The year 2022 was notable for crime trends in Pennsylvania, with various changes observed compared to the national averages. Here's an analysis of the current crime statistics.
Pennsylvania had 36,307 incidents of violent crime in 2022, translating to 279.9 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the national rate stood at 380.3 per 100,000, indicating Pennsylvania's lower than average violent crime rate.
From 2021 to 2022, violent crime in Pennsylvania fell by 1.0%, which is lower than the national 1.2% drop.
In 2022, Pennsylvania recorded 1,020 murders, equating to a rate of 7.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. The nationwide murder rate was 6.3 per 100,000, showing that Pennsylvania has a higher murder rate compared to the country overall.
Pennsylvania had 192,311 property crimes in 2022, which amounts to a rate of 1482.5 per 100,000 residents. The national property crime rate was 1952.8 per 100,000, indicating that Pennsylvania has a lower property crime rate compared to the national average.
The period from 2021 to 2022 saw Pennsylvania's property crime rate rise by 18.6%, compared to the national change of 7.1% increase.
In 2022, Pennsylvania had 21,149 car thefts, marking a 22.3% increase from the previous year. Across the nation, car thefts rose by 10.9%, showing that Pennsylvania's auto theft trend is higher than the national change.
The data includes a "Crime Score" for Pennsylvania, which was 32 in 2022, up from 29 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.
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.