The Star Ledger published the following article on January 1, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
N.J. homicides soared to seven-year high in 2013 after surges in Newark, Trenton
By James Queally/The Star-Ledger
on January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM, updated January 03, 2014 at 1:44 PMDriven by unprecedented bloodshed in Trenton and the most violent 12-month stretch in Newark in nearly a quarter-century, homicides across New Jersey jumped to a seven-year high in 2013, a spike prosecutors and police officials tied to understaffed departments and a growing disregard for life.
A Star-Ledger survey of county prosecutors’ offices found at least 409 people died violently last year.
More than a quarter of those killings took place in Newark, where a spate of Christmas season slayings pushed the homicide total to 111, including one in the final hours of the year. The tally is the highest since 1990. In Trenton, the number of homicides soared to 37, the most in the state capital’s recorded history.
Both cities have been fighting crime with hundreds fewer police officers than they once had, the result of layoffs in 2010 and 2011. Law enforcement officials say they’re also confronting an increasing callousness, particularly among young people.