Violent Crime In NJ: See Where Your Neighborhood Ranks

The latest FBI report shows overall crime in New Jersey trending down, but the county and town numbers show the complete picture for the Garden State.

According to the latest FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data released on Aug. 5, the state and country as a whole showed a drop in both overall crime, and violent crime from 2023 to 2024. Violent crime is down by an estimated 4.5 percent year-over-year nationwide, while property crime (categorized as burglaries, larcenies and vehicle thefts) fell by 8.1 percent. The UCR program began in 1930, and includes nonfederal law enforcement agencies that voluntarily submit their crime and law enforcement data to the program.

Violent crimes in New Jersey occurred at a rate of 217.7 per 100,000 people. This is a drop from 225.3 per 100,000 people in 2023. It's also below the national average of 359.1 per 100,000 residents. The UCR report for 2024 covers 95.6 percent of the United States population.

The FBI's report showing New Jersey's progressive trend towards safer streets came on the same day as an announcement that a new face would be heading the state's Office of Law Enforcement and Professional Standards (OLEPS). Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin appointed former Camden County Police Chief Joseph D. Wysocki as the acting director of the division following the retirement of Director Kevin D. Lutz in July.

“Accountability and transparency are critical to ensuring that the public has confidence in our law enforcement professionals,” added Platkin. “OLEPS is key to this process. Joe Wysocki has had an extensive and wide-ranging career in law enforcement, and his credentials are second to none."

County View

Here's a look at the ranking of agencies by the number of cases they responded to both on the state level, and by county, to show where the most murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults were concentrated. The ranking excludes reporting from college and university agencies and other specialized departments in order to focus on town and city data.

Top 5 Agencies Responding to Violent Crimes Statewide in 2024

1. Newark: 1,800
2. Jersey City: 1,673
3. Paterson Police: 1,555
4. Camden County Police: 1,000
5. Trenton, 936

County Leaders

Atlantic County (Atlantic City, 685), Bergen County (Hackensack, 115), Burlington County (Willingboro, 112), Camden County (Camden County Police, 1,000), Cape May County (Middle Twp., 53), Cumberland County (Vineland, 272), Essex County (Newark, 1,800), Gloucester County (Monroe Twp., 48), Hudson County (Jersey City, 1,673), Hunterdon County (Clinton Twp., 10), Mercer County (Trenton, 936), Middlesex County (New Brunswick, 400), Monmouth County (Asbury Park, 108), Morris County (Morristown, 56), Ocean County (Lakewood Twp., 219), Passaic County (Patterson Police, 1,555), Salem County (Salem Police, 69), Somerset County (Franklin Twp., 55), Sussex County (Newton Police, 12), Union County (Elizabeth, 568), Warren County (Phillipsburg, 24)

Full Data Board

Room For Growth

Despite the encouraging numbers from the crime report, state-level law enforcement is still sitting at a crossroads right now in terms of leadership going forward. In the current structure, New Jersey State Police falls under the Department of Law and Public Safety and is overseen by the state attorney general. In a new bill under consideration by lawmakers, the police would have a superintendent that reports directly to the governor. This person would be appointed by the governor with input and consent from the Senate.

Attorney General Platkin has been under scrutiny at various points over the last few months, at one point even the subject of a call for impeachment. In February, assembly Republican leaders issued articles claiming that he overstepped his authority and failed to carry out the responsibilities of his role.

The resolution says Platkin "weaponized his position" by authorizing different operations by the Division of Criminal Justice and Office of Public Integrity that obstructed the work and career trajectory of state police employees.

The articles also claim Platkin acted unlawfully by taking over the Paterson Police Department, failed to uphold state statutes in court, and mishandled legal responses to the COVID-19 crisis and a rape accusation involving Governor Murphy’s campaign staffers.

Platkin is calling the resolution a "partisan political attack."

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