Newark’s Overall Crime Rate Drops In 2016; 93 Murders Recorded

NEWARK, NJ — Newark’s overall crime rate has allegedly fallen to its lowest benchmark since 1967, city officials announced earlier this week.

On Tuesday, Newark officials released a report that stated the city’s overall crime rate has declined when comparing 2016 to 2015 or any other year since 1967. When compared to last year, the change amounts to nearly 1,300 fewer victims of crime, a 13 percent decrease from 2015.

"As crime has increased in most major New Jersey cities, Newark saw a decrease," Mayor Ras Baraka said. "With our increases in police manpower, deployment of new technologies and the growing involvement and cooperation of community members with the police, we are well positioned to see further decreases in crime next year."

According to city statistics, Newark has seen 9,065 incidents of crime this year as of Dec. 25, down from 10,368 through the same period in 2015.

Other notable crime rate drops include:

• Murder – dropped 10 percent (93 victims in 2016; 103 victims in 2015)
• Auto theft – dropped 16 percent (2,101 crimes in 2016; 2,510 crimes in 2015)
• Burglary – dropped 23 percent (1,134 crimes in 2016; 1,480 crimes in 2015)
• Nonfatal shootings – dropped 21 percent (254 victims in 2016; 322 victims in 2015)
• Robbery – dropped 23 percent (1,384 crimes in 2016; 1,788 crimes in 2015)

According to city statistics, one of the only categories to see an increase last year was aggravated assaults, which jumped by 10 percent (1,126 crimes in 2016; 1,020 crimes in 2015).

“I’m very pleased to report that we have made progress,” Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said. “I attribute this successful outcome to several factors… These include the hard work of our Shooting Response Team, which lead to 68 less shootings, use of our Shot Spotter technology, the graduation of 80 officers from the police academy and assigning them to hot spots, and the increased deployment of our Clergy Alliance.”

Not all Newark residents – and victims of recent crimes – are convinced that the statistics mean the city is getting safer, however.

“Are you serious?” one resident wrote. “You just can't be. Two days ago my son got hit over the head with a gun and robbed for his iPhone. My home got broken into twice and no solution.”

“These seemingly minimal reductions are hardly cause for a victory lap to say the least,” another resident wrote. “Yes any small reduction is seemingly a huge gain. But I don't see where the mayor or city officials need to be patting themselves on the back. These reductions are mediocre at best. I'm still quite alarmed by the number of offenses that happened.”

According to NJTV, Newark finished 2015 with 105 murders, amounting to 37 homicides per 100,000 residents. Across the Hudson, New York City – which is home to nearly 8.5 million people - recorded 348 homicides last year, four per 100,000 residents.

Photo: City of Newark Press Office

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