The rate of overall crime across Connecticut fell 3% in 2020, with reductions in both violent crime and property crime, James Rovella, state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection commissioner, said Monday. This decline, part of a trend over the past decade, also includes a reduction in motor vehicles thefts, which rose during the pandemic.
Data from the 2021 “Crime in Connecticut” report shows that between 2020 and 2021, Connecticut saw a 3% reduction in overall crime, a 9% reduction in violent crime and a 2% reduction in property crimes. Motor vehicle theft also fell 10.57% from 2020 according to the findings of the new report.
“This report shows violent and property crimes are down in Connecticut from the previous year, preserving our state’s status as one of the safest in the country,” Lamont said. “We must remain laser-focused on further reducing crime. Speaking as a father, a husband, and governor, one crime is too many. We have a real opportunity, working together with law enforcement and community partners, to further increase public safety in Connecticut.”
However, while the state reports a reduction in violent crime, murder and non-negligent manslaughter rose 2% over 2020 with an additional 3 victims over the previous year to 150 total. 2020 had previously saw the highest number of actual offenses going back to 2012 and up sharply from the recent low of just 80 statewide in 2016.
“These numbers are fairly consistent with national trends,” said Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice at the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven. “It does seem like the pandemic played a role with these trends as homicides increased nationwide during 2020. But once more national data comes out, I would expect to see Connecticut among the lowest in terms of the homicide rate even with the increase.”
Rape saw the largest increase reported with a 23% increase over 2020 with 638 offenses in 2020 and 786 in 2021. However, that number overall is down from the high of 1,094 offenses in 2012.
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Index Crime Rate Per 100,000
Hover over or touch chart for a detailed view.
SOURCE: Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Crimes Analysis Unit
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In 2019, the General Assembly passed a bill that extended the statute of limitations for forced rape or rape by drugs from five years to 20 years. The statute of limitations also extended for things like unwanted touching from one year to 10 years.
It also eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for all children and if a victim was 18, 19, or 20, the statute of limitations would be 30 years following the victim’s 21st birthday, effectively the victim’s 51st birthday.
“The increase in reported rapes is a bit surprising,” Lawlor said. “However, with the extended statute of limitations, more people are reporting rapes that may have happened years ago. In addition, we are a victim friendly state and there is a lot more advocacy for rape and sexual assault victims. So I think people feel more encouraged to call the police and report those crimes.”
The clearance rate also also declined with the offense rate from 2020 to 2021. The clearance rate defines the number of crimes solved opposed to the number of crimes reported. The clearance rate fell for most crimes including rape, violent crime, and property crime. Overall the clearance rate dropped from 10,495 cases in 2020 to 9,487 cases in 2021.
“During the pandemic, officers couldn’t get out to the field as much and talk to people,” Lawlor said. “The pandemic hindered some investigations and slowed others. So I think the pandemic played a role on how many crimes were solved overall.”
Officials said the biggest challenge for law enforcement is recruitment for both state and local police. Due to retirements, state police said they were down 360 troopers.
“These numbers are evident that even with the shortages our officers are coming to work and ready to do their jobs,” Rovella said. “These trends are very positive for me to see.”
During the last four years, the Connecticut State Police Training Academy has graduated 333 new state troopers through six training troops. The 132nd Training Troop is currently in progress and anticipated to graduate an additional 33 new state troopers by the end of October with another 30 to 50 troopers to follow that class.
Rovella said that the attrition rate is about 55 to 60 officers behind how fast they can fill those seats at the academy. Class sizes are kept purposefully small to ensure individual attention and quality police education.
There were 9,038 sworn police personnel in Connecticut in 2021, or 2.51 officers for every 1,000 residents. No Connecticut police officer was killed in any felonious assault in 2021.
The state budget signed into law earlier this year made significant investments in crime prevention and reduction, especially involving gun violence, as well as services for crime victims and support to clear court cases that accumulated during the pandemic. The budget included $11 million for strategies led by law enforcement officials to trace firearms to their sources, reduce stolen cars, reduce violent crime, and promote safety on rural roads; $8 million for community and public health-led strategies to prevent and reduce gun violence; $4 million to invest in the latest forensic science technologies to speed up investigations and the clearing of criminal cases; $18 million to help victims and survivors recover from crime through safety planning, crisis counseling, mental health treatment, and support for survivors of domestic violence; and $32 million to speed up the processing of court cases.
Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com
