Crime in Virginia
 | This article needs to be updated. (September 2021) |
Crime in the U.S. state of Virginia fluctuates significantly, driven by factors such as population density, urbanization and economic conditions.[1] Overall crime rates generally decreased in the state from 2008 to 2014.[2] Violent crime rates increased gradually from 2014 to 2023, while property crimes decreased over the same period.[3]
Summary
[edit]Overall, there were 177,060 crimes reported in 2014 in Virginia, including 338 murders and homicides.[2]
In 2012 Virginia had the 3rd-lowest rape rate by state after New Jersey and New York.[2][4]
The state has significantly lower crime rates than demographically similar neighboring states Maryland, North Carolina, and Tennessee.[5]
By location
[edit]Hampton Roads
[edit]In 2013, Hampton Roads had the highest crime rate by region in the state.[5]
Richmond
[edit]In 2012, Richmond had 42 murders, a murder rate of 20.2 per 100,000.[6]
In 2007, the FBI Uniform Crime Reports ranked Richmond as the 5th worst city for violent crimes with populations of 100,000 to 250,000.[7] Today Richmond is not in the top 25 of violent crime or murder.[8]
Capital punishment laws
[edit]Capital punishment was abolished in this state when Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill into law on March 24, 2021.[9] Before that date, both the electric chair and lethal injection were used to execute prisoners.[10]
State and federal officials could opt to send violent criminals to face trial in Virginia rather than their current state due to Virginia judges being more willing to carry out execution.[11]
When the “Beltway sniper” was arrested for 10 killings in the Washington area in 2002, federal authorities opted to send him to Virginia for prosecution even though most of the shootings took place in suburban Maryland.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Crime in Virginia | January-December 2023" (PDF). Virginia State Police. p. 3. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Virginia Crime Rates 1960 - 2014". DisasterCenter.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
- ^ "Public Safety Trends and 2025 Session Outlook" (PDF). Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. November 22, 2024. p. 5-7. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "List: States where rape is most common". CNN. February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Crime". Virginia.gov. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Virginia State Police - Crime in Virginia Publication". www.vsp.state.va.us. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
- ^ "Crime in the United States 2007". Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ "Table 6". fbi.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
- ^ "Why It's So Significant Virginia Just Abolished the Death Penalty".
- ^ Jim Iovino (November 10, 2009). "Facts about Virginia's Death Row". NBC Washington. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Savage, David (September 17, 2015). "California killer faces Virginia execution". Los Angeles Times.
