Arkansas faces a complex and concerning crime landscape, marked by high rankings in violent and property crimes, yet also demonstrating a strong track record in solving murders. Recent data paints a picture of a state struggling with violent crime, even as it excels in closing homicide cases.
According to FBI statistics cited in an Arkansas Money & Politics article from January 2025, Arkansas holds a dubious distinction: it ranks first in the nation for violent crime. In 2022, the state recorded a staggering 709 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, exceeding all other states and the District of Columbia. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for addressing the root causes of violence within the state. The article also notes Arkansas's fifth-place ranking nationally for property crime, with 2,700 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2022. (Arkansas Money & Politics, 2025)
While national trends show a decrease in both violent and property crime rates since 1980, Arkansas has bucked this trend, maintaining a persistently high ranking in these categories. The situation is further complicated by a significant increase in the state’s murder rate, which rose by 39% between 2012 and 2022. Arkansas is also among the few states that witnessed an increase in violent crime rates between 1991 and 2022. (Arkansas Money & Politics, 2025)
Despite these troubling statistics, there's a contrasting positive aspect to Arkansas's crime picture. Data from the Murder Accountability Project, also referenced in the Arkansas Money & Politics article, reveals that Arkansas boasts a 76% clearance rate for murder cases between 1965 and 2022. This commendable achievement ranks 12th nationally and surpasses the national average by nearly 10 percentage points. (Murder Accountability Project, as cited in Arkansas Money & Politics, 2025)
However, even with this impressive clearance rate, over 2,500 homicides in Arkansas remain unsolved, some stretching back decades. This stark reality underscores the persistent challenge of bringing closure to families and ensuring justice is served, even in a state with a relatively high success rate in solving murders. (Murder Accountability Project, as cited in Arkansas Money & Politics, 2025)
