, which amounts to a rate of 1695.7 per 100,000 residents. The national property crime rate was 1952.8 per 100,000, indicating that Virginia has a lower property crime rate compared to the national average.
The period from 2021 to 2022 saw Virginia's property crime rate rise by 17.4%, compared to the national change of 7.1% increase.
In 2022, Virginia had 13,958 car thefts, marking a 21.8% increase from the previous year. Across the nation, car thefts rose by 10.9%, showing that Virginia's auto theft trend is higher than the national change.
The data includes a "Crime Score" for Virginia, which was 17 in 2022, up from 15 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.
Virginia presents a mixed picture when compared to national crime trends. The state has lower rates of violent crime and lower rates of property crime than the national average. However, it faces challenges with a 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 Virginia.