Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday overall serious crime rates in 2024 dropped by nearly 8% compared to the prior year.
The 2024 Crime in Kentucky report shows that from 2023 to 2024, of the 23 categories, 17 saw a decrease in crimes reported, indicating an overall decrease of 7.66% in reports of serious, Category A crime. Some of the notable data indicates an 11.55% decrease in drug/narcotic offenses, a 12.7% decrease in homicide offenses and a 13.78% decrease in sex offenses.
Since Gov. Beshear took office, fewer Kentuckians have returned to prison after their release. In February, it was announced that nearly 70% of those released from state custody have not returned. Following this announcement, the Governor established the Team Kentucky Office of Reentry Services, which works to coordinate reentry services across state government to ensure everyone leaving prison has access to quality second chance resources. The administration also continues to work with employers to provide good-paying jobs to inmates upon their release, further reducing the chances of reoffending.
For three straight years, overdose deaths have decreased in Kentucky. In 2024, the commonwealth saw 30.2% fewer overdose deaths than the year before thanks to the increased availability of naloxone and recovery services across the state. To continue this work, four more counties were certified as Recovery Ready Communities in May for their ability to provide addiction and recovery treatment, job services and transportation to these services, bringing the number of certified counties up to 25.
The Beshear-Coleman administration has prioritized the training and safety of Kentucky's law enforcement officers. In April, the Governor opened the Jody Cash Multipurpose Training Facility, a 42,794-square-foot facility with a 50-yard, 30-lane firing range designed for officers to learn intensive and specialized training that will support training all of Kentucky's law enforcement agencies.
