Newark Is Becoming A Safer Place To Live, 2023 Crime Stats Show

NEWARK, NJ — It wasn’t long ago that Newark was appearing on lists of the nation’s “most dangerous” cities and “murder capitals.” But over the past few years, New Jersey’s largest city has reportedly been seeing a huge drop in violent crime – a trend that may have been developing for decades.

Earlier this week, Newark officials released the city’s 2023 crime statistics at a news conference (watch the video here).

According to city officials, Newark saw reductions in almost every violent crime category, with a 1 percent increase reported in rapes. This year, overall violent crime in Newark fell by 10 percent as compared to 2022.

It wasn’t all roses this year, officials noted. The city has seen rises in overall property crime (35 percent) and auto thefts (98 percent), a trend that some other New Jersey municipalities have also experienced.

Police Chief Emanuel Miranda commented on the rise in auto thefts, blaming it partly on a social media “challenge” that teaches teenagers how to steal certain makes and models of cars.

People leaving their cars running and unattended have also contributed to the rise in auto thefts, authorities have previously said. Read More: Newark Car Thefts Continue; Don't Leave Vehicles Running, Cops Plead

But the big picture shows that Newark is becoming a safer place to live, city officials said at this week’s news conference.

Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé noted that the city saw 112 homicides in 2013. This year, the city reported 47 homicides, its lowest number since 1960 – although several that weren’t counted in the yearly total took place over the holiday weekend. Read More: Three Men Shot To Death Over 4 Days In Newark, Including On Christmas

Newark also saw a 36 percent decrease in non-fatal shooting victims this year versus 2022, he added.

FBI statistics show that Newark has been seeing a drop in overall violent crime since 1990, when 10,684 violent crimes were reported in the city. Read More: Newark Crime Rates Remain Historically Low, New FBI Data Shows

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Newark officials have credited part of the turnaround to a new approach to policing, which views crime and violence as a “public health” issue that needs to be attacked in several ways – not simply making more arrests.

The city recently began diverting some of its policing budget to the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery (OVPTR), which runs anti-violence programs and supports local community groups.

According to OVPTR director Lakeesha Eure, a network of more than 40 organizations have partnered with the department with the common goal of taking a new look at crime – and what causes it.

Nonprofits, groups and community leaders across the city have been tapped in an attempt to address the root causes of violence, reaching out to local youth and holding peace marches across Newark. Meanwhile, city-employed social workers have graduated and taken the field alongside cops, a significant addition in an area where about one in four calls that police get are for “social intervention.”

• See Related: Newark Cops Rescue Suicidal Teen: 'Hold On, Brother, We Care'
• See Related: Shoeless In A Rainstorm: Newark Cops Assist Boy With Autism

“These valuable partners successfully serve as violence interrupters, outreach workers, victim advocates, credible messengers, and peacekeepers who have successfully assisted with conflict resolution, mediation, providing resources, and by non-traditionally addressing the residual trauma that crime and violence bring to our residents,” she said.

“In Newark, we honor the right of everyone to be safe, and feel secure and supported as they go about their lives here in this city,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“We have reverence for everyone’s right to healing and wholeness after trauma,” he continued. “And, we are equally committed to eliminating the conditions that cause the desperation that leads to violence and crime. All of this is a community matter that can only be solved through community.”

“Our approach to a lasting solution is to treat violence and trauma as though it is a public health issue, using data, diagnostics, discernment and dedication,” the mayor added.

• See Related: Obama Praises Newark's Efforts To Stop Violence By Boosting Its Youth
• See Related: 'Peace Walk' Against Gun Violence Unites Thousands In Newark
• See Related: Newark Mom Lost 3 Sons To Violence. She's Helping Her City Fight Back

COUNTY, STATE CRIME STATS

Similar drops in violent crime have recently been reported on the county and state levels.

According to prosecutors, there has been a 27 percent drop in homicides over the past year in Essex County, which includes Newark. Authorities said that 45 of the homicides were firearm-related. In addition, eight involved stabbings, and four were connected to domestic-violence.

Long story short? Essex County is seeing its lowest homicide rate in decades, prosecutors said.

• See Related: Homicides At Historic Low In Essex County, Prosecutors Say

Essex County’s reduction in homicides mirrors a larger trend in New Jersey, which is seeing historic lows in violent crime, FBI statistics show.

A recent study named New Jersey as the “safest” in the nation when it comes to violent crime. Researchers pointed to two big factors that seemed to help the Garden State score the top spot: gun control and police reform.

• See Related: NJ Is 'Safest' State In Nation For Violent Crime, New Study Says

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