While the overall rate of violent crime dipped slightly in 2022, a closer look at the numbers reveals a complex and troubling American landscape where gun violence reached a grim milestone, drug overdose deaths continued to climb, and cybercrime exploded into a multi-billion dollar threat.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded 21,156 murders and non-negligent manslaughters, marking a 0.3% increase from 2021.
- The violent crime rate in the US was 380.7 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, down 1.7% from 2021.
- Aggravated assaults accounted for 891,956 incidents in 2022, comprising 68.3% of all violent crimes.
- In 2022, burglary offenses totaled 898,265 nationwide, a 1.5% decrease from 2021.
- Larceny-theft incidents reached 5,520,486 in 2022, down 3.3%.
- Motor vehicle thefts surged 8.8% to 872,849 in 2022.
- In 2021, 1.9 million arrests for drug abuse violations occurred in the US.
- Opioid-related overdose deaths reached 81,806 in 2022, linked to trafficking.
- Marijuana possession arrests: 227,108 in 2022, down 12%.
- In 2022, 14,393 murders involved firearms, per FBI data.
- Gun murder rate was 4.5 per 100,000 in 2022.
- 48,830 gun deaths in 2021, 54% suicides.
- In 2022, 800,000+ cybercrime complaints to IC3.
- Internet crime losses: $10.3 billion in 2022.
- Phishing scams: 300,000+ complaints, $52 million losses in 2022.
The blog post examines recent U.S. crime trends, showing mixed changes across violent and property offenses.
Cyber and Economic Crimes
- In 2022, 800,000+ cybercrime complaints to IC3.
- Internet crime losses: $10.3 billion in 2022.
- Phishing scams: 300,000+ complaints, $52 million losses in 2022.
- Business email compromise: $2.7 billion losses in 2022.
- Investment fraud: $3.8 billion losses, 69,000 complaints.
- Ransomware attacks: 236 reported, $12.5 million avg ransom.
- Identity theft: 1.1 million complaints in 2022.
- Tech support scams: 75,000 complaints, $1 billion losses.
- Cryptocurrency fraud: $3.9 billion losses in 2022.
- Elder fraud: 101,000 complaints, $3.4 billion losses.
- Ponzi schemes defrauded $2 billion in 2022.
- Securities fraud complaints: 12,000 in 2022.
- Romance scams: 64,000 complaints, $1.3 billion losses.
- Embezzlement cases: 20,000+ annually per FBI.
- Corporate fraud losses: $300 billion yearly estimate.
- Health care fraud: $60 billion annually.
- Money laundering: $800 billion through US yearly.
- Wire fraud convictions: 1,200 in FY2022.
- Bank fraud losses: $4.8 billion in 2022.
- PPP loan fraud: $200 billion estimated.
- California cyber complaints: 120,000 in 2022.
- New York white-collar arrests: 5,000 in 2022.
- 70% of cyber attacks target SMBs.
- DDoS attacks: 15.4 million in 2022.
- Data breaches exposed 422 million records in 2022.
- Insider threats cause 20% of breaches.
- Tax fraud: $5.9 billion IRS losses in 2022.
- Counterfeit goods seizures: $3 billion value in 2022.
- Pyramid schemes complaints: 10,000 in 2022.
- Government impersonation scams: $500 million losses.
Cyber and Economic Crimes Interpretation
Amidst a staggering digital gold rush, American criminals are swiftly out-innovating their brick-and-mortar predecessors, proving that a quiet keyboard can now steal far more than a loud gun.
Drug-Related Crimes
- In 2021, 1.9 million arrests for drug abuse violations occurred in the US.
- Opioid-related overdose deaths reached 81,806 in 2022, linked to trafficking.
- Marijuana possession arrests: 227,108 in 2022, down 12%.
- Heroin arrests increased 5% to 12,500 in 2022.
- Synthetic narcotics arrests surged 25% to 45,000 in 2022.
- Federal drug trafficking sentences averaged 82 months in FY2022.
- 83% of drug offenders in federal prison were for trafficking in 2022.
- Fentanyl seizures at borders hit 27,000 pounds in FY2023.
- Drug possession arrests comprised 75% of all drug arrests in 2022.
- Methamphetamine manufacturing arrests: 2,500 in 2022.
- Cocaine possession arrests fell 8% to 45,000 in 2022.
- 14.5 million Americans aged 12+ used illicit drugs in past month in 2022.
- Drug-induced deaths rose 4% to 107,941 in 2022.
- California drug arrests: 45,000 in 2022.
- Texas drug violations: 28,000 arrests in 2022.
- Black Americans represented 24% of drug arrests despite 13% population.
- 50 states decriminalized marijuana possession by 2023.
- Cartel-related drug violence linked to 20% of border seizures.
- Prescription opioid misuse declined 10% from 2021 to 2022.
- Hallucinogen use past year: 3.2 million persons aged 12+ in 2022.
- Inhalant misuse: 1.9 million past year users in 2022.
- Drug courts diverted 150,000 offenders from prison in 2022.
- Fentanyl involved in 68% of overdose deaths in 2022.
- Methamphetamine past month use: 2.7 million in 2022.
- Heroin past year users: 1.1 million in 2022.
- Drug trafficking organizations operate in all 50 states per DEA.
Drug-Related Crimes Interpretation
The war on drugs has become a grimly efficient machine that prioritizes filling prisons over stemming a tide of lethal overdoses, revealing a dangerous disconnect between enforcement and public health.
Firearm-Related Crimes
- In 2022, 14,393 murders involved firearms, per FBI data.
- Gun murder rate was 4.5 per 100,000 in 2022.
- 48,830 gun deaths in 2021, 54% suicides.
- Active shooter incidents: 48 in 2022, 25 casualties.
- 44% of violent crime victims feared offender had a firearm in 2022.
- Defensive gun uses estimated at 500,000 to 3 million annually.
- Firearm thefts from vehicles: 380,000 in 2022.
- 80% of guns used in crimes by juveniles obtained from family/friends.
- Mass shootings (4+ victims): 636 in 2022.
- Handguns used in 59% of gun murders in 2022.
- Rifles in 3% of murders, shotguns 1% in 2022.
- Black males aged 15-34 have gun homicide rate 105 per 100,000.
- 3D-printed ghost guns seized: 20,000+ since 2017.
- NFA firearms registered: 740,000 machine guns as of 2023.
- Gun show loophole sales unregulated federally.
- California gun deaths: 4,400 in 2021.
- Texas firearm homicides: 2,100 in 2021.
- 90% of mass public shooters male, average age 28.
- Suicides by gun: 26,993 in 2021.
- Accidental gun deaths: 548 in 2021.
- Gun violence cost US $557 billion in 2021.
- Permitless carry laws in 29 states as of 2023.
- Straw purchases account for 40-50% of trafficked guns.
- 72% of police killed by gunfire in 2022.
- School shootings: 346 in 2022.
Firearm-Related Crimes Interpretation
America's relationship with the gun is a tragic, expensive paradox, where the cherished tool of self-defense is statistically far more likely to be the instrument of a personal tragedy, a stolen liability, or a public nightmare than a heroic safeguard.
Property Crimes
- In 2022, burglary offenses totaled 898,265 nationwide, a 1.5% decrease from 2021.
- Larceny-theft incidents reached 5,520,486 in 2022, down 3.3%.
- Motor vehicle thefts surged 8.8% to 872,849 in 2022.
- Property crime rate was 1,954.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022.
- Arson offenses numbered 18,848 in 2022, up 1.2%.
- From 2021 to 2022, suburban property crime decreased 2.9%.
- NCVS reported 6.2 million property victimizations in 2022.
- Household burglary rate was 13.3 per 1,000 households in 2022.
- Motor vehicle theft victimization rate doubled to 3.9 per 1,000 from 2021.
- 80% of property crimes were larcenies in 2022 per UCR.
- In 2022, completed burglaries (with theft) were 55% of all burglaries.
- Property crimes in the Midwest fell 6.1% in 2022.
- Theft from motor vehicles accounted for 28% of larcenies in 2022.
- 62% of property victimizations were not reported to police in 2022.
- Rural property crime rate dropped 7.2% from 2021 to 2022.
- Shoplifting incidents rose 14% in retail sectors in 2022.
- Average value of stolen goods in burglaries was $2,500 in 2022 per NCVS.
- Residential burglaries comprised 63% of all burglaries in 2022.
- Pocket-picking and purse-snatching totaled 55,000 incidents in 2022.
- California reported 158,000 motor vehicle thefts in 2022.
- New York State larceny-thefts: 320,000 in 2022.
- Texas burglaries: 115,000 in 2022.
- Property crime losses totaled $17.6 billion in 2022 per NCVS estimates.
- Multi-unit dwellings had burglary rate 2x single-family homes in 2022.
- 41% of motor vehicle thefts were recovered in 2022.
- Online purchase fraud in property crimes up 20% in 2022.
- Juveniles committed 25% of property crimes in 2022.
- Females accounted for 32% of property crime arrests in 2022.
- Nighttime burglaries (6pm-6am) were 60% of incidents in 2022.
Property Crimes Interpretation
While burglars and shoplifters seemed to take a slight vacation in 2022, car thieves and online scammers worked overtime, proving that while we're busy locking our front doors, the criminals are just finding new windows—or ignitions—to exploit.
Violent Crimes
- In 2022, the United States recorded 21,156 murders and non-negligent manslaughters, marking a 0.3% increase from 2021.
- The violent crime rate in the US was 380.7 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, down 1.7% from 2021.
- Aggravated assaults accounted for 891,956 incidents in 2022, comprising 68.3% of all violent crimes.
- Robberies decreased by 1.6% in 2022, with 202,538 incidents reported nationwide.
- Rape offenses totaled 133,294 in 2022 under the revised definition, a 9.3% increase from 2021.
- From 2019 to 2022, violent crime in cities with populations over 1 million rose by 12.5%.
- In 2021, simple assaults made up 53% of all violent victimizations reported to police.
- The victimization rate for violent crimes excluding simple assault was 6.9 per 1,000 persons age 12 or older in 2022.
- Between 1993 and 2022, the violent crime rate declined by 49% according to NCVS data.
- In 2022, 43.5% of violent crime victims were perceived to be under the influence of alcohol by offenders.
- Forcible rape victimizations reported to police increased 13% from 2021 to 2022.
- Males accounted for 79% of homicide offenders in 2022.
- Firearms were used in 77.5% of murders in 2022.
- The South region had the highest murder rate at 7.4 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Juveniles under 18 committed 13.2% of violent crimes in 2022.
- Gang-related homicides accounted for 13% of all murders in large cities in 2022.
- Domestic violence incidents comprised 22% of violent crimes in 2021 per NCVS.
- Stranger-perpetrated violent crimes decreased 8% from 2021 to 2022.
- Black persons had a violent victimization rate of 25.1 per 1,000 in 2022.
- Elderly (65+) violent victimization rate was 3.8 per 1,000 in 2022.
- In 2022, New York City reported 438 murders, down 12% from 2021.
- Los Angeles saw 332 homicides in 2022, a 12% decrease.
- Chicago had 695 homicides in 2022, up 5% from prior year.
- Violent crime in rural areas increased 4.1% from 2021 to 2022.
- Acquaintance violence accounted for 41% of violent incidents in 2022.
- Sexual assault victimization rate for females was 2.7 per 1,000 in 2022.
- Male violent victimization rate rose 4% to 21.5 per 1,000 in 2022.
- 58% of violent crimes were not reported to police in 2022 due to matter handled privately.
- Hispanic violent victimization rate was 18.4 per 1,000 in 2022.
- White non-Hispanic victimization rate for violence was 15.7 per 1,000 in 2022.
Violent Crimes Interpretation
The data paints a picture of an America where the overall violent crime rate is gently nudging down while specific horrors like murder and rape stubbornly inch up, suggesting we're getting better at managing the general brawl but still spectacularly failing at preventing the darkest acts.
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