Public Safety
Catalog of Crises
House Republican Caucus
January 2025
Washington State has the lowest number of law enforcement officers in nation, per capita, ranking 51st, including Washington DC
Washington has the highest number of motor vehicle thefts in the nation; it is 114% higher than the national average.
Vehicle thefts increased nationwide by 14% from 2020 to 2022.
In Washington vehicle thefts increased 65% during the same time period.
11,600,000 data breaches occurred in 2024; it is a 159.43% increase in one year; it is the first time that the number of notices sent exceeded the state's population.
Murders in Washington increased 80% since 2019.
19.6% increase in violent crime
27.3% increase in aggravated assault
19.8% increase in robbery.
Juvenile crime is exploding, especially in violent crime; 67% increase in arrests
Washington is among the states with the highest number of human trafficking cases
Washington ranks second highest for the most missing and murdered indigenous women
Drug overdose deaths increased in one year by 45%, 2023 to 2024 in Spokane County alone
Washington has the second highest drug overdose rate in the nation
overdose deaths rose from 28.1 deaths per 100,000 population to 33.7 in one year, 2023 to 2024.
Overdose deaths nationwide fell by 10% 2023 to 2024; Washington overdose deaths rose 14% in the same time period.
Youth overdose cases have tripled since 2019.