No.
Though the number of incidents reported so far in 2024 is up by 3% over the same time last year, overall crime rates in Tucson have dropped by around 7% compared to the five year average.
The Tucson Police Department’s 2023 annual crime trend report, the most recent available, indicates that counts of nearly every type of crime—including homicide, robbery and sexual assault—decreased compared to the previous year and fell below the five-year average. The department has credited improved gun violence detection technology, faster response times and improved staffing as contributing factors.
Arizona’s overall crime rate also fell in 2023 compared to the year prior. Federal data suggests that the decrease is on trend with the rest of the nation.
This fact brief responds to conversations such as this one.
The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs, or quick-response fact checks, about trending claims relating to Arizona.
Sources
- Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Crime Statistics 2023
- Tucson Police Department, Reported Crimes
- Tucson Police Department, 2023 Annual Report
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Quarterly Uniform Crime Report
- Tucson Sentinel, Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing
Editor’s note: This brief was updated to clarify that the number of reported incidents of crime in Tucson has decreased this year by about 7% in comparison to the city’s five year average.
Support AZCIR with a donation!
Sign Up, Stay Informed
The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is partnering with Gigafact to produce timely fact briefs, or quick-response fact checks, about trending claims relating to Arizona.
