Maine’s crime rate declined slightly in 2024 compared to the previous year, the state reported Tuesday.

The overall crime rate fell to 28.83 crimes per 1,000 people in 2024, a small decline from 2023, when the crime rate was 29.77 crimes per 1,000 people. The 2024 figures are the most recent available.

The state’s overall crime rate has steadily declined since 2021, when it was 32.44 crimes per 1,000 people.

VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN

The violent crime rate in Maine has trickled down each year since 2021, from 1.10 crimes per 1,000 people to 0.93 crimes per 1,000 people in 2024. Overall, there were 1,374 violent crimes reported in 2024, down from 1,400 the previous year.

That includes 33 intentional deaths – “murders” and “non-negligent manslaughter” – in 2024 compared to 60 the year prior, which included the 18 people killed in the Lewiston mass shooting on Oct. 25, 2023.

The human body, such as hands, feet and teeth, was the weapon used in about 40% of violent crimes in 2024. Knives or other cutting instruments were used in about 14%, while firearms were used in about 10%.

Criminal sexual contact, aggravated assault and simple assault all decreased from 2023 to 2024.

However, abductions and kidnappings rose from 25 in 2023 to 32 in 2024. There were 13 more rapes (405 total) reported in 2024 than the year prior, and 18 more statutory rapes (75 total).

PROPERTY CRIMES ROUGHLY THE SAME

The property crime rate dropped from 17.22 crimes per 1,000 people in 2023 to 17.11 in 2024. However, the total number of property crimes increased by about 60.

Certain types of property crime have increased. That includes thefts from motor vehicles, which rose from 1,394 in 2023 to 1,846 the following year.

The rate of impersonation crimes rose from 0.22 per 1,000 people to 0.35 per 1,000, while identity theft, arson, bribery, pick-pocketing and purse-snatching, and motor vehicle thefts all saw small increases in 2024.

Most other types of property crime were down. The rate of burglaries dropped from 1.07 per 1,000 people to 0.94 per 1,000, while counterfeiting and forgery, vandalism, embezzlement and shoplifting also decreased.

DRUG VIOLATIONS BACK DOWN

Drug and narcotics violations were down, from a rate of 2.75 crimes per 1,000 people in 2023 to 2.61 per 1,000 in 2024.

Drug violations had jumped by about 500 from 2022 to 2023.

Of the roughly 3,850 drug violations reported in 2024, 2,900 were for possession or concealing a substance, while 619 were for distribution and 470 for consuming.

Over 1,000 people were arrested in incidents involving amphetamines in 2024, an increase of 138 over 2023.

Nearly 890 people were arrested for crimes related to crack cocaine, 545 for crimes related to other forms of cocaine, and 454 crimes related to heroin – all of these were higher in 2024 than the previous year.

However, arrests involving most other drugs are down, including cannabis, hallucinogens, opium, and narcotics categorized as “other.”