Thinking about moving to Arkansas or just curious about how safe your city really is? You’re not the only one. As crime rates shift and new safety data roll in, many Arkansans are asking the same questions.
From property thefts to local crime prevention efforts, knowing where your community stands can bring peace of mind. In this guide, we’ll break down the 2025 Arkansas crime statistics, highlight the safest cities, and share what’s changing across the state. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or planning your next move, this will help you see where safety is improving and where to stay alert.
Tourists continue to flock to Arkansas for its food festivals, annual celebrations, concerts, performing arts, sports events, and expos planned for late 2025 and early 2026. But with all this activity, how safe is it really to live, visit, or invest here? That’s exactly what we’ll explore in this blog, so you can discover the safest cities and neighborhoods in Arkansas for your next trip, move, or business venture.
How we collected the crime data:
To bring you authentic and fresh crime data, we sifted through verified sources, including the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative’s Criminal Justice Data Snapshoto, and the City of Little Rock’s official crime stats.
We also drew insights from the FBI, the Arkansas Crime Rate by City Report, and the Crime Information Center.
Arkansas crime rate 2025:
Crime rates were far above the national average in the state of Arkansas in 2024. The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) Annual Report indicated 570 violent crimes were committed in the state for every 100,000 people.
As we enter late 2025, the Arkansas Department of Public Safety has shocking statistics for several cities across the state.
Homicide statistics in Arkansas 2025:
The Arkansas Crime Information Center’s annual report showed 579 violent crimes and 1,930 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
At the state level, World Population Review ranks Arkansas as having the fifth-highest murder rate in the nation, 13 murders per 100,000 residents.
Yet mid-2025 data from the Council on Criminal Justice shows a 17% dip across 30 big cities, yet Little Rock experienced a 39% rise.
Violence statistics in Arkansas 2025:
The Arkansas Department of Public Safety nominates Arkansas as having the fifth-highest violent crime rate in the nation.
Domestic violence statistics in Arkansas 2025:
Despite a nationwide 8% decline in domestic violence reports during the first half of 2025 compared to 2019, Arkansas’s rate remains well above the national average.
A report claims 40.8% of women and 34.8% of men experience domestic violence.
This later becomes the reason for more serious crimes.
Firearm-involved crime statistics in Arkansas 2025:
While complete 2025 data is pending, the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions reported that 59% of the 58 domestic violence–related homicides in 2022 involved a firearm.
Larceny theft crime statistics in 2025:
The Council on Criminal Justice (2025) reports that assault and robbery rates fell by 10% and 20% respectively, in the first half of 2025.
Why is the Arkansas crime rate so high?
The skyrocketing crime rate in Arkansas has been fueled primarily by poverty and unemployment.
Violent and property crimes spiked in Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and West Memphis.
Drug activity additionally magnifies public safety problems due to differences in the level of police presence and community resources that influence levels of criminal control at the state level.
While some cities registered crime declines over the last year, continuing homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and theft problems underscore the necessity for well-coordinated police efforts.
To see how Arkansas compares nationwide, explore our detailed guide on the dangerous states in USA.
Arkansas crime rate ranking:
This means property crimes are nearly four times higher than violent crimes. The figures suggest that theft and burglary continue to drive most offenses across the state. However, the relatively high violent crime rate compared to the national average highlights ongoing challenges in community safety and enforcement.
Arkansas crime rate map:
In the map above, we can see lighter-shaded regions indicating low-crime areas and darker-shaded regions indicating crime hotspots.
Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and parts of West Memphis appear in the darker shades, indicating higher concentrations of both violent and property crimes. These areas, often larger urban centers, tend to experience more incidents due to population density, economic disparities, and increased mobility of offenders.
The lighter-shaded regions, such as Bentonville, Bella Vista, Cabot, and Greenwood, signal lower crime rates and greater community stability.
The heatmap reminds us that crime risk isn’t evenly distributed. Certain pockets remain persistently high-risk even as state averages improve.
Top 3 crime hotspots in Arkansas:
People often wonder why Arkansas is so dangerous in certain regions; the reasons usually point to economic hardship, limited law enforcement resources, and high poverty rates. Here are the top 3 crime hotspots in Arkansas:
| City | High crime areas | Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | Shoplifting in shopping districts, shootings in the Southside | Little Rock reported around 14,800 total crimes, with a crime rate of 73 per 1,000 residents. |
| Pine Bluff | Assaults and theft in industrial areas | Pine Bluff reported a crime rate of 65.64 per 1,000 residents |
| West Memphis | Burglaries, drug crimes on I-40 | West Memphis reported a crime rate of 72.65 per 1,000 residents. |
Even though they are crime hotspots, it doesn’t mean that Little Rock, Pine Bluff, or West Memphis are no-go areas. Pine Bluff has the safest neighborhoods, where tourism blooms and locals enjoy a peaceful life, such as Faith/ Pine Bluff, Moscow, Rone, Watson Chapel, and Sulfur Springs.
The same is true in Little Rock: the vibrant, walkable neighborhoods such as Duquesne Place, Ferndale / Northpoint, and Raines Rd are home to hundreds of families and flourishing businesses.
Let’s have a look at the safest cities of Arkansas:
Top 5 safer cities in Arkansas:
Despite the state’s challenges, safer pockets such as Bentonville, Cabot, and Maumelle continue to report low violent crime rates.
In a recent report, NeighborhoodScout charts out its top 5 safest cities. These cities don’t only have low crime rates but are also safe havens for youngsters and families:
- Bismarck
- Uniontown
- Aubrey
- Adona
- Louann
What do the locals say?
People like Justin Shaffer and Terrence describe a city where crime exists but is primarily concentrated in specific neighborhoods, far from where most residents or visitors spend their time.
Locals report frequent issues, including stolen outdoor equipment, unlocked car break-ins, and small-scale thefts of vehicles or tools. These incidents often happen overnight or in less-monitored rural areas, suggesting that opportunistic theft is a common concern across the state.
Long-time residents such as Paul Sage, Diane Riley, and David Rouby echo a similar sentiment: stay aware, avoid specific areas, and you’ll likely be fine.
What are the significant security issues?
After analyzing the crime stats and local news, coming up with daily news such as:
- Highway liquor heist: 1,185 cases of bourbon stolen from a Little Rock distributor.
- Identity theft case: Forrest City man charged with 20 counts for stealing from a Louisiana retirement fund.
- ATM theft arrests: Four Texas residents were caught on an Arkansas highway for ATM-related thefts.
- Payroll embezzlement case: Former employee accused of stealing $1.8 million from Arkansas Air Flow.
Businesses in Arkansas face petty theft, trespassing, and unauthorized access. Unsecured assets like vehicles, outdoor equipment, or storage areas are easy targets, especially in rural or less-monitored areas.
Some even report aggressive individuals entering private property without permission. For businesses, this highlights the importance of visible deterrents, such as cameras, strong perimeter controls, and reliable surveillance systems, to keep people and property safe.
How to make Arkansas safer?
Petty theft and criminal trespassing may seem minor, but they often open the door to bigger crimes. The key is catching problems before they become bigger problems. With live video monitoring and proactive detection, you can stop vandalism, break-ins, and theft before they happen.
It’s more than just 24/7 surveillance. Smart AI-powered cameras now detect unusual activity, such as loitering near entry points or unauthorized tailgating, before a breach occurs.
Staying safe in Arkansas takes constant awareness and the right tools. Whether you’re in Little Rock, Bentonville, or Fayetteville, advanced monitoring gives you real-time protection and peace of mind.
Read our latest blogs to find out how the residents of Atlanta, Washington D.C., Detroit, Dallas, and even the areas around them are staying safer with remote video monitoring!
- Is Dallas safe? Crime rate and safest neighborhoods.
- Is Washington, DC, safe for tourists and residents? 2025 update.
- Is Detroit Safe? A Comprehensive Look at 2025 Crime Rates.
- Atlanta crime rate stats & safest neighborhoods: 2025 insights.
- Top Safest Cities in North Carolina: Where to Live in 2025.
Frequently asked questions:
What city has the highest crime rate in 2025?
Memphis, Tennessee, has the highest crime rate in 2025 among large U.S. cities, with a total crime rate of 9,400 incidents per 100,000 people, driven by extremely high violent and property crime rates.
Is crime high in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a notably high crime rate, ranking 5th highest nationally with about 672 crimes per 100,000 residents, and its largest city, Little Rock, saw a 39% increase in homicides in early 2025.
Is crime down in the US in 2025?
Overall, crime in the U.S. is down in 2025, with violent crime at its lowest level in about 20 years. However, certain cities and states still experience elevated homicide and violent crime rates.
Which state has the highest crime rate in 2025?
States with some of the highest crime rates include Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, while safer states include those with consistently low violent and property crime statistics.
Key takeaways:
Arkansas’s 2025 crime data shows how some cities still struggle with theft and violence, but many communities are becoming safer and more proactive about security. The state’s challenges often stem from economic pressures and uneven resource distribution, but local efforts, smarter policing, and modern surveillance are making a real difference.
Overall, Arkansas is learning, adapting, and taking steady steps toward a safer, more connected future. Latest technological trends are not only busting the thieves but are a proof of Contact us today for a customized security solution for your business.
