Lacey, Washington – According to an FBI analysis, the state of Washington saw a greater rate of violent crime, murder, vehicle thefts, and other crimes from 2019 to 2023 than the rest of the country.
According to the report, Washington had 22,377 violent crime instances in 2019 and 27,641 in 2023, representing a 23.5 percent rise. During the same period, the United States experienced a 2.2% drop.
Murder cases surged dramatically in Washington from 2019 to 2023, rising 87.4 percent from 198 to 371. Murders climbed by 17.2 percent nationwide.
Vehicle theft rates increased the most in the released report, by 117.1 percent from 2019 to 2023 in the state and 47.9 percent nationwide.
However, from 2022 to 2023, the state experienced a 4.8 percent decline in violent crime, greater than the national average of 3 percent. Murder cases decreased by 1.6 percent in Washington and 11.6 percent nationally.
According to the FBI, several other crimes, such as rape, robbery, burglary, and violent assault, decreased between 2022 and 2023. The state and country did, however, suffer a significant spike in vehicle thefts, with 7 percent in Washington and 12.6 percent overall.