The Federal
Bureau of Investigation announced today that preliminary 2000
figures from its nationwide Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program
indicate that the Crime Index, which is composed of murder, forcible
rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, and
motor vehicle theft, was relatively unchanged from 1999 figures.
Compared
with figures from the previous year, these preliminary figures
indicate violent crime totals remained relatively unchanged with
an increase of 0.1 percent, and property crime totals showed
virtually no change. The final figures for 2000 will be available
this fall.
In the
violent crime category, murder showed a decline of 1.1 percent
followed by robbery with a 0.7-percent decrease. Forcible rape
and aggravated assault figures indicated an increase of 0.7 percent
and 0.4 percent, respectively. In the property crime category,
burglary decreased 2.1 percent from 1999 numbers. Motor
vehicle theft increased by 2.7 percent, and larceny-theft increased
0.1 percent when compared to 1999 data. Additionally, a decline
of 0.6 percent was registered for arson.
Regionally,
law enforcement agencies in the Northeast and Midwest reported
decreases in the Crime Index total, with declines of 2.4 percent
and 1.1 percent, respectively. In the West, a 1.1-percent
increase was registered and a 1-percent increase was noted in
the South. A comparison of 2000 and 1999 data showed that violent
crime fell 1.7 percent in the Northeast and 0.7 percent in the
Midwest. A 1.2-percent increase in violent crime was recorded
in the West and an increase of 0.7 percent in the South.
Murder was down in the West by 3.9 percent and 2.3 percent in
the Midwest. However, murder increased in the Northeast and South
by 1.3 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively. Property
crime totals fell by 2.6 percent in the Northeast and 1.2 percent
in the Midwest. In both the South and West, a 1-percent increase
in property crimes was noted.
Among
cities, those with populations of 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants
registered the largest decrease, 1.1 percent, in Index crime.
The greatest increase, 0.5 percent, was recorded by cities with
populations 25,000 to 49,999 and also those with populations
of 100,000 to 249,999. Compared with the 1999 figures, data for
2000 showed that the Crime Index increased 0.7 percent in
suburban counties and decreased 0.8 percent in rural counties.
Over 17,000
city, county, and state law enforcement agencies voluntarily
participate in the nationwide, cooperative statistical effort
of the FBI's UCR Program. These comprehensive data are published
annually in Crime in the United States.