New Jersey Sees Big Crime Drop in 2025

Governor Phil Murphy shared promising news about a big drop in crime in New Jersey for 2025. The state has seen fewer shootings and car thefts, marking the fourth year in a row that shootings have decreased.

Shootings Down by 28%

• 559 people were shot in New Jersey in 2024.
• This is a 28% decrease from the previous year.
• 107 people died from gunshot wounds.
• When Murphy first took office, over 1,300 people were shot each year.

Car Thefts Also Decline

• 13,693 car thefts were reported in 2025.
• This is a 9% drop from 2024.
• A law signed in 2023 by Murphy increased penalties for car thieves, which may have contributed to the decline.

State Leaders Credit Strong Crime-Fighting Tools

• Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way said New Jersey has strong tools to combat crime, making the state safer.
• State Attorney General Matthew Platkin highlighted that treating gun violence as a health issue has helped.
• Big cities like Paterson and Newark saw fewer shootings and murders.

Paterson and Newark See Major Improvements

• Paterson had 42 shootings in 2024, down from 127 the previous year.
• Newark reported 31 murders in 2024, a 19% decrease from the year before.

Community Groups Play a Key Role

• Local groups working to stop gun violence have been instrumental.
• Platkin praised these groups for their important work.
• Murphy noted that these groups know the community better than police or officials.
• Lt. Col. David Sierotowicz emphasized that the drop in crime is due to teamwork, not just numbers—it’s lives saved.