Idaho Crime Report – Decreasing Crime, Residents Disagree

BOISE, Idaho — Data from the Idaho State Police’s Idaho Crime Report in 2023 reports crime is decreasing in the Gem State – but some Idaho residents tell KTVB they still think Boise isn’t as safe as it used to be.

The Idaho Crime Report shows that there’s been a 4.67% decrease in the last year in “Group A” offenses – which are things like murder, kidnapping or nonconsensual sex offenses.

There’s also been a 5.56% decrease in the crime rate and a 2.42% decrease in violent crime.

Kathy Ball, who has been an Idahoan her whole life, says the Boise area just isn’t the same as it used to be – but she says maybe she is just more connected now.

“Maybe with the advent of cellphones and real-time updates, maybe I am just more in tune with what is happening,” Ball said.

Robert Coggins, who moved here in 1985, said he used to not even worry about locking his doors. He said Idahoans had an “ultra-safe” mindset.

“Our standards here for safe are a lot higher than other people’s standards for safe,” Coggins said.

Now, he said he sees as the population is growing, there is also more crime.

“The higher the density area with people jammed in, and the more crime you’re going to have,” Coggins said.

ISP said it can’t tell us the meaning behind the “why” of the decrease in crime, they just report the numbers.

“We’ve had a steady, a slow but steady, decrease in crime over the last five years, we’ve seen a nice trend in that number,” said Julie Houck, ISP data analyst.

Even though the number of crimes are decreasing, Coggins said Boise just isn’t the same as it used to be.

“We’re used to ultra safe and we are far from that and continuing to get worse,” Coggins said.

Other residents believe that despite the data, their perception of safety has been influenced by recent high-profile incidents. HERE you can read about ways to Stay Safe Amidst Rising Crime in Idaho in 2024.