14-05-2025
New report says crime is down in Connecticut
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A new report released by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) shows a decreasing trend in crime across Connecticut.
The report which can be read here highlights three key areas, Crime Against People, Crime Against Property and Crime Against Society.
Serious crime in Connecticut continued to decline for most of 2024, data shows
News 8 talked with some residents who tell us they believe the data and feel it reflects what they see in their community.
One man says, 'I would say it probably would represent [decreasing crime] I mean I live on the other side of the state a small little town the crime I haven't seen go up at all.'
Another man we talked with says if crime is down it's because police are doing their jobs.
DESPP Commissioner Ronnell Higgins sat down with News 8 to go over the findings and data included in the report.
'The results were seeing with crime reductions it's because police officers are out there doing their job that's because police chiefs are leading,' Higgins said.
Higgins feels data should be driving decisions for law enforcement agencies across the state. Every police department submits monthly data to DESPP. That data gets analyzed and sent out every three months. Higgins says it used to be released once a year and that isn't going to help departments. Now, the data will be released quarterly.
While the data indicates crime is down statewide, some may argue that doesn't properly represent what's happening in their communities.
'This is statewide data, so there may be areas where there are increases. There may be some cities and towns where they're seeing and feeling a spike,' Higgins said.
He says it's all about understanding the data and how the numbers get to where they are. He wants to know why we're seeing a decrease and what is causing the drop in crime.
For example, he says identity theft is down.
'We see that identity theft is down significantly, [but] is it because people have stopped calling police and are reporting it another way?' Higgins said.
Before becoming commissioner, Higgins was a police chief himself. He said that his past experience helps bring a new perspective to the data set.
The report also indicated a rise in hate crimes over the last five years. In response, they launched a new Hate Crimes Initiative to tackle the issue in communities across Connecticut.
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