Crime—an Overview - Decreases Noted In 2003

The general trend of a declining crime rate in recent years continued in 2003, according to preliminary UCR data released by the FBI in 2003. (See Table 1.1.) For the nation as a whole, in the first 6 months of 2003 data indicated a 3.1 percent decrease in violent crime and a decrease of 0.8 percent in property crime since 2002.

According to the preliminary data for 2003 for violent crimes, robbery decreased by 0.5 percent, murder rose by 1.1 percent, forcible rape decreased by 4.0 percent, and aggravated assault decreased by 4.4 percent. Among property crimes, the FBI's 2003 preliminary data showed an increase of 0.9 percent in motor vehicle theft, a 1.0 percent decrease in burglary, a 10.0 percent decrease in arson, and a decrease of 1.1 percent in larceny-theft since 2002.

By region, preliminary violent crime totals for 2003 decreased by 6.2 percent in the nation's Midwest, by 3.2 percent in the South, by 2.4 percent in the Northeast, and by 1.1 percent in the West. Violent crime offenses decreased in the nation's cities, as well, with the largest decrease of 4.4 percent recorded in cities with populations of over one million. The only increase, 0.6 percent, was recorded in cities with populations from 50,000 to 99,999. (See Table 1.1.)