The year 2022 was notable for crime trends in West Virginia, with various changes observed compared to the national averages. Here's an analysis of the current crime statistics.
West Virginia had 4,934 incidents of violent crime in 2022, translating to 277.9 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the national rate stood at 380.3 per 100,000, indicating West Virginia's lower than average violent crime rate.
From 2021 to 2022, violent crime in West Virginia fell by 5.2%, which is higher than the national 1.2% drop.
In 2022, West Virginia recorded 81 murders, equating to a rate of 4.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. The nationwide murder rate was 6.3 per 100,000, showing that West Virginia has a lower murder rate compared to the country overall.
West Virginia had 21,836 property crimes in 2022, which amounts to a rate of 1230.1 per 100,000 residents. The national property crime rate was 1952.8 per 100,000, indicating that West Virginia has a lower property crime rate compared to the national average.
The period from 2021 to 2022 saw West Virginia's property crime rate fall by 9.9%, compared to the national change of 7.1% increase.
In 2022, West Virginia had 1,574 car thefts, marking a 20.4% decrease from the previous year. Across the nation, car thefts rose by 10.9%, showing that West Virginia's auto theft trend is higher than the national change.
The data includes a "Crime Score" for West Virginia, which was 29 in 2022, down from 31 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.
West 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 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 West Virginia.