As Pa. crime rates fall to record lows, law enforcement flags ongoing challenges

As Pa. crime rates fall to record lows, law enforcement flags ongoing challenges

A state trooper inside a Pennsylvania State Police Mobile Command Center on Jan. 29, 2026. (Photo by Ian Karbal/Capital-Star)Violent crime rates are down across the nation and commonwealth, and 2026 numbers appear to be even lower so far. Homicides alone fell by 23% between 2023 and 2024, which is near historic lows.  “There’s a lot of good news in the data, and some warning signs as well that we need to be vigilant about,” said state Attorney G…

As PA crime rates fall to record lows, law enforcement flags ongoing challenges

Violent crime rates are down across the nation and the Commonwealth, and 2026 numbers appear even lower so far. Homicides alone fell by 23% between 2023 and 2024, bringing them to near-historic lows. “There’s a lot of good news in the data, and some warning signs as well that we need to be vigilant about,” said state Attorney General Dave Sunday. “In many cases, (the crime rate) actually is at or below 2019 levels, getting us back to the levels …