Governor Hochul highlights nationwide crime decline as New York communities rank among safest in country – Urban CNY

US News & World Report ranks counties on Long Island, the Hudson Valley and New York City among the 25 safest in America

Crime in New York State has fallen by 6% year-on-year

Governor Hochul has invested over $800 million in crime-fighting initiatives

Governor Kathy Hochul today highlighted the continued decline in crime across the state. A new independent report ranked New York City communities among the safest in the country based on violent crime rates, emergency services and other key metrics. Eight counties in New York State, including counties on Long Island, the Hudson Valley and New York City, were named to U.S. News & World Report's “25 Safest Communities in America” ​​rankings – more than any other state in the country. Four counties were in the top 10, and one county – Nassau – was ranked the safest in the country.

“Public safety is my top priority and I have been fully focused on fighting crime since taking office,” said Governor Hochul. “Our approach is working, as murders, shootings, violent crime and property crimes are all down statewide. But make no mistake: Our work is not over and I will continue to work to make our state safer for everyone.”

Rossana Rosado, Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, said, “Governor Hochul's extensive investments in programs and strategies to combat the pandemic-era rise in crime are paying off. DCJS's budget is the largest in its history and allows us to provide record levels of funding to law enforcement and community-based organizations addressing the causes and consequences of crime. I want to express my gratitude to our local partners for their tremendous efforts and to my staff for their dedication to this important work.”

New York's nation-leading performance in these new rankings reflects an overall and sustained decline in crime. Statewide, crime is down 6% year-over-year, according to data from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and NYPD CompStat.

The US News & World Report analysis ranked the following counties among the 25 safest in America – many of them saw a significant year-over-year decline in crime in the first half of 2024:

-Nassau – 18% decrease

-Suffolk – 13% decline

-Rockland – 26% decrease

-Westchester – 8% decrease

-Putnam – 15% decline in 2023 (2024 data pending)

-Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island – total decline of 3.5%

As New York continues to make nation-leading progress in reducing crime, Governor Hochul has also continued to make historic investments in new crime-fighting initiatives across the state, totaling more than $800 million in investments in proven programs and initiatives.

The Governor's investments also include nationally recognized initiatives administered by the state's Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which provides funding, training, and technical assistance to law enforcement and community-based organizations in communities most affected by gun violence and violent crime:

• Nearly $36 million for the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative. Through GIVE, DCJS supports 28 police departments in 21 counties to implement evidence-based strategies that have proven successful in reducing gun violence. These include problem-oriented policing, hot-spot policing, targeted gang violence deterrence/intervention, street outreach, and crime prevention through environmental design. These strategies focus on the few people and places responsible for the majority of violence and engage the broader community to build trust. GIVE also funds district attorneys' offices, probation departments, and sheriffs' offices in these counties.
• $21 million for the SNUG Street Outreach Program, which takes a public health approach to combat gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission, and treating individuals, families, and communities affected by violence. Community-based organizations and hospitals implement the program in 14 communities and employ nearly 200 social workers, case workers, and case managers. Social workers are credible messengers who have lost loved ones to violence or have already had contact with the justice system. They respond to shootings to prevent retaliation, identify conflicts, and resolve them peacefully before they lead to further violence. Social workers and case managers work with individuals affected by community violence, including friends and family. DCJS also supports the City of New York's violence interruption efforts, providing $5 million to its Crisis Management System (CMS) so these programs can be brought up to speed.
• $18 million for the state's unique network of Crime Analysis Centers, which analyze, compile and distribute information, intelligence and data to local law enforcement agencies across the state. No other state has anything like it, and the centers — operated in partnership with local law enforcement agencies in 10 counties and New York City — are hubs of state and local efforts to prevent, investigate and solve crimes. Last year alone, staff handled more than 90,000 requests for assistance, helping authorities solve everything from shoplifting to murder.
• Up to $20 million for Project RISE, a unique funding model that brings together community stakeholders to answer to gun violence, invest in solutions, maintain positive programming and authorize communities. In its first year, the initiative supported 99 organizations, including 74 small grassroots programs, many of which had never received government support for their work. Programs and services funded by RISE include academic support, job placement, mentoring, and crime/violence prevention.

Image by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay