New data from Maine State Police shows the crime rate in the state has trended downward each year since 2021.
Statewide crime statistics released Monday in four categories show crimes against people, property and society are all down over three years. Violent crimes also dropped, but only slightly from last year.
The 2023 crime report is lengthy, covering nearly 300 pages.
The data uses Incident Based Reporting to examine trends in crime between the years 2021 and 2023.
The report says a total of 43,377 crimes were reported statewide in 2023.
The report shows the overall crime rate trend decreasing three points over the last three years while gauging crime in a scale based on incidents at a rate of per 1,000 population.
Overall crime dropped from 32.44 incidents per 1,000 population in 2021, to 32.04 in 2022, down to 29.65 in 2023.
There were 9.76 crimes against people per 1,000 population in 2021. That figure was reduced to 9.53 in 2022 and further dropped to 9.14 in 2023.
Crimes Against Property actually jumped from 19.16 per 1,000 population in 2021 to 19.46 in 2022 but markedly dropped to 17.17 in 2023.
Crimes Against Society dropped from 2021 to 2023 but jumped back up in 2023 from 2022. There were 3.53 crimes against society in 2021, followed by 3.16 in 2022 and 3.35 in 2023.
Violent Crime had the lowest overall rate of the four categories, dropping from 1.10 per 1,000 population in 2021, to 1.01 in 2022 and 1.00 in 2023.
The report defines crimes of violence to involve personal confrontation between the perpetrator and victim and entail the use of threat or violence. The nature of violent crime – Murder, Rape, Aggravated Assault and Robbery – is considered more serious than property crimes.
Crimes against people includes Murder and Non-Negligent Manslaughter, Negligent Manslaughter, Aggravated Assault, Kidnapping/Abductions and Forcible Sex Offenses (Rape, Sodomy, Sexual Assault with Object, Fondling)
Crimes against property includes Burglary/Breaking and Entering, Robbery, Fraud, Larceny and Motor Vehicle Theft.
Check out the full report here.
