As Pa. crime rates fall to record lows, law enforcement flags ongoing challenges

Violent crime rates are down across the nation and commonwealth, and 2026 numbers appear to be even lower so far. Homicides alone fell by 23% between 2023 and 2024, which is near historic lows. 

“There’s a lot of good news in the data, and some warning signs as well that we need to be vigilant about,” said state Attorney General Dave Sunday. “In many cases, (the crime rate) actually is at or below 2019 levels, getting us back to the levels that we saw prior to the pandemic-era surge in violent crime.”

Sunday, speaking at a bicameral Republican policy committee meeting in Hazelton, cautioned that drug offenses are still increasing, noting the state had seized more than 56 million doses of fentanyl in 2025.

“That amount of fentanyl is staggering. It’s enough to kill four times the population of Pennsylvania, and obviously that’s unbelievably dangerous,” Sunday said. 

Monday’s wide-ranging meeting touched on some of the biggest criminal justice topics in Harrisburg, namely sentencing for felony murder and regulating skill games. But lawmakers and Hazelton leaders also wrestled with more local issues, including caring for an aging county prison population in a deteriorating facility and navigating services for homeless Pennsylvanians.

The core function of government is to keep its citizens safe,” shared Rep. David Rowe (R-Union) in his opening remarks. “Our communities deserve to feel safe, and we need to acknowledge that there is a lot of work to be done across Pennsylvania.”

Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce attributed falling overdose rates in his community to “the closure of our borders,” actions he said made it difficult for drug traffickers from other countries. 

“Unfortunately, we are not now drug free. We are finding that fentanyl is being replaced with methamphetamine, a more homegrown drug. Thankfully, it doesn’t kill people with the regularity that fentanyl does,” Sanguedolce said, adding that it was still a burden on local law enforcement and emergency responders.

Nearly all fentanyl smuggled into the country is brought by U.S. citizens, not immigrants. 

Other crime trends

Sunday highlighted several trends his office was monitoring, including large-scale retail thefts “coordinated by larger criminal enterprises” with links to human and drug trafficking. He said the agency had identified more than 100 investigations across 52 counties, meaning, “This isn’t just a big city issue. This is all throughout Pennsylvania.”

A new unit dedicated to combatting elder exploitation “is actually already overwhelmed with cases,” Sunday continued. “But that’s what we’re here for and we’re proud of doing that work.”

“I’m watching this play out sort of in real time. I have aging parents that are in their early 80s, and seeing the … increase in technology, the sophistication of the scams, it’s something that’s really scary,” Sunday added.

Sanguedolce said one example might include a call reporting that a son-in-law is in police custody and needs money immediately. 

“It goes back to the days of the 1-800 commercials, the infomercials. ‘Act now,’ right? They create a sense of urgency. Some emergency must happen. You must act now,” he continued.

With a large senior population, Sunday said Pennsylvania was “a target” for senior scams and fraud. In response, he advocated for state Senate Bill 738, described as an update to the commonwealth’s Older Adult Protective Services Act. The bipartisan measure would allow employees at financial institutions to place holds on withdrawal requests they suspect are related to fraud. 

“That pause is absolutely critical, allowing a potential victim to realize that they are being defrauded of their money, and this is so important because in most instances, once that money is gone, it is gone,” Sunday said. 

Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael O’Pake, who’s the vice president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, pushed for an amendment to the Senate proposal that established mandated reporting requirements for elder abuse and neglect. 

“One of the most rewarding and often most challenging responsibilities that we face as district attorneys is dealing with victims of crimes. Victims of crimes have their lives disrupted, through no fault of their own,” said O’Pake, speaking generally. 

However, the federal funding under the Victims of Crimes Act has fallen over several budget years. With that reduction in mind, O’Pake called for lawmakers “to keep victims in mind when you are doing the budget and you are setting forth priorities.” 

O’Pate also called for continued funding for child advocacy centers, concluding with an ask to outlaw swatting, which is when someone makes a fake call to 911 to trigger a police raid. 

“These hoaxes put people’s lives at risk and waste valuable public safety resources,” he said.