Stafford Reports Crime Decrease Over Last Decade

Between 2000 and 2010, the per-capita crime rate decreased 17 percent in Stafford County according to a report from the county Public Safety Committee. The decrease coincided with a 39 percent increase in Stafford County's population. But the report also showed that while crime in Stafford County may be less frequent than 10 years ago, the county crime rate has been rising since 2006.

 At the start of the decade, there were 4,761 crimes committed for every 100,000 residents in Stafford County, according to the report. That number dropped to a low of 3,150 crimes per 100,000 residents in 2006. Since then, the rate has inched upward. Last year the number of crimes committed per 100,000 residents was at its highest since 2004, standing at 3,968 crimes per 100,000 residents.

Between 2000 and 2010, Stafford County grew from a population of 92,440 to 128,960, one of the fastest growing counties in the region.

"None of this would have been possible without the close partnership that the Sheriff’s Office has with the community,” states Sheriff Charles Jett a press release issued by the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.  “Our decreased crime rate and efficient use of our budget and workforce is a direct result of the bonds we have forged with our citizens.  I am committed to continuing this important partnership so that we will continue to keep Stafford County a safe place to raise our families.”

The numbers were disclosed last night during the regular meeting of the county Public Safety Committee.

Compared to other counties along the southern end of the D.C. I-95 corridor, namely Prince William and Spotsylvania counties, Stafford County also has the lowest per capita crime rate. Stafford County's 10 year per-capita crime rate stands at 4,07 per 100,000 residents 1 to Spotsylvania's 4,771 per 100,000 residents  and Prince William County's 4,912 per 100,000 residents.

In highlighting these numbers, Sheriff Jett also noted that Stafford has more law-enforcement officers per residents than Spotsylvania and Prince William counties and the city of Fredericksburg. Stafford boasts 1.26 officers for every 1,000 residents. Spotsylvania is a bit more spread out at 1.28 officers per 1,000 residents and Prince William County has 1.41 officers per 1,000 residents. Fredericksburg, the only municipality which the report compared numbers with, has 2.88 officers for every 1,000 residents.

Taking the county's population numbers against the budget, the report also argues that Stafford County residents pay less than their regional neighbors for law enforcement services. According to the report, a single Stafford County resident's share of the law enforcement budget is $140, less than Hanover ($215 per resident) and Prince William ($183 per resident) counties.