FBI Crime Report 2020: Violent Crime Down In New Jersey Again

NEW JERSEY — Violent and property crimes decreased in New Jersey last year, according to data released by the FBI in its 2020 uniform crime report.

In New Jersey, the FBI estimated crime statistics based on reports from all 577 of the state’s law enforcement agencies.

The FBI has issued a caution about the crime data coming in at the local levels, however.

Lists comparing cities and counties "provide no insight into the numerous variables that shape crime in a given state, county, city, town, tribal area or region," the FBI said in a statement.

“Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents,” the statement continued. “Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction.”

The data shows violent crime went down in New Jersey from 2019 to 2020. Property crime went down during the same period.

In fact, the continued decline in these numbers completed a decade long trend in the state, which has seen both violent and property crimes decrease since 2010, according to the data.

Most types of violent and property crime occurrences were down as well, including rape, arson and robbery. Aggravated assault and homicides, however, did see an increase from 2019 t0 2020.

During the 2010s, the state's homicide rate fell to the lowest point in 2019, at a mark of 3 homicides per 100,000 per year. The number rose past levels last seen in 2017 this past year, at a mark of 3.7 homicides per 100,000 people.

Neither the state Attorney General, nor the New Jersey State Police, responded to a request for comment on the numbers, but Gov. Phil Murphy perhaps provided some insight into how seriously the state is taking the issue of gun violence.

Murphy, along with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed a Memorandum of Understanding to share crime gun data in "an effort to prevent gun violence and enhance public safety."

What this means is that agencies from each of the four states can share crime gun data across state lines in an effort to cut down on the illegal firearms trade.

“Firearms trafficking networks frequently engage in criminal activities on an interstate basis, and in order to prevent gun violence in our communities, we must work collaboratively as a region,” said Murphy. “By sharing vital gun crime information with New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, we are equipping our law enforcement agencies with the necessary resources and intel to analyze, track, and deter gun violence. Our multi-state approach reaffirms our collective commitment and shared goal of ending gun violence in our communities and enhancing public safety throughout our region.”

Indeed, shootings and shooting deaths were up in 2020 even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

New Jersey State Police data — recently published by NJ.com — shows that 218 people died in New Jersey shootings in 2020, up 45 percent from 2019. An additional 1,052 were wounded in 2020 shootings, an increase of 25 percent from 2019.

According to the New Jersey Gun Stat report, published by the State Police, 60 people had been killed by guns in the first four months of 2021 alone, while 315 people were shot.

Nationwide, the FBI reported an increase in violent crime for the first time in four years. The number of property crimes reported nationally dropped for the 18th year in a row.

Violent crime was up 5.2 percent in 2020 from the 2019 number, the FBI said in a news release. Violent crimes are labeled as homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property crimes are listed as arson, burglary, larceny theft and motor vehicle theft.

Among violent crimes, murder and non-negligent manslaughter reports saw the sharpest one-year uptick from 2019 to 2020, at 29.4 percent, the FBI said.

Property crimes — including burglaries, vehicle thefts and arson — dropped 8.1 percent from 2019 to 2020, the FBI data shows.