FBI Annual Report: Significant Decline in Violent Crime Revealed

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Decrease in Violent Crime, Increase in Property Crimes in the U.S.

In a recent announcement, the FBI revealed that violent crime across the U.S. has decreased last year, reaching levels similar to those before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, property crimes saw a significant rise during the same period.

Although the data in the report comes with a caveat due to some law enforcement agencies failing to provide data, the FBI noted that new data collection methods resulted in a more comprehensive representation. The data in the report covers 83.3% of all agencies, which represents 93.5% of the population. In comparison, last year’s report only covered 62.7% of agencies, representing 64.8% of Americans.

The report reveals a 1.7% decrease in violent crime, including a 6.1% decrease in murder and non-negligent manslaughter, a 5.4% decrease in rape, and a 1.1% decrease in aggravated assault. However, robbery experienced a 1.3% increase. Notably, violent crime had slightly decreased in 2021 after a significant increase in the murder rate during the pandemic.

With a violent crime rate of 380.7 per 100,000 people, the figures for last year were slightly better than those in 2019, where the rate was 380.8 per 100,000 people, the year before the pandemic hit the U.S.

Richard Rosenfeld, criminal justice professor emeritus at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, attributed the decrease in violence to the easing of the pandemic-related “stresses and strains.”

Despite the decline in violent crime, property crimes surged by 7.1%, with motor vehicle thefts experiencing the highest increase at 10.9%. Carjackings also increased by 8.1%, with the majority involving assailants carrying weapons. Additionally, more than a quarter of all carjackings resulted in injuries.

According to Rachael Eisenberg, managing director of rights and justice for the Washington, D.C.-based Center for American Progress, recent statistics indicate that the drop in violent crime will continue this year, aligning with the FBI report. A report released by the Council on Criminal Justice in July highlighted a 9.4% decrease in murders in the first half of 2023 compared to the first half of 2022, while vehicle thefts rose by 33.5%.

It’s important to note that last year’s FBI report had limitations due to the non-participation of nearly two-fifths of all policing agencies, including major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. This was a result of a reporting system overhaul.

The FBI’s new reporting system, the National Incident-Based Reporting System, was used alongside data from agencies still using the older Summary Reporting System, which contributed to the significant increase in participating agencies.

Although the overhaul aims to provide more modern and detailed crime data, its implementation can be complex for police departments. Despite the inclusion of Summary Reporting System data, the FBI noted an additional 1,499 agencies that submitted data through the NIBRS.

The latest report also highlighted a 6.6% decrease in adult victims of fatal gun violence, but an 11.8% increase in the estimated number of juvenile victims. Advocates for gun safety express concern over loosening gun laws in conservative-leaning states.

Assaults on law enforcement officers increased by 1.8% compared to 2021, with an estimated 31,400 assaults resulting in injuries in 2022, up 1.7% from the previous year.

While violent crime remains significantly lower than the historic highs of the 1990s, Richard Rosenfeld suggests that the pandemic could indirectly contribute to more crime. Remote work policies implemented by many firms during the pandemic have led to desolate city streets, creating an environment more conducive to criminal activity.

Overall, the report provides valuable insights into the current state of crime in the U.S., illustrating both positive trends in declining violence and concerning developments in increased property crimes.