Drug, hate crime numbers climbing in Idaho
The latest annual crime report from the Idaho State Police shows the state had a 2 percent increase in its most serious crimes last year.
ISP reports violent crime increased 2.6 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year. Hate crimes and drug crimes saw some of the largest jumps, however, with drug crimes increasing by more than 11 percent and hate crime reports up nearly 16 percent.
More hate crimes were reported in Ada and Canyon counties than in any other part of the state. Statewide there were 51 reported hate crimes in 2017 compared to 44 in 2016.
No law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty; however, 425 total reported officers were assaulted which is a 25.74 percent increase from 2016.
The 2017 Idaho Statewide Crime Profile Crime Clock shows the following:
Crime Against Persons – Every 28.9 minutes Murder – Every 9.6 days Rape – Every 15.4 hours Non-consensual Sex Offenses (excluding Rape) – Every 7.9 hours Aggravated Assault – Every 2.9 hours Simple Assault – Every 44.4 minutes Intimidation – Every 6.9 hours Kidnapping/Abduction – Every 2.0 days Consensual Sex Offenses – Every 3.1 days Crime Against Society – Every 20.7 minutes Drug/Narcotic Offenses – Every 41.4 minutes Drug Equipment Offenses – Every 45.5 minutes Gambling Offenses – Every 12.0 months Pornography Offenses – Every 1.5 days Prostitution Offenses – Every 8.9 days Weapons Law Violation – Every 9.6 hours Crime Against Property – Every 11.9 minutes Robbery – Every 1.6 days Burglary/B&E – Every 1.5 hours Larceny/Theft – Every 25.1 minutes Motor Vehicle Theft – Every 4.0 hours Arson – Every 2.0 days Destruction of Property – Every 1.0 hours Counterfeiting/Forgery – Every 8.9 hours Fraud Offenses – Every 1.9 hours Embezzlement – Every 2.4 days Extortion/Blackmail – Every 8.7 days Bribery – Every 4.0 months Stolen Property – Every 16.2 hours
Overall, Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Cassia, Custer, Teton and Power counties reported a lower crime rate in 2017 than in 2016.
Butte, Caribou, Clark, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Oneida counties reported a higher crime rate in 2017.
You can view the full 2017 Crime in Idaho Report HERE.
Under Idaho law, hate crimes are called “malicious harassment” and they occur when someone maliciously harasses, threatens or commits violence against a person because of the victim’s race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin. The state law does not include protections for those who are harassed because of their gender identity or sexual orientation; several attempts to expand legal protection to include those categories have been rejected by the Idaho Legislature.
