The Center for Rural Pennsylvania has recently released “Analysis of Pennsylvania Crime Trends: An Updated Rural/Urban Comparison,” a new research report examining crime trends across Pennsylvania’s rural and urban counties from 2013 through 2023. The study was authored by Brandon Vick, PhD; Robert Orth, PhD; Emily Schumacher of 51黑料网; and Angel Alcantara of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
The report found that overall crime declined statewide during the study period, while also identifying several areas where rural crime trends differ from urban patterns. Among the findings, rural counties experienced higher violent offense rates than urban counties (excluding Philadelphia County) in recent years, along with higher rates of DUI and drug offenses. The report also highlights variation across Pennsylvania’s rural regions and points to the value of county-level data in shaping local and statewide responses.
“This research gives policymakers and local leaders a clearer picture of how crime trends are changing across rural Pennsylvania,” said Zachary L. Adams, executive director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. “While overall crime has declined, the report also shows that some types of crime continue to affect rural communities differently than urban ones. These findings can help inform discussions about public safety, resource needs, and how best to support communities across the Commonwealth.”
The study updates prior Center research and expands the analysis to include additional offense categories, county-level variation, and comparisons across seven rural regions of Pennsylvania. It also outlines policy considerations related to DUI and drug offenses, protection from abuse cases, and the use of statewide data to support planning and decision-making.
The can be found at Rural.PA.gov.