ST. LOUIS — At the beginning of 2024, 5 On Your Side reported that 2023 was the safest year on record in a decade for St. Louis.
Those findings were in line with an inaugural 2023 crime review released Wednesday by Mayor Tishaura Jones' office. The goal of the review, conducted by the Office of Violence Prevention, was to bring show violence reduced and safety increased under Jones.
Editor's Note: The video above is from January 2024.
The report concluded that the city saw:
- A 21% reduction rate in homicides compared to 2022;
- An 11% reduction rate in robberies compared to 2022;
- A 24% reduction rate in shooting incidents compared to 2022; and
- A 23% reduction rate in shooting victims compared to 2022.
Although the Office of Violence Prevention was established in July 2022, the report said that 2023 marked one of the largest year-over-year declines in homicides in 90 years.
"As the Mayor of St. Louis, I have made it the explicit goal of my administration to transform public safety. I am committed to breaking cycles of crime through prevention, intervention and enforcement. OVP’s community-centered approach to violence prevention is essential in our crime reduction efforts—crime is prevented years before it happens,” Jones said.
According to the report, 2023 was not just a year of progress in crime but also a year of leveraging collaborations with national organizations. The report also touched on resources focused on children and teenagers in neighborhoods like Dutchtown, Walnut Park, Wells-Goodfellow and The Ville.
Under the Youth Diversion Initiative, St. Louis is slated to open a Youth Assessment Center soon.
"There are over 83 Assessment Centers throughout the United States that aim to prevent and divert youth from juvenile justice and child welfare systems by identifying needs and underlying issues contributing to concerning behavior," the report stated.
“Through Community Violence Intervention programs, we are dedicated to addressing the root causes of violence and providing support to those who need it most,” said Wil Pinkney, director of the Office of Violence Prevention. “By working together with local stakeholders, we are creating a sustainable and inclusive framework that enhances public safety and fosters community resilience.”
The year in review can be downloaded here.