Submitted by Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
(July 17, 2026) — A DESPP analysis of major crime trends during the first quarter of 2026 again confirms a long-term decline in most types of crime in Connecticut.
The latest data from DESPP’S Crimes Analysis Unit underscore trends from recent years that illustrate a safer state. The numbers also reflect national trends. The first three months of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, show:
— Crimes against persons dropped by 15%. This includes decreases in aggravated assault (22.6%), and criminal sexual contact, (21.1%).
— Crimes against property dropped by 16.8%. This includes motor vehicle theft (22.9%), and burglary (25.1%). Stolen property offenses declined by 38.1%.
— Crimes against society dropped by 12.0%. This includes decreases in drug/narcotics violations (5.6%), and weapons law violations (23.2%).
“We are pleased to see these trends continuing and the numbers tell us that Connecticut is one of the safest states in the country. But we know residents are worried about crime and building trust with our communities must remain a top priority. We will focus on the best strategies for reducing crime in our cities and towns. We must continue to work together, collaborating and sharing resources,” said DESPP Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins.
“We also want to make sure we aren’t missing anything behind the numbers. At DESPP, this also means we share data as quickly as possible with our law enforcement partners across Connecticut,’’ Commissioner Higgins said.
“Connecticut’s first-quarter crime data show continued declines across every major category compared with the same period in 2025,” said Colonel Daniel Loughman, Commanding Officer of the Connecticut State Police. “This progress reflects the sustained, daily efforts of our troopers and our local and federal law enforcement partners, whose collaboration, information sharing, and commitment to public safety are helping make our communities safer. We remain focused on building on this momentum and driving crime even lower.”
The Crime in Connecticut data has been collected through reporting to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) since 2021. Law enforcement agencies across the nation now submit data to NIBRS, which provides a more comprehensive reporting of criminal incidents.
“These are statewide numbers. For the fourth quarter in 2025 we said these were the lowest numbers we had seen for crimes against persons and crimes against property. And in 2026 we outpaced ourselves,’’ said DESPP Chief Data Officer Dr. Michael Mascari. “We must continue to look closely at what’s working, and where we can improve.” The full report is here.
