NCJ Number
50892
Date Published
1978
Length
183 pages
Annotation
STATISTICS ON NUMBERS OF OFFENSES, OFFENSE RATES, AND CLEARANCE (ARREST) RATES ARE PRESENTED IN THE THIRD ANNUAL REPORT PRODUCED BY THE MARYLAND UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING PROGRAM.
Abstract
THE REPORT OPENS WITH SUMMARY STATISTICS ON INDEX OFFENSES (MURDER, FORCIBLE RAPE, ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, BREAKING OR ENTERING, LARCENY-THEFT, MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT)--NUMBERS OF OFFENSES, RATES PER 100,000 INHABITANTS, CLEARANCE RATES, COMPARISONS WITH STATISTICS FOR 1975 AND 1976. MARYLAND'S CRIME REPORTING SYSTEM AND PROCEDURES ARE DISCUSSED AND DEPICTED IN A FLOWCHART, AND THE LIMITATIONS OF UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING ARE POINTED OUT. A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENSES USED IN THE REPORT IS PROVIDED, TOGETHER WITH A BRIEF PROFILE OF THE STATE (POPULATION, GEOGRAPHY, ETC.), A DISCUSSION OF FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME, AND AN EXPLANATION OF HOW CLEARANCE RATES, PERCENTAGES OF CHANGE, AND OTHER STATISTICS ARE CALCULATED. TABLES, GRAPHS, AND CHARTS DISPLAY DATA ON INDEX OFFENSES, CRIME RATES FOR INDIVIDUAL CITIES, ARRESTS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES. NARRATIVE SUMMARIES ACCOMPANY THE DISPLAYS, AND COUNTY-BY-COUNTY BREAKDOWNS ARE INCLUDED. THE REPORT SHOWS THAT VIOLENT OFFENSES ACCOUNTED FOR 12 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL CRIME FOR 1977, AN INCREASE OF 1 PERCENT OVER 1976. PROPERTY CRIMES WERE DOWN 1 PERCENT (89 TO 88 PERCENT) FROM 1976. IN 1977, MARYLAND'S CRIME RATE WAS 5,699.5 VICTIMS PER 100,000 POPULATION, A 0.6-PERCENT INCREASE OVER 1976. THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE WAS UP 9.5 PERCENT FROM 1976, WHEREAS THE PROPERTY CRIME RATE DECREASED 0.5 PERCENT. MARYLAND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CLEARED 24 PERCENT OF ALL INDEX OFFENSES REPORTED TO THEM IN 1977. THE CLEARANCE RATE WAS 45 PERCENT FOR VIOLENT CRIMES, AND 20 PERCENT FOR PROPERTY CRIMES. (LKM)