July 13, 2023
Since 1995, the Idaho State Police has issued an annual report on the state’s crime statistics. The report, called “Crime in Idaho,” focuses on what are referred to as “Group A” crimes, which are further subdivided into crimes against persons (such as murder, kidnapping, and all types of assault), crimes against property (robbery, arson, financial crimes), and crimes against society (drug crimes, “vice” crimes, weapons violations). The report also includes a breakdown of incidents by district, by county, and by physical location; by type of injury, age of victim, and relationship between victim and perpetrator; by type of weapon used or controlled substance involved; and other categories of interest. Arrest statistics include age, race, and gender of offenders.
In the report for 2022, Bannock County is listed as having the fourth-highest crime rate in the state, at 5,549.97/100K population. At a city level, Blackfoot is 2nd-highest in the state, with a crime rate of 5,549.97/100K. Chubbuck is 4th-highest (7,877.27/100K), while Pocatello is 14th on the list (5,604.86/100K) and American Falls is 33rd (3,776.01/100K).
While Bannock County is far higher on the list than residents appreciate, it is noteworthy that the crime rate over the past five years is trending down. Even between 2021 and 2022, there was a 12.38% decrease in reported incidents. The top three types of crimes committed in the county are burglary and theft (decreased nearly 20% since 2021), drug-related offenses (up slightly from 2021), and assaults (down from 2021).
At a city level, the numbers are even better. Chubbuck saw a 16.69% drop in Group A crimes between 2021 and 2022, and Pocatello saw a decrease of 14.42%. The only increase in crime was in the rural areas of Bannock County, which saw a 33.66% increase in Group A crimes. This is due primarily to sharp increases in the number of drug crimes and thefts committed outside the city limits. Even with the increase, the crime rate in the rural areas remains at 2,807.42/100K, which is far less than in the urban centers.
The full report for Bannock County may be read here; the 2022 Crime in Idaho report is available here; and reports from 1995-2021 are available here.
