Crime decreased countywide, statewide from 2022 to 2023

Group A offenses, all incidents committed within a law enforcement agency’s jurisdiction, in 2023 across Clark County and Woodland decreased compared with 2022, following a statewide trend.

According to statewide crime stats, in 2023, Washington state saw a notable shift in crime, reflecting both areas of concern and progress. Every agency in Clark County plus Woodland experienced a decrease in Group A offenses, according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs 2023 crime statistics.

The overall 2023 Group A offense crime rate in the state of Washington decreased by 8.5% compared with the previous year, according to data from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

A total of 135,631 reported adult arrests and 7,730 reported juvenile arrests occurred in the entire state of Washington, according to data from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Statewide arrestees by race in the report included white, Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and unknown.

Group A offenses

The Group A offenses collected in the National Incident-Based Reporting System
(NIBRS) program are: Animal Cruelty, Arson, Assault Offenses, Bribery, Burglary, Counterfeiting/Forgery, Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property, Drug/Narcotic Offenses, Embezzlement, Extortion/Blackmail, Fraud Offenses, Gambling Offenses, Homicide, Human Trafficking, Kidnapping/Abduction, Larceny/Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft, Pornography/Obscene Material Offenses, Prostitution, Robbery, Sex Offenses, Non-Forcible Sex Offenses, Stolen Property and Weapon Law Violations. In Washington State, an additional Group A offense is collected: Violation of No Contact/Protection/Anti-Harassment Order.

Crime by area agency

In Clark County, 36,754 offenses were reported in 2022, while, in 2023, 32,999 offenses were reported, for a decrease of 10.22%.

In 2023, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) experienced a 13.3% decrease in Group A offenses reported. The agency covers a population of 241,825. In 2023, 7,222 Group A offenses were reported, with just 858 adult arrests and 80 juvenile arrests.

There were 10 reported murders, 74 reported rapes, 945 reported total assaults, 502 reported burglaries, 2,333 reported larceny theft offenses and 741 reported motor vehicle thefts, among other Group A offense categories for CCSO.

The Battle Ground Police Department (BGPD) experienced a 2.6% decrease in Group A offenses in 2023 from 2022. The agency supports a population of 21,912 and experienced 670 reported Group A offenses, with 128 adult arrests and 43 juvenile arrests in 2023.

There were no reported murders, five reported rapes, 108 reported total assaults, 41 reported burglaries, 248 reported larceny theft offenses and 57 reported motor vehicle thefts, among other Group A offense categories for BGPD.

The Ridgefield Police Department (RPD) experienced no change in Group A offenses in 2023 from 2022. The agency covers a population of 15,189 people and experienced 424 reported Group A offenses, with 93 adult arrests and 24 juvenile arrests in 2023.

There were no reported murders, one reported rape, 58 reported total assaults, 20 reported burglaries, 144 reported larceny theft offenses and 14 reported motor vehicle thefts, among other Group A offense categories for RPD.

The La Center Police Department (LCPD) experienced a 26.6% decrease in Group A offenses reported in 2023 from 2022. The agency includes a population of 3,890 and experienced 124 reported Group A offenses with just 13 adult arrests and three juvenile arrests in 2023.

There were no reported murders, one reported rape, 13 reported total assaults, 10 reported burglaries, 32 reported larceny theft offenses and 10 reported motor vehicle thefts, among other Group A offense categories.

The Woodland Police Department (WPD) experienced a 3.5% decrease in Group A offenses in 2023 from 2022. The agency covers a population of 6,570, experiencing 464 reported Group A offenses with just 107 adult arrests and zero juvenile arrests in 2023.

There were no reported murders, four reported rapes, 42 reported total assaults, 27 reported burglaries, 186 reported larceny theft offenses and 25 reported motor vehicle thefts, among other Group A offense categories for WPD.

To view the full crime statistics for 2023, visit waspc.org/cjis-statistics---reports and click the Crime in Washington 2023 link.