40 States Saw Violent Crime Rates Fall Since 1991

Violent crime rates decreased between 1991 and 2022 in 40 states and Washington, DC. It declined by over 70% in Connecticut, Illinois, and Florida.

Meanwhile, the violent crime rate more than doubled in North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota. In 1991, these three states had some of the nation’s lowest crime rates. Rates increased so much in North Dakota that the state’s 2022 violent crime rate was more than four times higher than in 1991.

More Recent Changes

Between 2021 and 2022, violent crime decreased in 35 states and Washington, DC. The greatest annual increases were in New York (39.2%), Alabama (17.4%), and Vermont (14.4%), while the largest decreases in violent crime rates occurred in Florida (23.3), Kentucky (20.4%), and Illinois (16.7%).