Pine Bluff, Arkansas – In a promising sign of progress, Pine Bluff recorded a nearly 13 percent drop in overall reported crime in 2025, marking the city’s most significant yearly improvement in the last half-decade. According to final statistics released by the Pine Bluff Police Department (PBPD), the city reported 2,954 crimes in 2025, down from 3,378 in 2024.
This steady decline reflects an overall 36 percent drop in reported crime since 2021. Law enforcement officials responded to 29,091 calls for service throughout 2025, in addition to conducting 4,754 traffic stops.
Decrease in Violent and Property Crimes
While some categories remained steady or rose slightly, many forms of violent and property crimes saw substantial decreases.
The number of homicides in 2025 stayed consistent with the previous year at 16. However, PBPD successfully solved 11 of those cases. Notably, two of the homicides occurred inside the Jefferson County Jail but were still included in the city’s crime statistics.
The number of reports involving shots fired showed significant improvement, dropping from 848 in 2024 to 571 in 2025. Despite the reduction in shots fired, 45 people were still shot during the year, with December experiencing the highest number at seven victims.
Reports of rape increased slightly from 35 to 37, and robberies held steady at 37 incidents. Aggravated assaults decreased from 369 to 340, and simple assaults dropped from 1,143 to 1,067.
The city also saw progress in property crime categories. Commercial burglaries were nearly cut in half, falling from 148 to 73. Residential burglaries declined to 175 from 211. Thefts dropped from 1,178 to 1,041, and vehicle thefts saw a notable reduction from 234 to 163.
Domestic Violence and Traffic Fatalities
Domestic violence remains a major concern in Pine Bluff, with 2,554 calls made to police in 2025 — an average of roughly 200 to 215 calls each month. These calls led to 178 arrests, 293 warnings, and 516 official reports.
The number of traffic fatalities in 2025 remained unchanged from 2024, with seven fatal accidents reported each year.
As Pine Bluff continues its efforts to improve safety and reduce crime, the PBPD’s report suggests the city is moving in a positive direction, building on years of gradual improvement. City leaders are expected to use the 2025 statistics as a guidepost for continuing community-based safety initiatives into 2026 and beyond.
