HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaii is solving fewer violent crimes today than it did a decade ago.
During a State Capitol briefing on Friday, Nov. 21, the Council of State Governments Justice Center outlined a stark reality: clearance rates for murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault have been declining nationwide for decades, and Hawaii is no exception.
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In 2024, data showed Hawaii solved 40% of violent crimes reported to police — down 12 percentage points from 2014, when the state’s solve rate sat slightly above the national average.
“Our clearance rates continue to go downward every year,” said Marshall Clement, director of the Justice Center. “We haven’t seen a reversal in the past 60 years — especially for murder, rape and aggravated assault.”…