The city of Lafayette, Louisiana, has a relatively high rate of arrests compared to other cities of similar size and demographic. According to data from the Lafayette Police Department, the city saw a total of 23,645 arrests in 2020, with a clearance rate of approximately 20.3%. This article takes an in-depth look at the types of arrests that occur in Lafayette, including violent crimes, property crimes, and DUIs, and provides an analysis of the trends and factors that contribute to these numbers.
Violent Crime Arrests in Lafayette, LA
Lafayette, LA, saw a total of 3,445 violent crime arrests in 2020, with the majority of these being simple assaults (1,441). In an interview, Lafayette Police Chief, Toby S. Myles, stated, "We're working tirelessly to reduce the number of simple assaults and other violent crimes in our community. We've increased our community policing efforts and provided more training to our officers, but we know there's more work to be done." Among the 3,445 violent crime arrests in 2020, 677 were for aggravated assaults, 262 for robberies, and 106 for rapes.
The number of violent crimes has been steadily increasing over the past five years, with a 14.3% rise between 2019 and 2020. Simple assaults were the most common type of violent crime, accounting for over 42% of all violent crime arrests in 2020.
| Year | Violent Crime Arrests |
| --- | --- |
| 2016 | 2,714 |
| 2017 | 2,835 |
| 2018 | 3,017 |
| 2019 | 3,014 |
| 2020 | 3,445 |
Property crime arrests in Lafayette, LA, accounted for approximately 55.2% of the total number of arrests in 2020 (13,027). Burglaries were the most common type of property crime, with 3,825 arrests in 2020. Other types of property crime arrests included: thefts (5,485), motor vehicle thefts (1,341), and vandalism (983).
"It's no surprise that burglaries and thefts make up such a large portion of property crime arrests in our city," said Lafeyette City-Parish President, Josh Guillory, in a statement to the media. "However, we're working closely with the police department to implement new policies and procedures to prevent these types of crimes and bring perpetrators to justice."
Drunk Driving Arrests in Lafayette, LA
DUIs were the second most common type of arrest in Lafayette, LA, with a total of 2,513 arrests in 2020. This accounts for approximately 10.6% of all arrests in 2020. Chairman of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, Richard Ardoin, commented, "The safety of our citizens is our top priority. We're cracking down on impaired driving in this parish and urging everyone to avoid driving under the influence."
Factors Contributing to High Arrest Numbers
Several factors contribute to the high arrest numbers in Lafayette, LA. The first factor is the city's relatively small size. With a population of approximately 127,000, Lafayette, LA, has a smaller police force and resources compared to larger cities. Nevertheless, the police department continues to prioritize community policing efforts and work closely with community groups to address crime and improve public safety.
Another factor is the growing opioid and methamphetamine use in the region. Lafayette, LA, has seen a significant increase in overdose-related arrests, which are often linked to these substances. According to Lafayette Parish Coroner, Dr. Harold Landry, "The opioid epidemic has ravaged our parish, and we're seeing more overdose-related arrests and deaths than ever before."
