NCJ Number
83112
Date Published
Unknown
Length
234 pages
Annotation
This Annual Uniform Crime Report (UCR) portrays the nature, volume, and extent of crime in Pennsylvania during 1979.
Abstract
There were 893,899 crimes reported into the UCR Program by Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies, an increase of 8.9 percent over 1978. Crime Index offenses are considered to be both most serious and most likely to be reported and are used nationally as the standard base for comparisons. They include murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. This year, 405,871 Crime Index offenses were reported and confirmed by police after investigation, an increase of 9.5 percent over last year. In addition, 487,974 Part II Offenses were reported, a gain of 8.4 percent over last year. In 1979, 43.3 percent of all offenses were cleared (22.7 percent of Crime Index offenses and 60.4 percent of Part II offenses). A total of 86 percent of the Crime Index offenses and 84.1 percent of Part II offenses occurred within Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's). The crime rate of core city jurisdictions in SMSA's continued to be much higher than the suburban jurisdictions. A total of 405,099 arrests were made in 1979, a 2.8 percent increase over last year. Crime Index offenses were 22.8 percent of all arrests, increasing by 2.9 percent over last year, and Part II offenses were 77.2 percent of all arrests, a 2.8 percent gain over 1978. A total of 86.1 percent of arrestees were male, and 73.8 percent were white, 25.3 percent black, and 0.9 percent of other races. Arrestees under age 18 constituted 34.2 percent of arrestees, and 70.6 percent were under age 25. Female arrestees decreased 2.4 percent; black arrestees decreased 7.9 percent; and arrests of juveniles decreased 4.4 percent. Data on law enforcement employees are provided, and tabular and graphic data are presented. (Author summary modified)