Violent crime up 55% in Washington state amid “missed opportunity” for reform
While aggravated assault increased year over year between 2015-2021, reported burglaries actually fell from 39,688 in 2015 to 35,526 in 2019 before jumping back up to 41,638 in 2020 and 42,267 in 2021.
By The Center Square Staff
By TJ Martinell
Updated: April 3, 2023 - 11:00pm
Violent crime in Washington state has increased by 55% since 2015, according to data from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, or WASPC. It’s a trend that some legislators have attributed to recent police reform legislation that they believe isn’t getting fixed this session.
“It’s a crisis situation, yet the majority [party] here doesn’t seem to realize it at all,” Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, told The Center Square. Padden is the ranking minority member on the Senate Law and Justice Committee.
In 2015, there were 18,925 violent crimes reported, compared to 29,368 reported in 2021. However, some crimes, such as murder, have increased by 95%, with 166 murders in 2015 compared to 325 in 2021. Aggravated assaults increased by 73%, while rape increased by 51%. Simple assaults increased by 13%. Between 2015-2021, there were 146,323 violent crimes committed, 15% of which involved the use of a firearm.
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/violent-crime-55-washington-state-amid-missed-opportunity-reform
