July 13, 2015
While the number of killings in Trenton is down 37.5 percent from the same time last year, the city's homicide rate is still high, NJ.com reports.
Trenton's murder rate is more than twice that of major U.S. cities like Philadelphia, which stands at 7.4. Chicago comes in at 7.2 for each 100,000 people.
Trenton's population-adjusted murder rate of 15.4 for each 100,000 people is statistically tied this year with Camden, where the murder rate is 15.6, also adjusted for population. And Trenton still eclipses Newark's murder rate of 13.2 for each 100,000.
However, acting Attorney General John Hoffman said the city has seen progress. For example, the total number of shootings in Trenton has decreased by 42 percent, from 89 in the first six months of 2014 to 52 so far this year.
"Those numbers are striking,'' Hoffman told NJ.com. "We've been able to put forth changes that have made a significant institutional difference. What we can do is put in place programs that can improve the situation for the long term. And that's something we feel we have done.''
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