TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas recorded its lowest crime rate in more than 20 years in 2024, with state officials citing a double-digit decrease in reported crimes and continued declines in violent and property offenses, the Kansas Reflector reported.
The state’s overall crime index rate fell to 23.3 offenses per 1,000 residents, down from 27.0 in 2023. According to data from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, total index crimes were 16.7% lower than the 10-year average, marking the lowest level since standardized reporting began.
Violent crime in Kansas declined by 6.7% from 2023, aligning with the 10-year average at a rate of 4.2 offenses per 1,000 people. The number of murders dropped significantly to 117 incidents, a 25.5% decrease from the previous year and 24.0% below the decade average.
Property crimes also saw a notable decline. The total number of incidents was 12.9% lower than in 2023 and 21.3% under the 10-year average. Among them, burglary showed the steepest drop: 7,118 incidents were reported, an 18.6% year-over-year decrease and 36.2% below the 10-year average, representing the fewest burglaries reported since 1966.
Gov. Laura Kelly and Attorney General Kris Kobach both credited collaboration between state and local law enforcement agencies for the improvements. Kobach attributed the results to a “law-and-order approach” and said the data reflect efforts to hold offenders accountable.
The 2024 report noted that crime reductions were observed across multiple categories and in nearly every region of the state. Kansas law enforcement agencies submit crime statistics annually to the KBI for compilation under the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System.
