LED Street Lights Reduced Newark Crime

The installation of bright lighting led to significant drops in violent crime and burglaries across Newark.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an LED street light emitting a sharp pool of light, symbolizing urban safety initiatives. — Targeted LED street lighting installations contributed to a 46 percent decrease in violent crime across high-risk areas in Newark between 2019 and 2021. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Does your local government need community input to make infrastructure projects like lighting more effective?

Between 2019 and 2021, Newark successfully utilized new LED street lighting to combat criminal activity in high-risk areas. The initiative saw violent crime decrease by 46 percent at these specific hot spots.

Why it matters

The program demonstrates that targeted infrastructure improvements, when paired with community engagement and law enforcement, can effectively suppress crime without displacing it to neighboring areas.

A study confirmed a 46 percent reduction in violent crime and a 58 percent drop in burglaries in Newark following the installation of 1,500 LED street lights. Researchers found these improvements did not displace crime to other locations.

The players

Rutgers University-Newark

This academic institution conducted the formal study on the effectiveness of the citys lighting initiative.

Newark Public Safety Collaborative

This organization analyzes crime patterns and coordinates data sharing between city officials and community partners.

PSE&G

This utility company was responsible for installing the new LED lighting fixtures throughout the city.

The details

PSE&G installed the LED fixtures in areas identified by data analysis as having high crime rates. The Newark Public Safety Collaborative manages this effort by analyzing crime concentrations around vacant lots and abandoned buildings, sharing data every two weeks with 45 community organizations.

The study period for burglary reduction occurred from 2019 to 2021.

Legal Context

The study published in The Journal of Quantitative Criminology confirms that the Newark initiative follows a proven pattern of data-driven urban safety. This approach reflects a broader trend of using precise environmental analysis to address specific urban crime vectors.

Residents in previously high-risk areas benefit from increased visibility and a verifiable reduction in criminal threats. The ongoing data-sharing partnerships ensure that community organizations remain informed and involved in sustaining these safety gains.

The takeaway

Targeted infrastructure upgrades provide a cost-effective method for cities to improve public safety. Local residents can advocate for similar lighting assessments in their own neighborhoods to address crime-prone areas.