Long Island Crime Rate and Statistics [2024 Updated]

New York City is considered one of the safer urban areas when compared to other cities of the same size. Long Island sits just next to the city, and it is generally regarded as being even safer than New York City itself. By looking at the number of criminal offenses and crime rates in Long Island and its counties, one can have a clearer idea about the island’s safety. That’s why it is important to understand the Long Island crime rate.

Long Island Crime Rates

The crime rate for Long Island can be estimated by combining the crime rates of both Nassau and Suffolk counties. Looking at both violent and property crimes in both counties, the overall crime rate of Long Island is 948.45 per 100,000 population, based on FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) data from 2019.

The Long Island crime rate is less than the state of New York’s overall crime rate. According to the same FBI report, the combined New York state crime rate was 1,731.9 per 100,000 residents.

There were 267,155 reported property crimes in the state of New York, resulting in a rate of 1,373.3 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. There were 69,764 violent crimes, resulting in a rate of 358.6 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. 44,555 of those violent crimes were aggravated assaults, and 18,068 were robberies. There were 267,155 property crimes, for a rate of 1,373.3 per 100,000. Property crimes included 226,851 larceny-theft offenses.

Crime in Nassau County

Nassau County had 1,179 violent crimes reported, according to information collected by the FBI in 2019. These violent crimes included 791 aggravated assault offenses and 339 robbery offenses. In the same year, the county reported 9,655 property crimes; the majority of these were larceny-theft crimes, with 8,677 larceny offenses reported.

With a population of 1.356 million in 2019, this means that the county’s violent crime rate was 86.95 per 100,000 population, and the property crime rate was 712.02 per 100,000 population. Nassau County had a combined crime rate of 798.97 per 100,000.

In 2023, according to New York State’s Division of Criminal Justice Statistics (NY DCJS), Nassau County reported 2,375 violent crimes, including 1,668 aggravated assaults. There were 14,676 offenses of larceny, 919 motor vehicle theft offenses, and 1,295 burglary offenses. The total property and violent crime rate for the county in 2023 was 1,389 per 100,000 population.

Crime in Suffolk County

In 2019, based on FBI data, Suffolk County reported 34 violent crimes and no property crimes, while the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) reported 1,183 violent crimes and 14,828 property crimes. The police department’s reported violent crimes include 719 aggravated assaults and 281 robbery offenses. Property crimes included 13,161 larceny-theft offenses, 891 burglary offenses, and 776 motor vehicle theft offenses.

In 2019, Suffolk County had a population of 1.478 million. After combining the overall Suffolk County and the SCPD crime reports, the county had a violent crime rate of 82.34 per 100,000 population and a property crime rate of 1,003.25. The total crime rate in Suffolk County was 1,085.59.

In 2023, Suffolk County reported 1,488 violent crimes in the NY DCJS report, including 1,064 aggravated assaults. There were 16,914 larceny offenses, 1,512 motor vehicle theft offenses, and 809 burglary offenses. The total violent and property crime rate in the county was 1,351 per 100,000 population.

FAQs

Q: Is Long Island Safer Than New York City?

A: Long Island is generally considered safer than New York City. According to information gathered by the NY DCJS, Suffolk and Nassau counties had a lower crime count than Kings, Queens, New York, and Bronx counties in 2022. However, the crime counts were higher than Richmond County. When looking at crime rates, or offenses committed per 100,000 inhabitants, both Suffolk and Nassau Counties had lower crime rates than each of the five boroughs in New York City.

Q: Where Is the Safest Place to Live on Long Island, New York?

A: Some of the safest places to live in Long Island, New York, include:

1. Huntington
2. Great Neck
3. Manhasset
4. Merrick
5. Massapequa
6. Plainview
7. Brookhaven
8. Roslyn
9. Syosset
10. Stony Broke
11. West Islip
12. Greenport
13. Jericho
14. Smithtown
15. Bellmore

These cities and towns have lower crime rates compared to New York State and the other areas of Long Island. These municipalities are typically more suburban and lower-populated locales.

Q: What Is the New York State Crime Rate?

A: The New York State crime rate was 1,731.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2019, according to data gathered by the FBI regarding crime in the U.S. The violent crime rate was 358.6, with 69,764 violent crimes reported. 18,068 of these violent crimes were robberies, and 44,555 were aggravated assaults. The property crime rate was 1,373.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. There were 267,155 property offenses reported in 2019, including 226,851 larceny-theft offenses, 27,600 burglary offenses, and 12,704 motor vehicle theft offenses.

Q: Where Should You Not Live on Long Island?

A: When choosing where to live on Long Island, one important factor is the crime rate of a location. In Long Island, these locations have higher than average crime rates:

1. Hempstead Village: With an overall crime rate of 15.81 per 1,000 population, this municipality has nearly twice the overall crime rates of Nassau County, where the village is located.
2. Riverhead Town: This town has an overall crime rate of 17.92 per 1,000 population.
3. Freeport Village: This village has an overall crime rate of 11.61 per 1,000 population.

Work With a Skilled Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Long Island, you need to get legal defense quickly. The sooner you contact a criminal defense attorney, the more effectively they can defend your rights against your charges.

At The Vitaliano Law Firm, we can help you. Whether you committed the crime, made a mistake, or were wrongly accused, you deserve strong legal support. Our team can treat you with respect while providing you with the diligent and effective representation you need. We fight for the ideal outcome after an arrest or charge. Contact our firm today.