SANTA FE - In a promising development for public safety in New Mexico, the state saw substantial declines in both violent and property crimes in 2023, reflecting a broader trend toward reducing crime rates across the state.

Data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigations shows a 6.36 percent decrease in violent crime and a 3.77 percent drop in property crime compared to the previous year, a sign that strong policies and partnerships are yielding results.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham welcomed the news and vowed to continue pushing for improvement.
"These reductions demonstrate that our commitment to safety and our strategic partnerships are making a difference," the governor said. "But let me be clear: Every crime affects individuals, and we will continue working tirelessly to ensure that every community in New Mexico is safe."

Violent crimes, including homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, fell from 16,339 reported incidents in 2022, to 15,300 in 2023. The most notable decline was in homicides, which dropped by 10.26 percent, from 273 in 2022, to 245 in 2023. Other violent crime categories also saw reductions, with rape down 7.50 percent and robbery seeing a dramatic 35.33 percent decrease. Aggravated assaults remained relatively stable, dropping slightly by 0.74 percent.

New Mexico Department of Public Safety Secretary Jason R. Bowie credited the reduction in violent crime to focused efforts by law enforcement and stronger community engagement.

"These numbers are a testament to the hard work of our officers and the vital partnerships we've built across the state," Bowie said. "We are encouraged by the results, but there is more work to do, and we are committed to further reducing these numbers."

In addition to the decline in violent crimes, New Mexico saw significant reductions in crimes against property, including burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, and larceny. Total property crimes dropped from 59,980 reported incidents in 2022, to 57,720 in 2023. Burglary saw a sharp 13.91 percent decrease, falling from 11,799 cases in 2022, to 10,158 in 2023. Motor vehicle theft declined by 4.83 percent, and arson incidents decreased by 4.69 percent. Larceny, defined as the unlawful taking of property, saw a slight decline of 0.20 percent, with 36,810 cases reported in 2023, down from 36,884 in 2022.

Lujan Grisham and Bowie said the improvements are the result of a comprehensive crime prevention strategy that includes effective law enforcement tactics, legislative reforms, and investment in community-based programs. The governor noted that reductions in robberies and burglaries, in particular, are in part the result of policies targeting repeat offenders and high-crime areas.

"Reducing crime isn't a one-time effort—it requires constant adaptation, investment in our communities, and building trust with law enforcement," Lujan Grisham noted. "We're moving in the right direction, and these numbers give us reason to be optimistic about the future of public safety in New Mexico."

While praising the progress, Secretary Bowie made clear that the work is far from over. He outlined continued initiatives to focus on the most persistent crime challenges in the state. "We're seeing the impact of our strategies, but we won't rest on our laurels," he said. "Our goal is to make these declines the new norm, not the exception."

Effective crime data sharing between agencies remains critical to our ability to identify trends, respond swiftly, and allocate resources where they are needed most, Bowie said.

As the state moves forward, both the governor and the Department of Public Safety stressed that ongoing collaboration with community leaders, lawmakers, and law enforcement agencies will be essential to sustaining these positive trends. The focus now is on ensuring that the successes of 2023 lead to long-term safety and security for all New Mexicans.

The FBI data, known as Crime in the Nation, 2023, is now live via: https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/home