The FBI released its Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report last week indicating that violent crime in the United States is down 4.6 percent overall. The report, which marks the first FBI statistics for the 2014 calendar year, compares crime levels from January to June to the same period in 2013. The charts below highlight five important takeaways from the FBI’s report. Click here to read Law how the Top 10 Safest and Most Dangerous Cities fared with the latest data.

1. Crime is Down… Again

Despite a slight uptick in 2012, violent crime levels have been decreasing for years, and the preliminary numbers for 2014 are no exception. Overall violent crime was down 4.6 percent in the first six months of last year relative to the first six months of 2013. This downward trend in violent crime is not limited to the first six months of the year; annual statistics have shown a decrease in violent crime in six of the last seven years. The full year statistics for 2013 indicate that violent crime was down 18 percent when compared to the level in 2000.

The chart below details the change in violent crime from January to June for the past seven years. Note: each bar represents a percent change relative to the first six months of the previous year.

2. Better Data on Rape in America

Starting January 1, 2013, the FBI began using a new definition of rape to make the measure more inclusive and as a result more representative of the crimes that occur. Due to the nature of the UCR program, where cities and states voluntarily report their crime statistics to the FBI, it is up to individual law enforcement agencies set a time frame for adopting new procedures. It typically takes several years before a change in the reporting system is universally adapted by reporting agencies.

The preliminary semiannual report only includes agencies with three to six months of comparable data in two consecutive years. This means that the report does not cover the details of every agency in the United States, particularly agencies that recently transitioned to the new rape definition in 2014, as comparable data is not available. A better understanding of how many agencies use the new definition we be available once all full-year data for 2014 is submitted to the FBI.

The chart below indicates the total number of agencies that report using the revised and legacy definitions of rape as well as the the share of the population that they cover. Note: because this graphic is only based on agencies included in the recent report, the total number of agencies and total population is lower than it would be for the entire United States.

3. Violent Crime Fell Across Nearly All Categories

With the exception of the legacy definition of rape as discussed above, crime numbers decreased for every category of violent crime. The number of robberies experienced the steepest decline, falling more than ten percent relative to the first six months of 2013. Agencies using the revised definition of rape also had a significant decrease, though those numbers only cover about 55 percent of the population in this report. The total number of murders also had a notable decrease, going down six percent or more for the second year in a row.

4. Midwestern Crime is Dropping Faster Than the Rest of the Nation

According to the recent FBI report, violent crime decreased in every region during the first six months of 2014. The Midwest saw the largest decline at -7.6 percent, followed by the Northeast at -6.6 percent, then the South at -3 percent, ending with the West at -2.7 percent. The chart below indicates the regions defined by the FBI and the change in their violent crime levels.

Source: FBI Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report 2014, Table 2

5. Crime Dropped Across Every Population Group

The recent FBI report indicates that violent crime went down in every single population grouping. Led by cities with populations of 10,000 people or fewer, which saw a 6.7 percent decrease in overall violent crime and a 17.8 percent drop in murders. The chart below shows the change in violent crime for each of the eight population groupings used by the FBI as well as the number of law enforcement agencies in each grouping and their population coverage.

Kevin Rizzo

Kevin Rizzo is the Crime in America Editor at Law Street Media. An Ohio Native, the George Washington University graduate is a founding member of the company. Contact Kevin at krizzo@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post What You Need to Know About the FBI’s Latest Crime Statistics appeared first on Law Street.

Nearly all of the Most Dangerous Cities over 200,000 on Law Street’s Crime in America rankings followed the national trend of declining violent crime according to new data released today by the FBI. While violent crime across the country is down 4.6 percent, #9 Most Dangerous Newark, New Jersey saw the largest overall decline (18.7 percent) out of the Top 10 cities , followed closely by #1 Most Dangerous Detroit, Michigan with a 15.5 percent drop. Defying the trend, however, was #3 Most Dangerous Memphis, Tennessee, which saw its violent crime increase slightly by 3.4 percent.

The FBI’s semiannual report covers January to June 2014–the most recent period for which comprehensive crime statistics are available. Law Street’s analysis of this preliminary data for each of the Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities Over 200,000 appears below as an update to our most recent Crime In America Rankings published last Fall. Changes in these preliminary statistics, included below, compared with the same time period in the previous year provide key information on emerging trends in these important cities ahead of the full-year coverage of rankings that will be available this Fall.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS CITIES WITH POPULATIONS UNDER 200,000.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TOP 10 SAFEST CITIES WITH POPULATIONS OVER 200,000.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SAFEST AND MOST DANGEROUS STATES.

#1 Detroit, Michigan*

Detroit, the most dangerous city over 200,000, experienced a significant decrease in violent crime during the first six months of 2014 relative to the previous year. Detroit, a city of 699,889 people, experienced decreases across every violent crime category leading to an overall violent crime drop of 15.5 percent. The city also saw a notable decrease in murder, which fell by 37 percent. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.

Total Violent Crime: -15.5% (2013: 7,039; 2014: 5,949)
Murder: -37.0% (2013: 154; 2014: 97)
Rape: -17.1% (2013: 316; 2014: 262)
Robbery: -34.3% (2013: 2,310; 2014: 1,518)
Aggravated Assault: -4.4% (2013: 4,259; 2014: 4,072)

Click here for full coverage of Detroit’s 2015 ranking.

 #2 Oakland, California

Oakland, California is the #2 Most Dangerous City in the country with a population over 200,000 people; however, we cannot provide an update on its preliminary 2014 data. According to the FBI, Oakland’s data was incomplete at the Uniform Crime Report deadline. If the data becomes available through the FBI, we will post an update with that information.

Click here for full coverage of Oakland’s 2015 ranking.

#3 Memphis, Tennessee

Unlike most cities on this list, Memphis experienced a slight increase in violent crime over the first six months of 2014. The data for rape in this city of 657,691 people increased by more than 20 percent along with slight increases in murder, robbery, and aggravated assault. Memphis is one of two cities on this list to experience an increase in violent crime levels. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.

Total Violent Crime: +3.4% (2013: 5,413 ; 2014: 5,597)
Murder: +6.5% (2013: 66 ; 2014:62)
Rape: +20.1% (2013: 209; 2014: 251)
Robbery: +2.9% (2013: 1,508; 2014:1,552)
Aggravated Assault: +2.6% (2013: 3,634; 2014: 3,728)

Click here for full coverage of Memphis’ 2015 ranking.

#4 St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri, the #4 Most Dangerous City with a population over 200,000 experienced a modest decrease in violent crime in the first six months of 2014. Fueled by a sharp drop in robbery, which was down 12.6 percent, overall violent crime in the city of 318,563 fell by 5.6 percent. Despite the general decline, St. Louis did have a notable increase in its number of murders, which was up by nine cases over the previous year. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.

Total Violent Crime: -5.6% (2013: 2,419; 2014: 2,284)
Murder: +18.4% (2013: 49; 2014: 58)
Rape: -11.1% (2013: 162; 2014: 144)
Robbery: -12.7% (2013: 680 ; 2014: 594)
Aggravated Assault: -2.6% (2013: 1,528; 2014: 1,488)

Click here for full coverage of St. Louis’ 2015 ranking.

#5 Cleveland, Ohio**

Cleveland, the #5 Most Dangerous City over 200,000 saw a decrease in nearly every category of violent crime during the first six months of 2014, causing overall violent crime in the city of 389,181 people to drop by nearly 10 percent. The only increase occurred in the category of rape, which grew from 250 reported cases in 2013 to 216 in 2014. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.

Total Violent Crime: -9.7% (2013: 2,725; 2014: 2,461)
Murder: -11.1% (2013: 27; 2014: 24)
Rape: +15.7% (2013: 216 ; 2014: 250) 
Robbery: -13.8% (2013: 1,621; 2014:1,397)
Aggravated Assault: -8.3% (2013: 861; 2014: 790)

Click here for full coverage of Cleveland’s 2015 ranking.

#6 Baltimore, Maryland

Overall violent crime in #6 Most Dangerous City Baltimore decreased by nearly 8 percent during the first six months of 2014. The number of murders in the city of 622,671 people dropped from 115 in 2013 to 99 in 2014, a 13.9 percent decrease. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.

Total Violent Crime: -7.9% (2013: 4,329; 2014: 3,989 )
Murder: -13.9% (2013: 115; 2014: 99)
Rape: -13.4% (2013: 149; 2014: 129)***
Robbery: -7.2% (2013: 1,769; 2014: 1,641)
Aggravated Assault: -7.7% (2013: 2,296; 2014: 2,120)

Click here for full coverage of Baltimore’s 2015 ranking.

#7  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the #7 Most Dangerous City with a population greater than 200,000, held its violent crime levels constant in the first six months of 2014 relative to the previous year. Although the city of 600,805 people saw 29 fewer rapes in 2014, an 18.8 percent decrease, other violent crime categories remained nearly the same. Overall, the city’s violent crime went up by just 0.1 percent. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.

Total Violent Crime: +0.1% (2013: 3,840; 2014: 3,844)
Murder: +2.7% (2013: 37; 2014: 38)
Rape: -13.8% (2013: 210; 2014: 181)
Robbery: +2.2% (2013: 1,470; 2014: 1,503)
Aggravated Assault: -0.1% (2013: 2,123; 2014: 2,122)

Click here for full coverage of Milwaukee’s 2015 ranking.

#8 Birmingham, Alabama

According to the FBI, Birmingham’s aggravated assault numbers were overreported, which prevents a violent crime total from being accurately determined. Although we cannot tell whether or not the overall violent crime went up or down in the city of 212,001, we do know that it had a very large decrease in the number of murders. The city saw just 19 murders in the first six months of 2014, a decrease of 50 percent from the prior period. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.

Total Violent Crime: N/A
Murder: -50% (2013: 38; 2014: 19)
Rape: +6.3% (2013: 79; 2014: 84)
Robbery: -5.4% (2013: 479; 2014: 453)
Aggravated Assault: % change is unavailable (2013: 782)****

Click here for full coverage of Birmingham’s 2015 ranking.

#9 Newark, New Jersey

Overall violent crime decreased significantly in Newark, dropping 18.7 percent in the first six months of 2014 when compared to the first six months of the previous year. This overall decrease was largely a result of declines in the number of robberies and aggravated assaults, which fell by 20.4 percent and 17 percent respectively. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.

Total Violent Crime: -18.7% (2013:1,666 ; 2014: 1,355)
Murder: +4.9% (2013: 41; 2014: 43)
Rape: -8.7% (2013: 23; 2014: 21)***
Robbery: -20.5% (2013: 1,120; 2014: 891)
Aggravated Assault: -17.0% (2013: 482; 2014: 400)

Click here for full coverage of Newark’s 2015 ranking.

#10 Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri, the #10 Most Dangerous City with a population over 200,000 also experienced a notable decrease in violent crime during the first six months of 2014. The city of 465,514 people saw a decrease in every violent crime category leading to a 14.9 percent drop overall. Most notably, the total number of murders decreased by more than 45 percent, going from 46 cases in the first six months of 2013 to 25 during the same period in 2014. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.

Total Violent Crime: -14.9% (2013: 2,895; 2014: 2,465)
Murder: -45.7% (2013: 46; 2014: 25)
Rape: -34.9% (2013: 212; 2014: 138)
Robbery: -17.5% (2013: 776; 2014: 640)
Aggravated Assault: -10.7% (2013: 1,861; 2014: 1,662)

Click here for full coverage of Kansas City’s 2015 ranking.

—

Research and analysis by Law Street’s Crime in America Team: Kevin Rizzo, Chelsey Goff, and Anneliese Mahoney.

Click here to see full coverage of Crime in America 2015.

Source: FBI Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January – June 2014.

*The FBI determined that the agency’s data were underreported. Consequently, those data are not included in this report.

**Because of changes in the local agency’s reporting practices, figures are not comparable to previous years’ data.

***The data for rape was reported using the FBI’s legacy definition of this offense, not the current revised definition. For further explanation, please click here.

****The FBI determined that the agency’s data were overreported. Consequently, those data are not included in this report.

Kevin Rizzo

Kevin Rizzo is the Crime in America Editor at Law Street Media. An Ohio Native, the George Washington University graduate is a founding member of the company. Contact Kevin at krizzo@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Nearly All Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities Report Drops in Violent Crime appeared first on Law Street.

Violent crime in the United States was down by 5.4 percent in the first six months of 2013, according to the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics published Tuesday.

The FBI’s Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report compiles offenses recorded by law enforcement agencies throughout the United States to provide an overview of crime trends from the first six months of the year. According to the report, the 2013 statistics reveal decreases among all violent crime categories with the exception of rape, which has recently been redefined to include a wider range of offenses. The FBI’s definition of violent crime includes murder, aggravated assault, rape, and robbery.

The 2013 numbers indicate that the country has resumed its downward trend after a brief 1.9 percent increase was recorded in 2012. Violent crime in the United States has declined in the first six months of the year during the last five out of six years.

The Midwest experienced the largest change in violent crime in the beginning of 2013, with an overall drop of 7.4 percent. Of this change, the largest decrease was recorded in forcible rape, which went down by 14.3 percent under the old definition, followed by aggravated assault, which was down by 9.1 percent.

For a visualization of recent violent crime trends see our infographic.

Violent crime also decreased in each of the eight population groupings defined by the FBI, falling more than 9 percent in cities with less than 100,000 people. The number of murder in cities with 1,000,000 people or more also decreased dramatically by 18.5 percent. Among Law Street’s most dangerous cities over 200,000, half experienced violent crime declines. One of the most notable cases was St. Louis, which saw its violent crime go down by more than 20 percent in the first six months of the year. Oakland, Calif. on the other hand experienced a violent crime increase of 10 percent, which was primarily fueled by its 30.37 percent growth in robberies.

For more information on changes in specific cities see our article here.

In addition to violent crime, property crime also decreased in the first six months of last year, going down 5.4 percent as well. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The leading contributor to this decrease was burglary, which went down 8.1 percent. Although arson decreased by 15.6 percent and is considered a property crime, the FBI does not include these statistics in property crime totals.

The 2013 report also marks the first time that the FBI’s new definition of rape has been used by law enforcement to report offense totals. The updated definition removed the word “forcible” from the term and expanded the meaning to include any kind of penetration occurring without consent. The national changes indicated by the report do not yet use statistics according to the new definition because they cannot be compared with historic data; however, the new numbers are available for the individual cities that have started using the updated definition.

Click here to read more Crime in America coverage.

Kevin Rizzo

Kevin Rizzo is the Crime in America Editor at Law Street Media. An Ohio Native, the George Washington University graduate is a founding member of the company. Contact Kevin at krizzo@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Latest Data Shows Violent Crime Across America is Down appeared first on Law Street.