Violent crime went down last year in Mass. but anti-Jewish hate crimes spiked, officials say
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While the statewide violent crime data's encouraging, the hate crime numbers point to a more concerning trend, even though the overall tally of such offenses decreased last year, the statement said.
Officials said that despite the overall decrease, reports of anti-Semitic hate crimes increased by 20.5 percent last year.
For the first time since tracking began in 1991, officials said, anti-Jewish hate crimes surpassed anti-Black offenses in 2024.
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'This new data is encouraging and reflects the important work that law enforcement and community partners do day in and day out to keep the people of Massachusetts safe,' said Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat and former state attorney general, in a statement.
'We know there is always more work to be done, and we remain committed to bringing people together to continue to enhance public safety in communities across the state,' Healey said.
Boston MA- June 16 Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey speaking during a Northeast governors and Canadian premiers to talk trade and tariffs at the State House Library on June 16 2025. Photo by Matthew J Lee/Globe Staff
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
The governor's words were echoed by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.
'Partnership between law enforcement and the communities they serve is the cornerstone of effective public safety,' said Driscoll in a statement. 'The continued improvements that we see in 2024 reflect a deeply held shared commitment to collaborative solutions that promote safer communities.'
Lt. Gov. of Massachusetts Kim Driscoll arrives at the JFK Library, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press
According to preliminary state data, Massachusetts logged 466 reported hate crimes last year, down from 560 in 2023. Officials said 130 such complaints last year dealt with anti-Jewish bias, up from 105 in 2023.
'While this 2024 data offers an encouraging snapshot-in-time, it also reinforces the importance of staying focused and coordinated in our efforts to reduce crime,' said state Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy in a statement.
'We are deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement as well as our many community partners and remain dedicated to our continued efforts to develop cooperative, evidence-based solutions that keep our Massachusetts neighborhoods safe,' Reidy said.
Terrence Reidy.
Lane Turner/Globe Staff
Travis Andersen can be reached at
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