Idaho crime stats take a dip from previous year

Statewide crime statistics in Idaho show there was a 5% decrease in offenses in 2023 from the previous year.

Idaho State Police release its 2023 crime report that showed a decline in group A offenses, which includes crimes such as murder, rape, assault and human trafficking. Statewide, there were 75,639 group A offenses in 2023, the lowest in the last five years.

Other offenses also saw a decrease, including a 2% dip in violent crime, 11% drop in crimes against property and a 3% decrease in crime against persons, which includes robbery, burglary, arson and fraud.

Other areas saw an increase, including a 12% increase in hate crimes and a 2% increase in crimes against society, which includes drug/narcotic offenses, gambling and pornography. There was a 3% increase in drug/narcotic violations offenses, which accounts for 50% of the crimes against society.

There was also a 3% increase in the number of law enforcement officers assaulted, with a total number of 504. Lewiston police reported 14 assaults on officers and Moscow police reported five assaults.

Nez Perce County had the highest arrest rate for the state in 2023 at 5,286. The Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office was the highest sheriff’s office in the state with an arrest rate of 9,058. The Lewiston Police Department was 10th in the state for police departments with an arrest rate of 4,456.

In District 2, which includes Nez Perce, Latah, Idaho, Clearwater and Lewis counties, the highest number of offenses was larceny/theft at 749.

Here are the county statistics for the number of offenses in 2023 in group A:

Nez Perce County: Lewiston Police Department decreased the number of offenses reported by 32%, to 1,799, as well as decreasing the number of arrests by 8%, to 1,570. Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office had a 30% decrease in total offenses and 702 arrests, a decrease of 5%. Nez Perce County in total reported a 32% decrease in reports and a 7% decrease in arrests. The total number of offenses was the lowest in the last five years at 2,002.

Latah County: Moscow Police Department reported 887 offenses, which was a 17% increase from 2022. The number of arrests increased to 10% to 474. However, Latah County Sheriff’s Office reported a 1% decrease to 299 offenses and 289 total arrests, a 4% increase. The total number of offenses for Latah County increased by 12% and arrests were up 8%.

Idaho County: Idaho County Sheriff’s Office reported a 21% increase to 501 offenses with 420 arrests, a 7% increase. It was the highest number of offenses and arrests in the last five years, but the agency didn’t share statistics with the Idaho crime report in 2021. Grangeville Police Department didn’t report any numbers to the Idaho crime report for 2023.

Lewis County: Lewis County reported a 4% decrease in offenses from 2022 with 93 offenses and a 32% decrease in arrests at 32 total. The number of offenses in 2023 tied with 2021, which also reported 93 offenses. The number of arrests tied with 2019, also at 32.

Clearwater County: Clearwater County reported a 53% decrease in total offenses from 2022 with 79 reported offenses. The number of arrests for the county was 20, a decrease in 68%. The Orofino Police Department had incomplete data for 2023 because of technical difficulties.

Statistics in the report are collected from Idaho law enforcement agencies. Percentages reported in this story were rounded up to the nearest whole number. The full report can be read at bit.ly/3XNJsQn.

Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2297.