State police report shows violent crimes increasing slightly in Virginia

Tazewell, Virginia. — Violent crime in Virginia increased slightly in 2023, according to the annual Crime in Virginia report released Tuesday by the Virginia State Police.

The annual report examines crime rates in cities and counties across the Commonwealth.

For example, the report found that the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office investigated 1,119 crimes during the reporting period. Bluefield, Virginia, police investigated another 545 crimes during the same year, followed by 324 crimes investigated by Richlands police.

Crime reporting data for the Tazewell, Cedar Bluff and Pocahontas police departments were significantly lower during the same reporting period: The Tazewell Police Department reported only 194 criminal investigations during the reporting period.

Violent crimes covered in the state report include murder, sex offenses, robbery and aggravated assault. Overall, the report found that the state's violent crime rate increased to 207.5 crimes (per 100,000 residents) in 2023 from 203 in 2022. Statewide, 20,824 violent crimes were reported in Virginia in 2023. In comparison, 20,549 violent crimes were reported in 2022, an increase of 1.3%.

Although the rate of violent crime increased slightly, the study found that the number of reported homicides decreased significantly, from 621 to 520.

According to the report, the murder or non-negligent homicide rate fell from 7.14 in 2022 to 5.96 in 2023 (per 100,000 residents). The report also found that victims and perpetrators tended to be younger men. Almost half (48.5%) of all homicides occurred in an apartment/house.

The report also found that overall arrests for drug offenses increased by 18% in 2023. The number of arrests under the age of 18 increased by 51% from 2022 to 2023. In addition, between 2022 and 2023, reports of seizures of cocaine and crack cocaine increased by 43% and 39%, respectively, while reports of seizures of narcotics increased by 42%, the report added.

The number of motor vehicle thefts and attempted thefts also increased by 8% in 2023 compared to 2022.

The number of burglaries decreased by 3.3% between 2022 and 2023. However, fraud crimes increased by 2.7% compared to 2022.

According to the report, 271 hate crimes were also reported in 2023. Most hate crimes (66.4%) were racially or ethnically motivated, the report said. However, the largest percentage increase in hate crimes between 2022 and 2023 involved prejudice against religion, the report said.

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