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For much of the 1990s, residents of Sublette County enjoyed a moderate to low crime rate, usually below the Wyoming average. However, With the advent of oil and gas development crime rates and arrests made within Sublette County have soared. In fact, by 2005 Sublette County had the highest crime rate in the state, eclipsing the metropolitan counties of Natrona and Laramie. While Crime rates dropped precipitously in 2006 , they continue to outpace population growth (a not insignificant 43.7% since 1995). The number of index crimes reported and arrests made within Sublette County rose at in exponential pace between 2000- 2005 according to Uniform Crime Reporting statistics compiled by the Office of Wyoming Attorney General --this rise was highly correlated with rig activity in the county. (Please see the complete crime report for a detailed analysis). However, total index crimes plummeted 22.4% in 2006, slightly rebounding in 2007. Most non-violent Index crimes (burglary, larceny, robbery, motor vehicle theft) have grown since 1995. On the contrary, violent crimes (murder, rape, felony assault) although fluctuating have remained relatively low; the notable exception being assault which has steadily increased. Rape, while not increasing substantially, has occurred with greater regularity in the past five years. By 2005, the arrest rate per 1,000 people within Sublette County had ballooned 284.4% above the 1995 level; since then this number had decreased nearly 105%-still well above 1995 levels. Although the county has appreciably augmented the number of deputies within the sheriff's department (133.3%), arrests per officer continue to climb. In 2007, officers on average arrested 13.6 persons, compared to only 7.9 arrests per officer in 1995--a growth rate of 71.8%. The most prodigious percentage and numerical gains in arrests made have been in the categories of: other crimes (thought to be associated with outstanding warrants) 637.5%, drug possession 483.3%, liquor laws 293.8%, DUI 239.9%, and assaults 230.8%. In contrast, over the past seven years Wyoming’s crime rate has contracted to nearly 20% below 1995 levels. While Wyoming's arrest rate has grown, unlike Sublette County, Wyoming's population and arrest rates have grown nearly in tandem. What's more, Sublette County’s crime rate is higher than the surrounding counties of Teton and Lincoln-even briefly surpassing Sweetwater County whose residents have historically experienced high crime rates. Both Teton and Sweetwater's crime rates have been trending down over the past three years, while Lincoln's has slightly increased. Download the crime dataset for detailed data on arrests and reported crimes in Sublette County, Sweetwater County, and the State of Wyoming between 1995 and 2007. (Please see the graphs at right, click for a bigger picture) |
Unless otherwise noted, all contents of this website are property of the Sublette County
Socioeconomic Analysis Advisory Committee.
Please Contact Us for permission to use.
Socioeconomic Analysis Advisory Committee.
Please Contact Us for permission to use.
| Crime: Despite Substantial Drop, Crime Rate Remains Above Average |
| Click on Graphs to Enlarge |
