Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: After two consecutive years of increases, FBI data shows that the country’s estimated number of violent crimes decreased by 0.2 percent in 2017 when compared with the data from the year before.

This data—and more—are part of the FBI’s annual Crime in the United States annual report for 2017.

The report also marks the 15th consecutive year that property crimes have decreased; it dropped 3 percent last year.

Amy Blasher, chief of the FBI’s Crime Statistics Management Unit, cautions against using the data to compare city against city.

Amy Blasher: There are so many factors that go into those numbers, and this could create misleading perceptions, which then could then adversely affect communities and their residents.

Halpern: The report’s data is available in the recently launched Crime Data Explorer.

Blasher explains …

Blasher: It is a web-based tool that will allow the public, media, law enforcement, and academia a more pleasing and interactive way to use the data. 

Halpern: To see the full report, visit fbi.gov. With FBI, This Week, I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau.