FBI statistics paint a picture of complicated crime in Connecticut

FBI statistics released this week showed a mixed record for Connecticut, reflecting a nationwide increase in homicides, a local increase in auto thefts and a slight decline in violent crime as the country as a whole saw a decline. increase.

Here’s a breakdown of Connecticut’s crime rates last year according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Annual Report. All figures are represented by the rate per 100,000 population.

Violent crimes: Connecticut’s overall violent crime rate declined 1.6% in 2020 to 181.6. That’s less than half the national rate, which rose 4.6% to 398.5.

Homicide: Connecticut’s murder rate soared 30% in 2020 to 3.9 per 100,000 people. Growth from 2019 was slightly above the increase in the national average which rose 27.4%, but the state’s homicide rate remained significantly lower than the US rate, which was 6.5 . The last time Connecticut’s homicide rate hit 3.9 was in 2006.

Motor vehicle theft: Auto theft rates were similar in Connecticut (236.8) and nationwide (246). However, Connecticut saw a much larger increase at nearly 41% while the US rate rose 11.4%.

Aggravated Assault: Rates of aggravated assault fell 1% in Connecticut to 103.8 while the national average rose 11.7% to 279.7.

Grated: The rape rate fell 25.1% in Connecticut to 16.7 per 100,000 people, less than half the national average which also declined 11.9% to 38.4.

Property crimes: Property crime rates rose in Connecticut 9.3% to 1,565.1 while they declined nationally from 8.1% to 1,958.2.

Flight: Connecticut’s robbery offense rate rose 5% to 57.2 while the national average declined 9.7% to 73.9.

The statistics come amid an ongoing debate over the state’s criminal justice policies driven by news of recent murders and other crimes. According to the New Haven Independent, the city has already surpassed the number of murders it experienced last year this year.

Many Republicans have for months lobbied for legislative action to tackle youth crime and auto theft. Democrats, on the other hand, have widely argued that the increase in state crime is a symptom of national trends rather than a reflection of policies enacted here.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said FBI crime statistics showed Connecticut had seen an increase in murders and motor vehicle thefts in the United States and around the world.

“Make no mistake that Connecticut is still one of the safest states in the country. Our crime rate is way lower than the national average and I think a lot of this is linked to the pandemic and you will see it over the course of the year, this time next year we should see all of these numbers go back down. “

In a telephone interview on Wednesday, parliamentary minority leader Vincent Candelora said FBI statistics supported concerns expressed by Republicans. He compared the issue to the legislature’s vote this week to expand the governor’s emergency powers.

“I don’t care if this is a national upward trend. We have an obligation to take care of it for the people of the state of Connecticut, ”Candelora said. “Now [Democrats are] raise your hand on public safety and say, “This is a national trend that we don’t have to deal with. There are unique issues in the state of Connecticut – in our statutes and the way we administer our laws that need to be fixed. ”