By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Thursday that reports of serious crime in the state decreased for the second year in a row, as the 2025 Crime in Kentucky report shows serious crime dropped by more than 8 percent compared to 2024.
The Governor said this builds on recent progress achieved by his administration, including four straight years of drops in overdose deaths and two consecutive years of recidivism rate decreases.
“We want Kentuckians to be safe and feel safe in their communities and the progress we’re making to stop serious crime across the Commonwealth is making a difference,” he said. “I want to thank our brave law enforcement and folks across Kentucky who are making a difference daily. Together, we’re building a safer New Kentucky Home for our families.”
The 2025 Crime in Kentucky report shows that from 2024 to 2025, of the 23 categories of serious crime, 17 saw a decrease in crimes reported, indicating an overall decrease of 8.14 percent in reports of serious, Category A crime.
Some of the notable data indicates an 11.25 percent decrease in drug/narcotic offenses and a 15.64 percent decrease in homicides. Category A crimes include high-level drug trafficking, first degree rape, murder and arson and generally carry a sentence of 20-50 years in prison.
“The Kentucky State Police is proud to work with local, state and federal partners each day in our shared mission to build a safer Commonwealth,” stated Kentucky State Police Commissioner Philip Burnett Jr. “Thanks to their support, our people and our communities are better protected, and we’re grateful for our continued collaboration.”
The statistics compiled within the Crime in Kentucky report are collected through the receipt of offense and arrest data, which are submitted to the Kentucky State Police by law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Law enforcement submits their data through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), which is the standard reporting system for the FBI. NIBRS data are submitted electronically to the state in one of two ways: through the state’s free reporting tool, known as KYOPS, or through an agency’s own incident-based reporting system.
Read the 2025 Crime in Kentucky report here. See the breakdown by county.
