Crime down across Northern District of West Virginia

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Crime across the Northern District of West Virginia, particularly violent crime, is falling.  Nationwide, violent crime has decreased 3% from 2017 to 2018, according to the FBI. This is largest yearly decrease since 2013. 

In the Northern District of West Virginia the decreases have been even greater.  Decreases in violent crime exceeded 30% in Bridgeport, Martinsburg and Wheeling, but crime rates were lower across the district.  The number of federal criminal defendants prosecuted in the district have increased by 50% since 2016.
  
“While federal prosecutions are at record levels, the focus upon violent crime by Attorney General Barr and the incredible work by local, state and federal law enforcement across the district have directly impacted the results.  West Virginians are safer due to their great work.  We anticipate this positive trend to continue,” said United States Attorney Bill Powell.  

All statistics were collected by the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, through local, county and state law enforcement.