How Safe Are RI Neighborhoods? Here’s What New FBI Crime Data Shows

RHODE ISLAND — A pair of FBI crime reports show neighborhoods in Rhode Island are less safe than were a year ago, bucking a national trend which saw violent crimes decrease across the U.S.

The preliminary report for January-June 2024 shows violent crime nationwide decreased by 10.3 percent compared with the same time period in 2023. Murders are down by 22.7 percent, rape by 17.7 percent, robbery by 13.6 percent, property crime by 13.1 percent and aggravated assault by 8.1 percent.

The snapshot released Monday shows comes on the heels of the FBI report last month that showed violent crime rates continued to fall in 2023 after a coronavirus pandemic-era crime spike.

Violent crime was down 3 percent in 2023 from the year prior, and murders and negligent manslaughter dropped by nearly 12 percent. Even with the 2020 pandemic surge, violent crime is down dramatically from the 1990s, the agency said.

FBI crime reports have an important limitation in that they rely on participation from police agencies. The 2023 year-end report shows that with 100 percent of agencies submitting data, violent crime in Rhode Island was up 10.37 percent, compared with 2022. By category:

• Murder: up 100 percent
• Robbery: up 26.09 percent
• Aggravated assault: down 1.23 percent
• Property crime: down 18.99 percent.

Monday’s preliminary report on violent crime trends in 2024 is based on reports from about 14,800 of just over 19,300 law enforcement agencies across the country. Among the data gaps are only partial figures from Chicago and no reporting for Los Angeles.

Also, police agencies have until the end of the year to correct any reporting errors or omissions before the FBI publishes its 2024 year-end report.

The report is almost certain to be viewed closely by both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 presidential race enters the closing stretch. Crime has been a focal point of both, with Trump claiming violent crime has accelerated under Joe Biden’s administration, while Harris has highlighted her history as a prosecutor, including her work as California attorney general to bring down transnational criminal organizations.

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