The year 2022 was notable for crime trends in Washington, with various changes observed compared to the national averages. Here's an analysis of the current crime statistics.
Washington had 29,247 incidents of violent crime in 2022, translating to 375.6 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the national rate stood at 380.3 per 100,000, indicating Washington's lower than average violent crime rate.
From 2021 to 2022, violent crime in Washington rose by 12.5%, which is higher than the national 1.2% drop.
In 2022, Washington recorded 387 murders, equating to a rate of 5.0 per 100,000 inhabitants. The nationwide murder rate was 6.3 per 100,000, showing that Washington has a lower murder rate compared to the country overall.
Washington had 261,323 property crimes in 2022, which amounts to a rate of 3356.4 per 100,000 residents. The national property crime rate was 1952.8 per 100,000, indicating that Washington has a higher property crime rate compared to the national average.
The period from 2021 to 2022 saw Washington's property crime rate rise by 11.2%, compared to the national change of 7.1% increase.
In 2022, Washington had 49,777 car thefts, marking a 39.8% increase from the previous year. Across the nation, car thefts rose by 10.9%, showing that Washington's auto theft trend is higher than the national change.
The data includes a "Crime Score" for Washington, which was 55 in 2022, up from 49 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.
Washington presents a mixed picture when compared to national crime trends. The state has lower rates of violent crime and higher rates of property crime than the national average. However, it faces challenges with a property crime 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 Washington.