Staten Island is the least densely populated of the five boroughs and the least populated overall. This leads to one of the lowest numbers of crimes and often the lowest crime rates out of any area in the city. The overall serious crime rate in Staten Island is 6.6 per 1,000 residents, which is less than half the citywide rate of 14.2 per 1,000. However, residents and visitors should still understand the full picture of the Staten Island crime rate to remain safe in the area.
Property Crime in Staten Island
Property crimes are offenses that do not result in direct harm or threat of harm to the victim. Instead, they focus on the theft or destruction of property. This includes larceny, burglary, motor vehicle theft and, in some cases, arson.
The rate of serious property crimes in 2022 in Staten Island was 4.4 per 1,000 residents, compared to 9 per 1,000 citywide. Based on 2021 data, the Staten Island property crime rate, which was not specified as serious property crime, was 11.17 per 1,000 residents, compared to the statewide rate of 17.22.
Violent Crime in Staten Island
Violent crimes result in the victim of the crime facing the threat of harm, including the use of a firearm, or the victim suffering harm or death. These include assault, battery, negligent and non-negligent manslaughter, murder, robbery, kidnapping, some instances of arson, and rape.
New York City reported 36,138 violent crimes in 2019, according to the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, which was slightly more than the prior two years but part of an overall downward trend. Of these violent crimes in 2019, 916 occurred in Staten Island, meaning that Staten Island made up 2.5% of the total. Staten Island has the lowest reporting number of violent crimes of any borough, with the next lowest number of violent crimes being 7,139 reported in Queens.
Focusing on the crime of homicide, there were 319 homicides in New York City in 2019, and 14 of those occurred in Staten Island. Although this is only 4.39% of the total homicides in the city, the Staten Island homicide rate in 2019 was .029 per 1,000 residents, only slightly lower than the rate in Manhattan and Queens. Queens had 24 shooting incidents in 2019, 3% of the citywide 776 shooting incidents.
Staten Island has the lowest overall violent crime rate per 1,000 residents of all boroughs, with 1.92 per 1,000 residents in 2019, compared to the Queens rate of 3.13. The rate of violent crimes in Staten Island has been mostly decreasing between 2013 and 2019, with a rate of 2.64 per 1,000 residents in 2013.
Major Crime in Staten Island
Major crimes, as a category, tend to refer to significant crimes, both violent and property crimes. Law enforcement uses this term to refer to significant crimes, with a focus on felonies.
The major crime rate in Staten Island and Richmond County in 2019 was 5.08 per 1,000 residents, a decrease from 5.71 the previous year and an overall decrease since a rate of 7.23 in 2013. Staten Island has the lowest major crime rate, and Queens is the borough with the next-lowest major crime rate, at 8.36 per 1,000 residents.
There were 95,593 major crimes citywide reported by the NYPD in 2019, a decrease from 96,394 in 2018 and 111,335 in 2013. In Staten Island, there were 2,421 major crimes reported in 2019, which has decreased each year since 2013, when 3,416 major crimes were reported.
The rates of criminal summons have been steadily decreasing across all boroughs from 2013 to 2019. Staten Island saw an increase from 2015 to 2016 but has decreased to 6.67 criminal summons per 1,000 residents by 2019.
FAQs
Q: Is Brooklyn or Staten Island Safer?
A: Both Brooklyn and Staten Island are boroughs of New York City, which is a relatively safe city, but Staten Island is considered safer than Brooklyn based on crime and crime rates. Staten Island has a significantly fewer number of major crimes than Brooklyn and a lower major crime rate per number of residents in 2019. Data covering serious crime rates in 2022 in both Staten Island and Brooklyn show that the overall serious crime rate in Staten Island was 6.6 per 1,000 residents, compared to 12.2 per 1,000 residents in Brooklyn.
Q: Is Staten Island a Good Area?
A: Staten Island has much lower crime rates than the other boroughs, and it is also one of the less expensive locations to live in New York City. It’s considered good for families due to its decent schools and strong community. Its public transportation is less reliable than the rest of New York City, and the island is less connected to the city as a result.
Q: Does the Crime Rate Depend on the Neighborhood in Staten Island?
A: Yes, the crime rate depends on the neighborhood in Staten Island, as with all the boroughs in New York City. Many of the safer neighborhoods are located in the south and middle of the island, with many of the more dangerous neighborhoods located on the north and northeast of the island. However, these locations are not definitive, and the rate can vary in any location.
Q: Where Does the Most Crime Take Place in Staten Island?
A: Many of the most dangerous neighborhoods are located on the north and northeast of Staten Island, although there are some neighborhoods on the west that are also considered dangerous due to their higher crime rates. Some of the more dangerous neighborhoods include:
- -Port Richmond
- -Rossville North
- -South Beach
- -Stapleton
- -Great Kills Park
- -Clifton
- -Mariners Harbor
- -New Brighton
- -West Brighton
Protecting Your Rights Against Criminal Charges in Staten Island
Facing criminal charges in Staten Island can be terrifying. You need a skilled criminal defense attorney by your side to ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process. A skilled attorney can also look for the right defense to limit or prevent the penalties you face. The Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC, can assist you. We are proud to help our community in Staten Island and the surrounding boroughs. Contact our team today.
