Will violent crime increase in 2015? Some suggest that it will. See https://www.crimeinamerica.net/crime-rates-united-states/ for a discussion.
The estimated number of violent crimes in the nation decreased 0.2 percent in 2014 when compared with 2013 data, according to FBI figures released today. Property crimes decreased by 4.3 percent, marking the 12th straight year the collective estimates for these offenses declined.
Homicides decreased from 14,319 in 2013 to 14,249. Aggravated assults went from 726,777 in 2013 to 741,291 in 2014. Robberies decreased from 345,093 in 2013 to 325,802 in 2014. Rapes went from 113,695 in 2013 to 116,645.
The 2014 statistics show the estimated rate of violent crime was 365.5 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, and the property crime rate was 2,596.1 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. The violent crime rate declined 1.0 percent compared to the 2013 rate, and the property crime rate declined 5.0 percent.
These and additional data are presented in the 2014 edition of the FBI’s annual report Crime in the United States. This publication, which is a statistical compilation of offense, arrest, and police employee data reported by law enforcement agencies voluntarily participating in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, also includes limited federal crime reporting and human trafficking data.
The UCR Program collects information 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.
A total of 18,498 city, county, state, university and college, tribal, and federal agencies participated in the UCR Program in 2014. A high-level summary of the statistics reported by these agencies, which are included in Crime in the United States, 2014, follows:
■In 2014, there were an estimated 1,165,383 violent crimes. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter decreased 0.5 percent and robbery decreased 5.6 percent when compared with estimates from 2013. Rape (legacy definition) and aggravated assault, however, increased 2.4 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively.
■Nationwide, there were an estimated 8,277,829 property crimes. The estimated numbers of each of the property crimes show declines when compared with the previous year’s estimates. Burglaries dropped 10.5 percent, larceny-thefts declined 2.7 percent, and motor vehicle thefts were down 1.5 percent.
■Collectively, victims of property crimes (excluding arson) suffered losses calculated at an estimated $14.3 billion in 2014.
■The FBI estimated that agencies nationwide made 11.2 million arrests, excluding traffic violations, in 2014.
■The arrest rate for violent crime was 156.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the arrest rate for property crime was 490.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.
■By violent crime offense, the arrest rate for murder and non-negligent manslaughter was 3.3 per 100,000 inhabitants; rape (aggregate total of revised and legacy), 6.6; robbery, 29.7; and aggravated assault, 117.1 per 100,000 inhabitants.
■By property crime offense, the arrest rate for burglary was 74.9 per 100,000 inhabitants; larceny-theft, 390.9; and motor vehicle theft, 21.5. The arrest rate for arson was 2.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.
■In 2014, there were 12,656 law enforcement agencies that reported their staffing levels to the FBI. These agencies reported that, as of October 31, 2014, they collectively employed 627,949 sworn officers and 271,263 civilians, a rate of 3.4 employees per 1,000 inhabitants.
Overview of Violent Crimes
■In 2014, an estimated 1,165,383 violent crimes occurred nationwide, a decrease of 0.2 percent from the 2013 estimate.
■When considering 5- and 10-year trends, the 2014 estimated violent crime total was 6.9 percent below the 2010 level and 16.2 percent below the 2005 level. (See Table 1/1A)
■There were an estimated 365.5 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2014, a rate that declined 1.0 percent when compared with the 2013 estimated violent crime rate. (See Table 1/1A)
■Aggravated assaults accounted for 63.6 percent of violent crimes reported to law enforcement in 2014. Robbery offenses accounted for 28.0 percent of violent crime offenses; rape (legacy definition) accounted for 7.2 percent; and murder accounted for 1.2 percent. (Based on Table 1/1A)
■Information collected regarding types of weapons used in violent crime showed that firearms were used in 67.9 percent of the nation’s murders, 40.3 percent of robberies, and 22.5 percent of aggravated assaults.
Source: https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-2014-crime-statistics