NCJ Number
69470
Date Published
1979
Length
123 pages
Annotation
THESE CRIMINAL ARREST AND OFFENSE DATA ARE REPORTED TO THE KENTUCKY STATE POLICE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH FOR THE 1979 ANNUAL REPORT.
Abstract
ANALYSIS OF THE DATA INDICATES THAT THE CRIME RATE INCREASED 6.2 PERCENT AS COMPARED TO A 0.4 PERCENT INCREASE DURING 1978. THE ONLY DECREASE WAS IN THE OFFENSE OF FORCIBLE RAPE FOR WHICH A 0.8 PERCENT CHANGE WAS SHOWN IN THE RATE PER 100,000 PERSONS. INCREASES WERE INDICATED FOR AUTO THEFT, (UP 3.1 PERCENT), FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING (UP 3.8 PERCENT), AND FOR ROBBERY AND LARCENY-THEFT (EACH UP 7.2 PERCENT). THE MORE VIOLENT CRIMES, SUCH AS MURDER, SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 5.3 PERCENT, WITH ROBBERY INCREASING 14.2 PERCENT AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT INCREASING 13.5 PERCENT. CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF PERSONS UNDER AGE 18 YEARS OF AGE CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM OF GREAT MAGNITUDE AND APPEARS GREATEST IN RAPE, ASSAULT, ARSON, AND LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS. ASSAULTS ON POLICE OFFICERS HAVE SHOWN A DRAMATIC INCREASE. ANY ANALYSIS OF THESE CRIME FIGURES SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITH CONSIDERATION OF KENTUCKY'S DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS. YET THE INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME IS OF GRAVE CONCERN TO EVERY POLICE AGENCY WHERE EFFORTS ARE CONTINUED TO CONTROL AND COPE WITH CRIME INCIDENCE GROWTH. CHARTS COMPRISE THE BULK OF THE REPORT, SHOWING OFFENSE DATA BY COUNTY AND CITY, BY DAY OF THE WEEK OR BY MONTH, IN PERCENTAGES, AND WITH RESPECT TO VICTIMS, AND PROVIDING DATA REGARDING POLICE PERSONNEL. STATISTICAL INFORMATION IS ALSO PROVIDED REGARDING THE STATE OF KENTUCKY'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE POPULATION OF KENTUCKY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)