FBI Releases Crime in the United States 2001 Preliminary Report

The Federal Bureau of Investigation today released figures collected by the Uniform Crime Reporting Program indicating that the nation’s crime index fell 0.3 percent during the first six months of 2001 when compared to January-June 2000 data.

The crime index is comprised of violent and property crimes. Overall, violent crimes, which include murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, declined 1.3 percent for January through June 2001 when compared to the data reported for the corresponding months in 2000. Property crimes, which include burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft, fell 0.2 percent when compared to the data reported for January through June 2000. Arson offenses, which are part of a Modified Crime Index, increased 2.9 percent for the first six months of 2001 when compared to the figures reported for the same time period in 2000.

Comparing data reported in the first six months of 2001 to those reported for the same period in 2000, the offenses of murder and robbery both showed increases—0.8 percent for robbery and 0.3 percent for murder. However, the volume of forcible rapes and aggravated assaults reported to law enforcement declined by 1.7 and 2.4 percent, respectively. The volume of property crimes varied with burglary declining 1.2 percent, larceny-theft decreasing 0.4 percent, and motor vehicle theft increasing 2.6 percent.

By city population groupings, cities with populations of 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants recorded the biggest decline in the volume of Index crimes at 1.7 percent. The largest increase in Index offenses occurred in cities of 250,000 to 499,999 population with a rise of 1.9 percent. Rural and suburban counties registered 1.9-percent and 0.6-percent decreases, respectively.

By region, index crime fell 4.1 percent in the Northeast and 1.9 percent in the Midwest. The West recorded an increase of 1.6 percent and the South, an increase of 0.8 percent.

This report is based upon the reports of agencies that submitted three to six compatible months of data from January through June in both 2000 and 2001.

The complete preliminary semiannual Uniform Crime Report is available on the FBI’s Internet site at www.fbi.gov.