Crime

Seattle’s crime rates are lower than many major American cities, including several other destinations in the West. In 2023, major reported crimes decreased citywide, with significant drops in Seattle’s most-visited neighborhood, Downtown.

Seattle Police Department deliberately schedules high-visibility patrols in areas with ongoing safety concerns. Seattle also recently added a third public safety department, Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE), which provides alternative responses to emergency situations.

Additionally, Seattle’s mayor, Bruce Harrell, has enacted a Downtown Activation Plan that lays out specific actions to further revitalize Seattle’s downtown.

To learn more:

• Seattle Police Department (SPD) Crime Dashboard 
• Major Cities Chiefs Association’s Violent Crime Study 
• SPD Community Programs, including the Safe Place program.

Homelessness

Minimizing homelessness and ensuring care for our unhoused neighbors is a top priority for the current mayor’s administration. As of June 2024, tent encampments in Seattle were down 29% year over year, and RV encampments were down 43%, with zero current encampments in the downtown area. While lawmakers work on long-term housing solutions, the City is coordinating with local organizations to provide services to those experiencing homelessness. 

To learn more:

• One Seattle Homelessness Action Plan
• Metropolitan Improvement District 
• Unified Care Team 
• King County Regional Homeless Authority 

Illegal Drug Use

All public drug use is illegal in Seattle (including recreational marijuana). Downtown visitors may see Seattle Police Department officers and city-supported outreach workers responding to public drug use cases. The city is piloting a program called Health 99, which dispatches an additional unit to overdose cases to provide follow-up outreach services.

To learn more:

• Mayor Harrell Executive Order Guiding Implementation of New Law Prohibiting Public Consumption of Drugs  
• Washington State Cannabis Laws 

Community Information and Policies

Seattle walks the walk when it comes to inclusivity, providing a space of belonging for everyone. It’s one of the nation’s most LGBTQIA+ friendly places—just walk across any of the iconic rainbow crosswalks in Capitol Hill or see the multitude of businesses with safe space emblems in their windows. In fact, Seattle received a 100% perfect score on Human Rights Commission’s (HRC) Municipal Equality Index. Elected officials at the state and local levels across Washington State have enacted laws and policies related to LGBTQIA+ protections, reproductive health rights, and immigrant and refugee communities.

• Seattle Office for Civil Rights
• Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs: How Seattle Is a Welcoming City
• Washington State Department of Health: Sexual and Reproductive Health
• Washington State Equality Profile from Movement Advancement Project (MAP)