Brighter Streetlights Impact Newark Crime Temporarily

A study shows that LED lighting upgrades reduced violent crime in Newark for only six months after installation.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a solitary lamppost casting a sharp pool of light, symbolizing urban public safety policy. — A study of Newark's LED streetlight initiative found that violent crime dropped initially, but the deterrent effect faded after six months. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Researchers found that installing new LED streetlights in Newark led to a 46% drop in nighttime violent crime during the first six months. However, the study indicates that these positive effects faded significantly over a two-year period.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that while lighting improvements can offer an immediate deterrent to criminal activity, they may not provide a permanent solution for public safety. Researchers believe factors like offender adaptation to lighting changes may explain the diminishing results.

The study analyzed crime reports within 200 feet of 1,419 upgraded streetlight fixtures installed between 2019 and 2021. Findings indicate no statistically significant overall reduction in property crime over the duration of the analysis.

The players

Public Service Electric and Gas Company

This major utility provider is responsible for the distribution of electricity and natural gas to a large portion of New Jersey residents.

The details

Public Service Electric and Gas Company replaced aging infrastructure with LED fixtures based on existing crime patterns to test their deterrent effect. Researchers analyzed data collected between 2018 and 2023 to determine the relationship between lighting and public safety.

2018-2023: Researchers analyzed crime reports in Newark.
2019-2021: Public Service Electric and Gas Company replaced 1,419 streetlight fixtures.
First 6 months post-upgrade: Violent crime fell by 46%.
First year post-upgrade: Violent crime fell by 35%.
Two years post-upgrade: The violent crime reduction became statistically insignificant.

Legal Context

The Newark results reflect a notable initial performance exceeding the 14% average crime reduction benchmark identified in prior lighting studies, though the two-year data marks a clear departure from those early gains.

Residents should be aware that while infrastructure upgrades like LED lighting can offer short-term safety improvements, they are not a substitute for comprehensive community security measures. Property crime rates remained unchanged throughout the project, suggesting that lighting alone may not deter all criminal activity in local neighborhoods.

The takeaway

Communities should view infrastructure-based crime prevention as a supplemental tool rather than a long-term cure. Diversifying safety investments remains essential to maintaining security after initial deterrence effects wear off.