New Jersey Announces Major Reductions in Crime

Governor Phil Murphy, Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, Attorney General Matt Platkin, First Assistant Attorney General Lyndsay Ruotolo, and New Jersey State Police (NJSP) Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan announced major reductions in the number of shooting victims and auto thefts in New Jersey in 2024.

In 2024, New Jersey recorded 778 gunshot injury victims, a 16 percent decline from 2023, which had a then-record low of 924 victims—the first instance of under 1,000 shooting victims since tracking started in 2009. Of the total victims shot in 2024, there were 152 fatalities, a reduction of 20 percent from 2023.

Violent crimes, including shootings, many times stem from auto thefts. In 2024, the total number of stolen motor vehicles decreased by 11 percent from 2023, going from 16,694 down to 14,755 statewide, according to the NJSP’s Regional Operations Intelligence Center. 

“Today’s announcement marks a major milestone in our Administration’s commitment to reduce gun violence and theft,” said Governor Murphy. “The meticulous coordination of Attorney General Platkin, Colonel Callahan, our legislative partners, and our local law enforcement officers has played a tremendous role in achieving historically low shootings for a second consecutive year. Together, we are determined to continue combatting violence and crime as we build a safer, stronger New Jersey for all.”

“Every New Jerseyan shares the desire to live in a safe community,” said Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way. “The reduction in crime that we continue to see is a testament to the collaboration, innovation, and unwavering dedication of law enforcement across our state, made possible through the leadership of Attorney General Platkin and Colonel Callahan. Together, we have made meaningful progress and will continue to make protecting New Jerseyans our top priority.”

“Our collaborative efforts are yielding demonstrable, positive results in the kinds of quality-of-life issues that affect New Jerseyans,” Attorney General Platkin said. “Through our innovative approaches to public safety that include community-based violence intervention programs, we are making strides against the scourge of gun violence, but the work goes on, notably with our groundbreaking lawsuits against gun manufacturers and the implementation of the ARRIVE Together initiative. And auto thefts are at the lowest level we’ve seen in three years. These trends are encouraging, but we must continue our work to keep the public safe.”

“Through the unwavering collaboration among law enforcement agencies, driven by cutting-edge technology and intelligence-led policing, we are delivering real results in making New Jersey safer,” Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said. “While the progress is clear, our commitment to driving crime rates even lower remains resolute. Together, we will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities and uphold the safety and security that every resident deserves.”