Atlantic County Reports Continued Decline in Violent Crime, Drug Deaths Through First Seven Months of 2026

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic County continues to see declines in several major crime categories, including drug-related deaths, shootings and homicides, according to new statistics released Monday by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

The report, which tracks countywide crime trends through July 31, shows many public safety indicators have continued improving over the past several years, with 2026 figures on pace to be among the lowest recorded during the period examined.

Among the most significant trends is the continued decline in fatal drug overdoses.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, Atlantic County recorded 24 drug-related deaths during the first seven months of 2026. That compares with 86 overdose deaths during all of 2025 and 255 in 2022, placing the county on pace for its lowest annual total in at least six years.

Traffic fatalities have also declined. Investigators have responded to 16 fatal crashes through July 31, compared with 29 during all of 2025 and 49 in 2021.

Violent crime also continues to trend downward.

Countywide, police investigated eight non-fatal shootings through the end of July, down from 14 during all of 2025 and 45 in 2021. Investigators have cleared seven of the eight cases this year, an 88% clearance rate.

In Atlantic City, police have investigated five non-fatal shootings so far this year, and investigators have cleared all five cases.

Homicides also remain below recent levels.

The county has recorded four homicides through the first seven months of 2026, compared with eight during all of 2025 and 14 in 2021.

Atlantic City has recorded one homicide this year, which investigators have solved, continuing a trend of 100% homicide clearance rates in the city over the past several years.

While violent crime has declined, investigators have seen increases in several specialized areas.

The Prosecutor's Office's Special Victims Unit has opened 471 investigations through July, continuing a workload that has steadily increased in recent years. Officials attributed the higher caseload in part to expanded staffing and additional outreach efforts encouraging victims to come forward.

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit has already opened 123 investigations this year, surpassing its 84 cases during all of 2025.

Meanwhile, the Atlantic County SWAT Team responded to 55 incidents and executed 28 search warrants during the first seven months of the year.

Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds credited the improving public safety trends to cooperation among municipal police departments, the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office and prosecutors.

"These numbers reflect the work of a lot of dedicated people — the chiefs of police and officers of our municipal police departments, Sheriff Joseph O'Donaghue and the men and women of the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office, and the assistant prosecutors, investigators and staff of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office who show up every day to keep our residents safe," Reynolds said.

"When you see drug deaths, shootings and homicides all trending down at the same time, that is not an accident. That is the direct result of coordinated, professional law enforcement."

Reynolds also praised municipal police chiefs throughout the county for their leadership and thanked Sheriff Joseph O'Donaghue for his office's continued partnership in warrant enforcement, traffic enforcement, courthouse security and joint law enforcement operations.

"We are not going to stop here," Reynolds said. "Every one of these statistics represents real people who are victims, witnesses, family members and officers. There is a human toll in doing this work. We appreciate the continued dedication to the mission of making Atlantic County the safest it has ever been for our residents, visitors and taxpayers."

According to the Prosecutor's Office, the 2026 statistics represent data collected through July 31 and should not be directly compared with full-year totals from previous years.