EAST ORANGE / ORANGE, NJ — Late last month, the New Jersey State Police released the official 2014 Uniform Crime Report for the state of New Jersey. This annual report is based on crime statistics submitted to the state Uniform Crime Reporting System by every New Jersey law enforcement agency. The report, which is released later and later each year, is compiled and then approved by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As of 2014, there has been a countywide decrease in crime. East Orange experienced this decrease, although Orange saw an increase from 2013 to 2014. Essex County is leading the state in murders and in overall crime and, though the majority of crimes are occurring in Newark and Irvington, the municipalities of Bloomfield, East Orange and Orange are also experiencing a large number of crimes.
As required by law, all law enforcement agencies in New Jersey submit monthly and annual summary crime reports to the state. The 2014 report compiles data from 536 agencies, including municipal and county police; university and college campus police; prosecutor’s offices; sheriff’s departments; and county park police. Agencies report the number of known offenses of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and theft, and motor vehicle theft — which are known as the “index offenses.” Other crimes, such as manslaughter, arson, fraud, simple assault and others, are also reported, though considered “non-index offenses.” Complaints determined to be unfounded are eliminated from the report’s numbers.
The results of the crime report index, an audit of crime throughout the state, are used in administrative, planning and operational decisions in each jurisdiction. Additionally, the state Police Uniform Crime Reporting Unit provides advice to jurisdictions, based on the data.
According to the 2014 Uniform Crime Report, East Orange saw a reduction in the overall crime index total, with 1,622 crimes in 2013 and 1,577 crimes in 2014 — a reduction of 45 crimes. East Orange experienced 58 more violent crimes, with 466 in 2014, and 103 fewer nonviolent crimes, with 1,111 in 2014. In 2014, East Orange saw two murders, 15 rapes, 191 robberies, 258 aggravated assaults, 313 burglaries, 559 larcenies, 239 motor vehicle thefts and 14 cases of arson.
Compared with the county’s numbers, East Orange experienced 1.7 percent of the county’s overall murders, 13.4 percent of rapes, 6 percent of robberies, 14.5 percent of the aggravated assaults, 7.8 percent of burglaries, 5.3 percent of larcenies, 1 percent of motor vehicle thefts and 18.4 percent of arson cases.
Alternatively, Orange saw an increase in the overall crime index total, with 1,255 crimes in 2013 and 1,451 crimes in 2014 — an increase of 196 crimes. Orange experienced 45 fewer violent crimes, with 332 in 2014, and 241 more nonviolent crimes, with 1,119 in 2014. In 2014, Orange saw zero murders, six rapes, 200 robberies, 126 aggravated assaults, 312 burglaries, 508 larcenies, 299 motor vehicle thefts and one case of arson.
Compared with the county’s numbers, Orange experienced 5.4 percent of the county’s overall rapes, 6.3 percent of robberies, 7.1 percent of the aggravated assaults, 7.1 percent of burglaries, 4.8 percent of larcenies, 7.3 percent of motor vehicle thefts and 1.3 percent of arson cases.
Between 2013 and 2014, East Orange increased its number of total police employees by 46, from 298 in 2013 to 344 in 2014; and Orange decreased its number of total police employees by one, from 122 in 2013 to 121 in 2014.
For reference, in 2014, Newark accounts for 78.9 percent of the county’s overall murders, 43.8 percent of rapes, 63.8 percent of robberies, 57.4 percent of the aggravated assaults, 44 percent of burglaries, 45.6 percent of larcenies, 60.3 percent of motor vehicle thefts and 52.6 percent of arson cases.
Following the trend of its municipalities, in 2014, Essex County saw a 7 percent reduction in overall crime from 2013, with murder decreasing by 19 percent, robbery decreasing by 18 percent, aggravated assault decreasing by 1 percent, burglary decreasing by 8 percent, larceny and theft decreasing by 3 percent and motor vehicle theft decreasing by 12 percent. Rape, however, increased by 10 percent. The county saw a decrease in violent crime from 2013 to 2014, as well as a decrease in nonviolent crime.
According to the report, in 2014 Essex County again led the state in murders with 119 — an improvement from 2013’s high of 147. Again Essex County was the only county to break 100 murders. The second highest murder rate was in Camden County, with 44 murders — 75 fewer murders. Sussex and Hunterdon counties tied for the lowest murder rate, with no murders in 2014.
Essex County also led the state in carjackings, with 147; 113 vehicles were recovered, though only three persons were arrested. In second place is Mercer County with 16 carjackings; Camden and Union counties tie for third place with 10 carjackings each.
Compared to statewide crime, Essex County experienced 33.6 percent of all the state’s murders, 11.8 percent of rapes, 30.2 percent of robberies, 15.9 percent of aggravated assaults, 12.6 percent of burglaries, 9.5 percent of larcenies and 34.9 percent of motor vehicle thefts. There are 22 counties in the state.
When comparing 2013 and 2014 data, Essex County saw an overall 6-percent reduction in drug arrests, with a 14-percent reduction in drug-sale and drug-manufacturing arrests, and a 4-percent decrease in drug-possession and drug-use arrests.
Essex County police agencies made 4,626 arrests for index offenses, arresting 59 suspects for murder, 16 for rape, 873 for robbery, 1,007 for aggravated assault, 569 for burglary, 2,053 for larceny and theft, and 49 for motor vehicle thefts. On top of that, Essex County police agencies arrested 27,681 suspects for non-index offenses, making a grand total of 32,307 arrests. Essex County police agencies arrested more suspects than police agencies in any other county in 2014, with the second highest number of arrests in Camden County, with 28,979 arrests — 3,328 fewer arrests.
Essex County’s municipalities collectively employ more municipal police officers than any other county in New Jersey. With 2,431 police officers in 2014, Essex County’s officers account for 12.4 percent of the state’s municipal police officers. For every 1,000 Essex County inhabitants, there are 3.1 police officers, the greatest proportion in the state.
Similarly, Essex County’s municipalities employ more municipal police employees — civilians who are not officers — than any other county in New Jersey. With 617 civilian police employees in 2014, Essex County’s police employees account for 15.2 percent of the state’s civilian municipal police employees. For every 1,000 Essex County inhabitants, there are 3.9 police employees.
As counties such as Essex see decreases in overall crime, so does the state. Overall, New Jersey saw a 12-percent decrease in murders when comparing data from 2013 to data from 2014; a 9-percent increase in rape; a 13-percent decrease in robbery; a 7-percent decrease in aggravated assault; an 11-percent decrease in burglary; a 5-percent decrease in larceny and theft; and a 15-percent decrease of motor vehicle theft. With all crime reduced by 8 percent, the state saw a 10-percent reduction in violent crime and a 7-percent reduction in nonviolent crime. According to the report, the increase in sex crimes is attributed to a change in protocol that resulted in more comprehensive reporting of sex crimes.
One section of the report provides an analysis of the 24-hour crime cycle in New Jersey and holds that, in every 24-hour period, there is one murder, two rapes, two arsons, 29 robberies, 31 aggravated assaults, 32 vehicle thefts, 87 burglaries and 306 larcenies. Similarly, a violent crime is committed approximately every 22 minutes and 48 seconds, and a nonviolent crime is committed approximately every three minutes and 24 seconds.
The report shows that those most likely to be victims of murder are ages 20 to 24, male and black and that the most likely murder offenders are in the same demographic and are likely to use firearms. Of the 354 murders in New Jersey in 2014, 256 — or 72.3 percent — were committed with handguns, shotguns or rifles. Additionally, adult rape arrests increased by 7 percent and juvenile rape arrests increased by 21 percent; the most likely rape offenders are ages 25 to 29, male and white.
Only 21.8 percent of crimes in New Jersey in 2014 were cleared by police, though that is a 3-percent increase from 2013. Law enforcement agencies cleared 59.9 percent of murders, 31.4 percent of rapes, 24.6 percent of robberies, 52.9 percent of aggravated assaults, 13.8 percent of burglaries, 22.2 percent of larcenies and thefts, and 5.6 percent of motor vehicle thefts.
Data additionally shows that, of those arrested for crimes in New Jersey, 9 percent were juveniles, with juvenile defendants accounting for 11 percent of violent crime arrests and 8 percent of nonviolent crime arrests. All in all, 38,851 persons were arrested in New Jersey in 2014 for crimes.
“Our latest crime data shows reductions in most major categories of crime. While crime rates can be influenced by any number of variables, there is no question that an important part of the equation is the skill and dedication of the men and women of our law enforcement community,” acting state Attorney Gen. Robert Lougy said in a release. “I am encouraged by this downward trend in the overall crime index and violence crime. Going forward, our commitment is to continue working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners at every level to further reduce crime in New Jersey.”
The report also included a comparison of New Jersey’s comparative crime rates with the nation’s and the collective Northeastern states, which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
While New Jersey saw a 12-percent decrease in murder, the country saw a 0.5-percent decrease and the Northeast saw a 5.5-percent decrease. In rape, New Jersey saw a 9-percent increase, the country a 3-percent increase and the Northeast a 10.8-percent decrease. In robbery, New Jersey saw a 13-percent decrease, the country a 5.6-percent decrease and the Northeast an 11.1-percent decrease. In aggravated assault, New Jersey saw a 7-percent decrease, the country a 2-percent increase and the Northeast a 3.6-percent decrease. In burglary, New Jersey saw an 11-percent decrease, the country a 10.5-percent decrease and the Northeast a 13.1-percent decrease. In larceny and theft, New Jersey saw a 5-percent decrease, the country a 2.7-percent decrease and the Northeast a 5.5-percent decrease. Lastly, in motor vehicle theft, New Jersey saw a 15-percent decrease, the country a 1.5-percent decrease and the Northeast a 6.7-percent decrease.
East Orange crime is down and Orange’s is up, as Essex County numbers remain shocking added by Yael Katzwer on
View all posts by Yael Katzwer →