The 2023 Crime in Kentucky report was released by Kentucky State Police this week. The report indicates crime rates have remained stable with a decline in offenses for homicide, burglary, robbery, sex offenses, kidnapping and gambling. For the last three years, homicide rates have been declining. The two largest increases in reported offenses of serious crimes were human trafficking and animal cruelty. KSP believes the rise in human trafficking reports may be related to an increase in training for law enforcement, service and education professionals, as well as a nationwide push for heightened community awareness. Animal cruelty continues to be on the rise, which KSP says may be because individuals who are reported for animal cruelty oftentimes are abusing multiple animals at one time. The statistics published within the Crime in Kentucky report are collected through the receipt of offense and arrest data, which are submitted to the KSP by law enforcement agencies throughout the Commonwealth.