September 26, 2016

The FBI Releases 2015 Crime Statistics for Washington State

Today, the FBI released its annual compilation of crimes reported to its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program by law enforcement agencies from around the nation. Crime in theUnited States, 2015 reveals a 3.9 percent increase in the estimated number of violent crimes and a 2.6 percent decrease in the estimated number of property crimes last year when compared to 2014 data.

The UCR Program collects data on crimes reported by law enforcement agencies regarding the violent crimes of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault; as well as the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. In addition to the offenses listed above, the UCR Program also collects arrest data for 20 other offenses that include all other crimes except traffic violations.

Highlights for Washington are:

  1. The rate of violent crime for Washington’s cities decreased from 285.8 offenses per 100,000 city inhabitants in 2014 to 284.4 in 2015. Nationally, the estimated rate of violent crime was 383.2 per 100,000 city inhabitants.
  2. The rate of property crime for Washington’s cities decreased from 3,698.9 offenses per 100,000 city inhabitants in 2014 to 3,463.8 in 2015. Nationally, the estimated rate of property crimes was 2,487.0 offenses per 100,000 city inhabitants.*

The breakdown for Washington cities with populations of more than 100,000 people is:

Bellevue

2014

2015

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter

2

2

Rape

25

19

Robbery

65

61

Aggravated Assault

52

70

Burglary

630

789

Larceny-theft

3,662

3,321

Motor vehicle theft

314

221

Arson 14 22

Everett

2014

2015

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter

2

5

Rape

43

44

Robbery

135

148

Aggravated assault

184

225

Burglary

1,198

974

Larceny-theft

4,660

4,316

Motor vehicle theft

1,089

908

Arson

18

33

Kent

2014

2015

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter

3

5

Rape

65

61

Robbery

160

144

Aggravated Assault

132

128

Burglary

1,019

905

Larceny-theft

4,243

4,257

Motor vehicle theft

981

1,007

Arson

19

19

Renton 
(population was 98,240 in 2014 and 100,015 in 2015)

2014

2015

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter

5

4

Rape

23

41

Robbery

84

100

Aggravated Assault

117

155

Burglary

734

1,175

Larceny-theft

3,651

3,715

Motor vehicle theft

822

905

Arson

11

6

Seattle

2014

2015

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter

26

23

Rape

154

144

Robbery

1,567

1,532

Aggravated assault

2,254

2,394

Burglary

7,099

7,677

Larceny-theft

28,036

26,199

Motor vehicle theft

5,514

3,878

Arson

79

92

Spokane

2014

2015

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter

10

12

Rape

117**

119**

Robbery

416

333

Aggravated assault

613

647

Burglary

3,365

2,817

Larceny-theft

12,455

11,408

Motor vehicle theft

2,242

1,746

Arson

56

47

Tacoma

2014

2015

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter

12

12

Rape

134

147

Robbery

510

485

Aggravated assault

969

1,050

Burglary

3,127

2,552

Larceny-theft

7,521

8,492

Motor vehicle theft

2,073

2,021

Arson

67

70

Vancouver

2014

2015

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter

6

2

Rape

89

112

Robbery

151

137

Aggravated assault

331

420

Burglary

821

943

Larceny-theft

3,617

3,740

Motor vehicle theft

821

871

Arson

47

69


*The property crime estimate does not include arson. Although the FBI classifies arson as a property crime, it does not estimate arson data nationally because of variations in the level of participation by reporting agencies.

**This city uses legacy data, which may not include all offenses in the current definition of rape. In 2013, the UCR definition of rape was changed. For a complete explanation of the change in definition please refer to the addendum in the UCR.

For specific information on other cities within Washington, please refer to the crime table.

Also available is a portion of the crime statistics by state, showing crimes in Washington by population groups. 

Across the nation, more than 18,000 city, county, state, federal, college/university, and tribal law enforcement agencies voluntarily contribute data to this annual report.

The FBI simply compiles the information as it is provided from local jurisdictions. You will need to contact those local jurisdictions for any analysis of the numbers listed above. Also note that the report features a prominent message cautioning against using the statistics to rank cities or counties. Such rankings can lead to simplistic or incomplete analyses, overlooking the many variables impacting crime and its reporting.

The FBI has been producing the Uniform Crime Report since 1930.