FBI Releases its Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report

On May 23, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released its Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime report, which found that violent crimes and property crimes dropped from 2009 to 2010. Violent crimes decreased by 5.5 percent over the two years, while Property crimes dropped 2.8 percent.

Among the types of violent crimes reported, the 2010 statistics show murder and non-negligent manslaughter declined by 4.4 percent; the incidents of forcible rape decreased by 4.2 percent; robbery dropped by 9.5 percent; and aggravated assault was down 3.6 percent.

Violent crimes decreased in all city groups, while cities with populations of 250,000 to 499,999 saw the greatest decline in violent crimes with a drop of 6.9 percent. Communities with populations of less than 10,000 saw the most significant drop in murder at a decrease of 25.2 percent. The Northeast saw increases in some violent crime categories - murder increased by 8.3 percent and forcible rape was up 1.4 percent.

According to 2010 data, property crime decreased by 2.8 percent when compared to 2009 numbers. Motor vehicle thefts were down 7.2 percent, while larceny-theft decreased by 2.8 percent and burglary declined 1.1 percent. Property crime decreased in all metropolitan cities and counties, but increased by 2 percent in non-metropolitan counties. All regions of the country also saw a decrease in property crimes. The South was down 3.8 percent and the Midwest was down 2.7 percent, while the West followed closely with a 2.5 percent decline in property crimes.

Also included in the preliminary report are tables that show the number of offenses report by cities-organized by state-with populations of more than 100,000. New York City saw its murder rate increase by 13.8 percent and Newark, N.J. had a 12.5 percent rise in its murder rate. Detroit's murder rate declined by 14.6 percent and Washington, D.C. saw a decrease of 8.3 percent from 2009 to 2010.

Each year, the FBI compiles data from more than 13,000 law enforcement agencies across the country to be included in the Annual Uniform Crime Report. Despite the fact that the report is deemed "preliminary," Department of Justice officials and the FBI view it as a strong indicator for the final figures that will be released later this fall.