Among all the facts and figures presented in the Idaho State Police Crime in Idaho 2023 Report, one statistic stood out. Crime decreased significantly in Canyon County, which is among the most populous regions in the state and which continues to grow precipitously. Following an 11% increase in criminal offenses during 2022, Canyon County saw just over a 13% decrease in criminal offenses and a 1.
38% decrease in arrests last year. The county's Group A crime rate for 2023 — which includes offenses against persons, property and society — was 4,088 per 100,000 residents. Numbers on the changes in crime rate come from the Idaho State Police's annual crime report, compiling data from Idaho's law enforcement agencies to show trends in crime over the past year, as well as trends for the past five years.
The Canyon County Sheriff's Office did not return requests for comment on the year-over-year change. The Nampa and Caldwell police departments both weighed in on what they perceived to be the biggest contributing factors to the decreases in crime seen locally over the past year. Both departments highlighted the continued use of the CompStat model, short for Compare Stats, as an integral tool to stay on top of specific offenses and the location of crimes within the community.
In addition to CompStat, both cited new technology and protocols used to bring down crime in their jurisdictions. Captain Eric Skoglund, at left, has a conversation with Lt. Brad Childress in the Nampa Police D.
