NCJ Number
2091
Date Published
1972
Length
4 pages
Annotation
CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES INCREASED SIX PERCENT DURING CALENDAR YEAR 1971 OVER 1970 ACCORDING TO THE CRIME INDEX STATISTICS.
Abstract
THE VIOLENT CRIMES AS A GROUP WERE UP 9 PERCENT. MURDER, FORCIBLE RAPE AND ROBBERY WERE UP 10 PERCENT, AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT INCREASED 8 PERCENT. THE PROPERTY CRIMES OF BURGLARY, LARCENY $50 AND OVER, AND AUTO THEFT INCREASED 6 PERCENT AS A GROUP. BURGLARY WAS UP 8 PERCENT, LARCENY $50 AND OVER, 5 PERCENT, AND AUTO THEFT, 2 PERCENT. CITIES WITH 250,000 OR MORE INHABITANTS REPORTED AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF 2 PERCENT IN THE CRIME INDEX OFFENSES. THE SUBURBAN AREAS SURROUNDING LARGE CORE CITIES REPORTED AN INCREASE OF 11 PERCENT AND RURAL AREAS WERE UP 10 PERCENT. CITIES IN THE 500,000 TO 1,000,000 POPULATION GROUP REPORTED A 3 PERCENT DECREASE IN CRIME INDEX OFFENSES (TABLE 1). GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE NORTHEASTERN STATES REPORTED A 10 PERCENT INCREASE LED BY ROBBERY WHICH WAS UP 24 PERCENT. THE WESTERN STATES EXPERIENCED AN 8 PERCENT RISE IN CRIME INDEX OFFENSES WHILE THE SOUTHERN STATES WERE UP 4 PERCENT AND THE NORTH CENTRAL STATES 3 PERCENT (TABLE 2). ARMED ROBBERY WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF ALL ROBBERY OFFENSES INCREASED 16 PERCENT. ASSAULTS WITH FIREARMS WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT ONE-FOURTH OF ALL SERIOUS ASSAULTS INCREASED 12 PERCENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)