NCJ Number
194735
Date Published
2001
Length
97 pages
Annotation
This document provides crime statistics for the State of Delaware for the year 2000.
Abstract
In Delaware, the Part I and II crime rates for 2000 decreased by 3.9 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. Following a rise in violent crime complaints from 1986 to 1996, violent crime complaints have decreased for the fourth year in a row. Contributing to this decrease was a reduction in reported forcible/attempted rape and reported robbery. Forcible/attempted rape decreased 12 percent from 1999 to 2000. Robbery was down by 5 percent. The 3.8 percent increase in total reported homicide and the 1.2 percent increase in total assaults slightly offset the decreases in other categories. Property crime complaints decreased by 4 percent from 1999 to 2000, in the most part because of the decrease in arson complaints. The property crimes of burglary, larceny, and arson, all decreased from 1999 to 2000. Motor vehicle theft complaints increased by 3.9 percent. Total juvenile arrests increased by 8 percent between 1999 and 2000. Juvenile arrests increased by 3 percent, with the majority of arrests for property crimes. The majority of violent crime arrests for juveniles, 67 percent, were for aggravated assault. The number of illicit drug complaints increased by 12 percent. Reported incidents of illicit drugs increased by 13 percent in New Castle County and by 23 percent in Kent County. Illicit drug reports decreased by a half percent for Sussex County. The number of illicit drug complaints was the highest Delaware has experienced in the last 10 years. Law enforcement agencies believe initiatives targeting criminal “hot spots” are identifying and documenting drug offenses that would have otherwise gone undetected.