NCJ Number
43519
Date Published
1977
Length
239 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT IS AN INDEPTH ANALYSIS OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND ARRESTS REPORTED IN OREGON DURING 1976, INCLUDING OFFENSES, CLEARANCE, AND ARREST DATA BY ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPALITIES IN OREGON.
Abstract
THE DATA INDICATE THAT OREGON'S INDEX CRIME RATE DECREASES 4.8 PERCENT IN 1976, VERSUS AN INCREASE OF 6.2 PERCENT IN 1975. THE THREE PROPERTY OFFENSES WHICH ACCOUNT FOR 92.8 PERCENT OF THE INDEX OFFENSE TOTAL ALL SHOWED DECREASES IN 1976: BURGLARY WAS DOWN 10.4 PERCENT, LARCENY WAS DOWN 2.2 PERCENT, AND MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT WAS DOWN 11.6 PERCENT. THE VIOLENT OFFENSES, WHICH REPRESENT 7.2 PERCENT OF THE INDEX OFFENSE TOTAL, SHOWED A NET INCREASE OF 4.1 PERCENT IN 1976: FORCIBLE RAPE WAS UP 9.7 PERCENT, ROBBERY WAS UP 2.1 PERCENT, AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WAS UP 4.8 PERCENT. MURDER WAS THE ONLY VIOLENT OFFENSE TO SHOW A DECREASE (DOWN 25.5 PERCENT FROM 1975). A COMPARISON OF OREGON'S INDEX CRIME RATE IN THE REPORT WITH THOSE OF WASHINGTON, IDAHO, NEVADA, AND CALIFORNIA, INDICATES THAT OREGON RANKED THIRD IN INDEX CRIME RATE BEHIND CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA RESPECTIVELY. AMONG THE FOUR NEIGHBORING STATES, OREGON SHOWED THE LARGEST DECREASE IN INDEX CRIME RATE AND PROPERTY CRIME RATE IN 1976. AMONG THE THREE LARGEST CITIES IN OREGON, SALEM WAS THE ONLY CITY TO SHOW AN INCREASE IN INDEX CRIME (3.5 PERCENT) WHILE THE CITIES OF PORTLAND AND EUGENE SHOWED DECREASES OF 5 PERCENT AND 8 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY. STATISTICS ALSO INCLUDE PART II OFFENSES (OTHER OFFENSES EXCLUDING INDEX) WHICH ALL SHOWED INCREASES IN 1976 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FAMILY OFFENSES AND JUVENILE RUNAWAYS. INCREASES IN PART II OFFENSES RANGED FROM 3.8 PERCENT FOR VANDALISM TO 71.3 PERCENT FOR BUYING, SELLING, AND RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS ARRESTED IN 1976 INCREASED 4.2 PERCENT OVER 1975, WITH 27.5 PERCENT OFF THE TOTAL ARRESTED FOR INDEX CRIMES AND THE REMAINING 72.5 PERCENT ARRESTED FOR PART II CRIMES. THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ARRESTS WAS FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICANTS. THE NUMBER OF JUVENILES ARRESTED IN 1976 ACCOUNTED FOR 34.7 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ARRESTS AND SHOWED A DECREASE OF 0.3 PERCENT, WHILE THE NUMBER OF ADULTS ARRESTED INCREASED BY 6.7 PERCENT. THE NUMBER OF FEMALES ARRESTED IN 1976 ACCOUNTED FOR 18.7 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL AND SHOWED A 10.6 PERCENT INCREASE, WHILE THE NUMBER OF MALES ARRESTED INCREASED BY 2.8 PERCENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).