NCJ Number
72712
Date Published
1979
Length
125 pages
Annotation
Maine's crime statistics for calender year 1978 are presented in this annual report.
Abstract
The statistics were gathered from all law enforcement agencies in the State and forwarded to the FBI for inclusion in the National Crime Report. Various sections focus on background information, index crimes, stolen and recovered property values, clearance rates, arrest data, police employment data, officers assaulted, crime factors, a profile of the State, and a countyby-county crime analysis. In summary, 45,084 index offenses were reported, an increase of 896 offenses over 1977. The crime rate of 41.68 per 1,000 persons rose from 41.21 in the previous year. Violent crimes decreased by 7.1 percent, and property crimes increased by 2.6 percent. Firearms were used in 60 percent of the murders in 1978. Rapes decreased by 17.7 percent, aggravated assaults by 4.9 percent, and burglaries by 6.4 percent. However, larcenies increased by 4.1 percent, and motor vehicle thefts by 3.1 percent. The 1978 recovery rate of stolen property was 47.9 percent, compared to 42.6 percent in 1977. The 1978 clearance rate was 26.3 percent, compared to 25.9 percent in the previous year. Data are presented in charts, graphs, and tables, and explanatory texts are included.