A Mixed Picture on Crime Numbers in Lawrence
Published on July 26, 2026
Local NIBRS data shows persistent property and society offense increases, but a glimmer of hope emerges for crimes against persons
If you follow crime reports on any form of media – particularly social media – you will rarely get the whole story or much perspective at all. And to be frank, crime statistics are just one contributing factor about how safe people feel on a daily basis.
But, it’s worth looking at the numbers because trends or dramatic changes can help guide enforcement and prevention efforts.
As we've done in previous reports, we're drawing on data from the National Incident Based Reporting System — better known as NIBRS — to get a monthly snapshot of what's happening around town. These figures are compiled each month and submitted to the FBI for inclusion in national crime statistics, making them one of the more reliable windows into local public safety trends.
The headline this month carries some unwelcome news for Lawrence residents: for the third consecutive month, the city has reported increases over the same period last year in both "Property" and "Society" offense categories. Property crimes cover a broad range of offenses including burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property. Society offenses encompass drug violations, certain alcohol-related charges, and similar crimes that, while not always involving a direct victim, reflect broader community conditions.
The streak of year-over-year increases in those two categories is worth watching, even if no single month's numbers tell the whole story.
On a more encouraging note, the picture looks somewhat brighter when it comes to crimes against persons. While that category remains elevated compared to 2025 overall, the second quarter showed signs of improvement — two of the three months came in better than the same months a year ago. It's a modest but meaningful trend in the right direction, and one everyone hopes will continues into the second half of the year.
As always, monthly crime statistics capture reported incidents only and can fluctuate for a variety of reasons. We'll continue tracking these numbers and reporting back as new data becomes available.