Wyoming in 1938: A Year of Rising Crime

The year 1938 marked a turning point in the violent crime landscape of Wyoming. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, which began collecting data in the 1930s, Wyoming saw a significant increase in reported larcenies.

This trend aligns with a national pattern of rising property crimes during the late 1930s. As the Great Depression persisted, economic desperation and poverty led to increased rates of theft and burglary. In Wyoming, where the ranching and mining industries were still recovering from the economic downturn, the opportunities for crime were particularly pronounced.

The FBI UCR program, launched in 1930, aimed to standardize crime reporting across the country. Despite its limitations, such as underreporting and inconsistent data collection, the UCR program provided valuable insights into crime trends. In 1938, Wyoming reported a total of 1,422 crimes, with larcenies making up a significant portion of the total.

The majority of reported crimes in Wyoming during 1938 involved property offenses, rather than violent crimes. This reflects a national trend, as the public’s focus shifted from violent crime to property crime. The FBI UCR program noted that many crimes went unreported, so these numbers likely represent only a fraction of the actual crimes committed in the state.

Wyoming’s crime landscape in 1938 was also characterized by a lack of resources and infrastructure. Rural areas had limited access to law enforcement and justice services, making it difficult to investigate and prosecute crimes. This, combined with the economic pressures of the Great Depression, created a perfect storm of crime and poverty that would take years to mitigate.