The FBI released the below
information:
The FBI’s Preliminary Uniform Crime Report, January–June,
2020, reveals overall declines in the number of violent crimes and
property crimes reported for the first six months of 2020 when compared with
figures for the first six months of 2019. The report is based on information
from 12,206 law enforcement agencies that submitted three to six months of
comparable data for both years to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR)
Program.
Violent Crime
- When data from the
first six months of 2020 were compared with data from the first six months
of 2019, the number of rape offenses decreased 17.8%, and robbery offenses
were down 7.1%. The number of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter
offenses increased 14.8%, and aggravated assault offenses were up 4.6%.
- The overall number
of violent crimes decreased in four city population groups. Law
enforcement agencies in cities with populations of less than 10,000
reported the largest decrease, 7.2%. Law enforcement agencies in cities
with populations of 100,000 to 249,000 reported the smallest decrease,
0.3%.
- Violent crime
decreased in three of the four regions of the nation. These crimes were
down 4.8% in the Northeast, 1.8% in the Midwest, and 1.1% in the West.
However, violent crime increased in the South, 2.5%.
Property Crime
- In the property
crime category, offenses declined 7.8%. Larceny thefts were down 9.9%, and
burglaries decreased 7.8%. Motor vehicle thefts increased 6.2%.
- The overall number
of property crimes decreased in all city population groups. Law
enforcement agencies in cities with populations under 10,000 inhabitants
reported the largest decrease, 14.2%. Law enforcement agencies in cities
with populations of 250,000 to 499,999 reported the smallest decrease,
3.7%.
- Property crime
decreased 9.3% in nonmetropolitan counties and 7.3% in metropolitan
counties.
- Property crime
decreased in all four regions of the nation. Reports of these offenses
reflected declines of 10.3% in the Midwest, 9.3% in the South, 5.7% in the
Northeast, and 5.3% in the West.
Arson
In the FBI’s UCR Program, arson offenses are
collected separately from other property crimes. The number of arson offenses
increased 19.2% in the first six months of 2020 when compared with figures for
the first six months of 2019. All four regions reported increases in the number
of arsons. Arsons were up 28.0% in the West, 16.4% in the Northeast, 15.7% in
the Midwest, and 10.2% in the South.
Arson offenses rose 52.1% in cities with
populations of 1,000,000 and over. Cities with populations under 10,000
experienced a 5.7% increase in arson offenses. Arsons increased 13.7% in
nonmetropolitan counties and 11.6% in metropolitan counties.
Caution Against Ranking
When the FBI publishes crime data via its UCR
Program, some entities use the information to compile rankings of cities and
counties. Such rankings, however, do not provide insight into the numerous
variables that shape crime in a given state, county, city, town, tribal area,
or region. These rankings lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that
can create misleading perceptions that adversely affect communities and their
residents. Only through careful study and analyses into the range of unique
conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction can data users
create valid assessments of crime. The
data user is, therefore, cautioned against comparing statistical data of
individual reporting units from states, metropolitan areas, cities, or colleges
or universities solely on the basis of their population or student enrollment.
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